Getting into the SWING!

Hey!!! So it was our first day back to real clinic today with real patients. It went pretty well considering I haven't done this for 4 months! I seriously forgot so many little stupid nit-picky things! I've just gotta get into the groove of it all again. I still feel like I don't know what the heck I'm doing. Did I really go through a year of dental hygiene already? I feel like I've learned absolutely nothing. What is the deal?

Anyway, well my first patient was a guy that was a class 3 from last year. He didn't have nearly as much calculus today as he did back then and I was able to get him all finished! I was pretty excited. But I really do think I fudge and don't really get it all done. I go over everything but I don't think I'm really getting it. Do I really know how to scale teeth? Or am I doing more harm than good? Today I felt like I'd never scaled in my life! I was like a deer in headlights. I didn't know what to do!!! So it was good anyway. I was able to really get an idea of things I need to work on. Maybe I should make some goals.

My second patient turned out to be a class 2 with some freaking awesome calculus!!! She hadn't had her teeth cleaned in at least 5 years and there was so much there. I loved every minute of getting that stuff off with the ultrasonic. I love how you can just see those huge chunks breaking off. It gives me such a feeling of satisfaction. I LOVE it!

So if anyone is reading this, when are you all starting to study for boards? I really think I want to start earlier than next semester.