Getting closer

Boards are over!! It it definately a good feeling to be finished (hopefully). Today I saw 2 class 3's and a 1A. I am feeling confident that I know what I'm doing and that I can work in the real world. Now it's all about getting the little things done like PE's! I only have 1 more to do. And I still need 3 quads of a 4 so hopefully the VA will be good to me! Graduation is only weeks away!!

LA mockboard

Last week we had LA mockboards. I was one of the first ones in the morning. I used one of the first years and it went great! She did have her wisdom teeth so it threw me off a little but you do that same thing so it was fine. I did get osseous contact on the IA so I had to take a breath and remember exactly how to handle that. I must have done ok because I passed, both of them! We also took a mockboard written. I did well on that too but I'm worried the real thing won't be like that. I am really worried about the written to be honest. This week I will have to hide myself away so I can study for it. I feel bad neglecting my family but it will all be over in no time! Now I just hope that I can get my board patient to show up! And I got my results in the mail for the National Board and I PASSED!!!! SUch a relief!!!!!!

4

I had my class 4 today and he was willing to stay all day so I could get him completely finished. It was a workout to say the least. I had a hard time because while using the ultra sonic it kept clogging my blue boa. Then I tried the small suction and I probably went through 10 of those because it kept getting clogged. So I ended up having to switch back and for between the HVE and the small suction. There were huge chunks flying off! He had lots of irregularities on his teeth so it was hard to distinguish between calculus and rough teeth. I was very disappointed today because Dr. Hanson wasn't there. I swear I always get ripped off when she is suppose to be my instructor. I scheduled my class 4 today because I specifically wanted her to help me! I know she is mourning the loss of her brother but I really wish I could have had her expertise today!! I feel like she is full of knowledge and is so helpful. Hopefully she will have an extra week with our pod. I am beginning to think I won't ever get my qualifications. Every time I go to the VA my patients don't show up. EVERY TIME!! I still need 16 quads of a 3 or 4! And I still need 4 panos! I really hope I can get everything I need!

Last mockboard

I was really nervous for this mockboard today because I felt a lot of pressure to do well. This is my real board patient and I wanted to pass. My patient filled out the health history and put that he smokes pot. I knew this before and had asked him not to do it before he came to see me because he might be disqualified. I checked him in and sent him to the examiners and thought I'd ask Prof. Alexander what to do about it. I asked her if he shouldn't put that down. She said to ask him when he did it last because it's a contraindication for LA. I asked him if he did it today and he said ya, right before he came. I was so pissed!!! This is my board patient and if he gets disqualified because he is high I will be so mad!! So today started out pretty rough. I was really unhappy that he would do that to me. I cleaned a quad and was really worried that I missed a lot of spots and missed recession. When they bring your patient back and they have a post it note in their hand it usually means you missed spots. I had a post it! But I only missed one spot! I was so relieved! I did miss one recession area too. It looked like there was recession but I couldn't feel the CEJ (which I thought you had to in order to mark recession). Alexander said to dry the area and look for the yellow to white color change. I am so glad mockboards are over. I think they are so helpful to be able to run through the whole thing like the board will be. I think it is a good idea. Now I get to take the National Written Thursday so wish me luck!!

Class IV

It's about time I get a class 4! This is the first one ever! I screened this patient a couple weeks ago. He seemed hesitant to get screened but Mr. Salomon talked him into it. He also tried to cancel on me yesterday! I wasn't having that! He showed up and I took an FMX. I told him we wouldn't clean anything today since money is an issue right now. I'm hoping to bring him back in 2 weeks and keep him all day so I can complete his whole mouth. Now I'm just worried that he won't come back. This will be a great experience for me because he has calculus EVERYWHERE!! I know it will be challenging but I'm looking forward to it. Now I just have to remember to double up on the masks because, whoa....!!!!

This morning I cleaned one quad of the patient I'm using for boards. I also wanted to get a second opinion from an instructor to make sure he would be a good one. Dr. Hanson explored and said he would definately be a good one. I'm really nervous because I don't want to rely on what they say but I did agree with them and I felt like he would be good for the boards. He doesn't want to get numb so that scares be a little bit. I did an upper quad and only missed one spot. I hope I do that well for the real thing. I am using him for mockboards in 2 weeks and the real board. I take the POC test Thursday and I'm really not sure what to expect. I hope I do well!!

Mockboard

Today was the first mockboard of the semester. It went well! The worst part is the waiting to see if your patient qualifies and then waiting while they check them after you're finished. My patient was so sweet! She didn't want to be numb and I wished she did! I know I hurt her a couple times but I had to get that piece!!! I wish every patient was as reliable and nice as she was. I ended up missing 3 spots but when I went to explore them I couldn't feel them. Dr. Hanson came over to help me and she taught me something very important. She told me when I've doing the mesial buccal surfaces of the lower right quad I need to sit at 12. My fulcrum needs to be way up so I'm right over their nose. This helps to get the right angle. When I did that I was able to feel the spots I had missed. She said this patient wasn't way hard and that I would definately want somebody that had better calculus. I am glad that this one is over! I think it's good to do these mockboards because I learn so much and it helps me see my strengths and weaknesses.