Exploring The Mouth

Is hard! I thought that probing was easier. I think as with everything else, this will come easier with time. One thing that I struggle with is which side of the explorer to use where. I am going to practice on my typodont so I can get the technique down and where I need to sit and using indirect vision. Indirect vision with a sharp instrument is scary sometimes. I poked Karlie a couple times. I hope I can get this down soon!

Bloody Mess!

Just kidding, it wasn't really bloody, just minor. Today in clinic we mostly did probing on each other. It went a lot better than I thought it would. It is still hard to see the probe in the posterior portion of the mouth. It's darker back there and the probe marks are so small. I think as I do it more often I will recognize the marking easier. I have been probed at the dental office a lot and it has never bothered me, so I wasn't too concerned about being a first patient for my pod partner. She did a really good job! Her readings were good compared to the instructors, and it didn't hurt! I feel pretty good about it too. All of my readings were one off or the same as the instructors so I feel pretty confident, but I am SOOOO SLOW! Hopefully speed comes with time as with everything else we've learned so far!
I also passed off the mirror grasp and fulcrum PE, the instrument grasp PE, and the Extra-Oral PE. Lots of things accomplished today! I feel like today was very productive! Welp, see ya later!

Fulcrums

Today in clinic we worked on instrument grasp and fulcrums, and mirror fulcrums. This seems pretty easy but I think it is going to get easier and easier every time I get in there and do it. It was a slower day and didn't pass off any PE's which is a first for me. I don't want to get behind so next time my goal is to cram them all in for the lucky instructor! Hopefully they let me do a few!

Ahhhh! Massage!

Today in clinic we learned how to do extra-oral exams. We got to massage each others heads and necks! I really liked being the patient! It's gonna take a little studying to remeber what all of the structures and glands and whatever's are in the head and neck that we will be feeling for abnormalities in. It seemed like it was going to be really difficult when they first showed us. I was a little intimidated, but I think that it won't be such a bad PE.
I passed off the health history PE. Yeah! This one did stress me out because of all the content that is in this PE. It had a lot to remember including the usual dosage of some medications. But I did it, yeah! I also passed off the vital signs PE! I really actually enjoy vitals. Well, pulse and respiratory rates aren't too exciting, but taking blood pressures is fun for me!
My goal is to still keep up on my PE's. I don't want to get behind and stressed, so I hope we still keep having some time to pass them off!

Another Day In Paradise!

So today in clinic we went over vitals. I actually really like taking vitals. I don't know why I like to take blood pressures, but I do. We did B.P, pulse, and respiratory rates on the three other people in our pods. That was the fun part of clinic, then we did more health history stuff which isn't my favorite (not even close to it).
I passed off another PE! I did the patient positioning one today. My goal is to pass of PE's as soon as they let me so I don't have to stress about them. So far, so good! I'm still a little worried about the health history PE. I don't feel confident with health histories, but I don't think I will until I do quite a few more. All-in-all clinic was pretty good today, I like clinic for the most part, it's fun to have hands on learing!

Health Histories Are Confusing

Today in clinic, we learned about going over health histories. This was more complicated than I originally thought. I think with time it is going to come easier to me. Today I'm still confused as to which information goes where. I think with practice I will get the hang of things. My goal is to study the example that Prof. Costley gave us and maybe practice a few. Eh, it won't be too bad!
Today I also passed off another PE! Yeah! This one was the maintainance PE. It was a really easy one (I like the easy ones). The PE we went over today in our pod was the health history and it has a lot to it. I better get to work learning what goes where.

Cruisin' right along!

On wednesday in clinic we learned about health histories and went through some charting that has to do with health histories. I'm still confused with that but I'm sure in time it will come easier. We also learned a new PE that tells us where to sit and what position to sit in around the patient when working on certain areas of the mouth. This will take some getting used to but my goal is to learn the positions fast so I can move on to the more exciting things!
I also got to pass of two more PE's! I'm glad we get ahead of schedule so I can keep passing of more PE's. I passed off the pre and post patient procedures. I really am enjoying clinic so far, it is by far the most entertaining of all the classes!