I feel like today I learned so much. Instructor Vining sat with me while I hand scaled and gave me great pointers. He detailed a system to work through the mouth when scaling. Always following this will make me more efficient and help so I don't miss spots. He also told me to learn to be efficient with one instrument. Once I achieve this then I can start switching and it will be a lot easier to accommodate different instruments. Great advice, I would have given anything to have this kind of help earlier in the semester!!

YES!! PE'S ARE FINISHED!!

wHOOHOO....

I finished my pe's for the first year today. Most of my thoughts were negative and I really felt like this may come to be the impossible task. But have faith! I did it. My appointment went well today, my class 2 and I didn't miss any spots, or Angie was just being nice. Either way my self esteem was in dire need at this point. I entertained the thought of coke and rum but oh wait, I don't have the time to stop and have a drink!!! WELCOME TO MY LIFE!! Today I can smile though!!!

My plan of attack for today will be to scale and polish my class 2 pt. I have completed her OD so it should be easily accomplished with the exception that she wants to be anesthetized....HMmm, maybe I could convince her I am gentle. I will give the instructor a heads up so they are prepared to do this for me and hopefully this will complete my class 2 requirements. I am pretty sure I can't air powder polish her due to her recession so I will just scale, polish, and fluoride and hopefully have a positive experience today. :)

Clinic has been more than stressful as of late. I think we are all trying so hard to finish up requirements, PE's and classifications that we are all stressed and it's contagious. I can even feel it from the instructors because they are wanted everywhere!

As much as I planned and was prepared to have all classifications met, due to MANY no shows it hasn't worked out that way at all and now I am one of the scrambling ones. I think it will work out and be okay if everything goes smoothly though. So here's my plan. Be prepared, I have prethought through the appt and I know what I am going to do at each appt and what PE's need to be passed off. I learn something new or relearn something I thought I knew at every appt. Last week it was Vining reminding me that an MOD would be a restoration that goes OVER the mesial and the distal margin of the occlusal surface. I was just a little unsure and if it went to the mesial I would mark it as an MO. It actually has to go past the margin of the cusp. I still need to work on scaling technique, maybe I just shouldn't be afraid to ask....