Ouch!

I had lots of fun in clinic Wednesday! We learned about how to probe! First we practiced a little on our typodont. It was a little difficult to do this. I felt like I could stick it all the down! I know this wasn't what we were trying to do. They just wanted us to get a feel for how to angle it and locate the col. Then we were able to practice on our partner! I was Kirsten's partner and she was my patient first. I was really nervous about it and was actually shaking a little bit. Once I started probing I found that it was a lot easier to do it on a real person compared to the typodont. It was a little tricky trying to get my fulcrum right and be able to see all the surfaces of the teeth, especially the posterior ones. I felt really good about it when our instructor Kirsten came and checked my measurements and said I was right on and then she said I had excellent technique when she was watching me. This boosted my confidence a little bit and I realized that I can do this and I will make it through. I know it will be tough but I can't get too frustrated. Then it was my turn to be the patient. Kirsten was nervous too. I was trying to give her as much feedback as I could without her thinking that I was trying to tell her how to do it. Our TA Maegan said it is really helpful when we can help each other when we are the patient. Kirsten was getting really frustrated but she did a really good job. She didn't hurt me at all. The instructors said we will get plenty more chances to poke at each other. I was also able to pass off my vitals PE. I was hoping to pass of the extra oral one too but we ran out of time. The extra oral and mirror PE's are due next Monday and I'm hoping that we will have lots of time to do those. They are both very simple so I'm not worried about them.
I had 3 tests this past week also. I have been so busy studying for them. It always makes me nervous to take the first test because you never know what to expect. I took my radiology test first and got 91%. Then it was time for the Dental Hygiene test. Everybody was so worried about this one because we covered ALOT of material. My score was a 91% but then Costley threw out a few questions and it bumped my score up to 98%!! I was so happy about this one. Then I took my anatomy test today and got 96%! I am so happy that all of my studying paid off. Now I just need to stick to it and make it 10 more weeks!