Yet Again

Remember that patient who has cancelled (gotten sick) like a billion times.  She proved herself again Sunday afternoon, by telling me she couldn't come in Monday.  :)

Very thankful to a high school friend who could come in on such short notice.  Too bad she takes care of her mouth and is only a freak-a-leaking 1B. 

I really sat down and stared at a calendar tonight . . . for a few hours and got  

Brooke-B-organized.  

 (That is pretty freaking organized, if you're unaware of the phrase.)  

I don't have much room for 1B's anymore.  Actually ZERO room for 1B's.  From here on out it has got to be something else.  I'll have 36 1B's by the end of the semester, after I finish 2 OD's.  Man Luann.  Too many.  I was able to hear back from some peeps today though who have been seen in the clinic before and are higher classifications.  HALLELUJAH!  (Shout out to Stephanie Young for the help there.)

I really got organized/stared at a calendar for multiple hours tonight.  You can all thank the Lion King - Circle of Life YouTube Video for entertaining Camden while I focused on hygiene.  These next two weeks before Spring Break may just be the death of me, but at least I can enjoy my last week of life during Spring Break. 

(REMEMBER MY BIG BIRTHDAY BASH, MARCH 15TH, CELEBRATE HOWEVER YOU LIKE, JUST THINK OF ME.)

It's Official.

I suck.

1/5 My Mom. 1B.

1/10 Resource List Patient. Had to leave 1 hour early.  1 of 2. 1B.

1/12 Return Resource List Patient.  Great.

1/19 Resource List Patient.  Confirmed multiple times.  At 8:00am that morning she said she was, "On her way." No show.  Haven't heard from her since.

1/24 Resource List Patient.  One appt.  Braces.  Fudged to get him done. 1B.

1/26 Resource list patient scheduled.  When calling to confirm over the weekend, she was sick.  Rescheduled her. 
EMERGENCY BACKUP: Brother Clark.  1B. Completed.

1/31 Resource List Patient.  Great guy, student at Weebs. Class V. 1 of 2.

2/2 Return Resource List Patient.  Completed.

2/7 Resource List Patient.  Got a text morning of, she is sick.  Have called to reschedule her, no response.
EMERGENCY BACKUP: Husband Chris. 1B. Completed.

2/9 Resource List Patient.  Was sick a few weeks ago.  1B. 1 of 2.

2/14 Return Resource List Patient. Got a text morning of, her son is sick, she can't come in.
EMERGENCY BACKUP: Brother Clark for sealants.  Sister Kelsey for OD.

2/23 Sister Erica.  1B. Completed.

And just for the record, I cannot schedule a higher classified patient to save my life.

Yesterday, with Chris' Spanish speaking skills, we called 2 patients 4 times. no answer/answering machine.

Today we called 2 patients 2 times.  One can come at the other clinic time (any girls want her?  ClassII/III), one didn't answer/wrong number on his other listed number.

I need someone for Wednesday March 2nd. 

I think I'll just get sick myself that day.  I've probably got an ulcer by now anyway. 

Gug-a-Lug

Erica spent one of her few mornings off to spend the day with ME! 
("To ME!" - family home videos)

It's because she is the best . . .

at infant massage

even though she's not certified. :)

at doing makeup. course.

aunt.

I learned today (actually I have heard this before, but obviously didn't "learn" it at that time.  Hopefully I have learned it now) that I DO NOT need to scrape with as much lateral pressure as I can muster against EVERY tooth surface on a 1B.  The calculus just isn't there.  De-plaque by using the instrument on each surface, in an exploratory stroke, while checking for calculus.  Man I have wasted so much of mine and my patients time scraping where there is no need to scrape.  Of course, right when I get this in my head (hopefully) I will get a Class II or III and will need to scrape on most surfaces.  Woe is me.  What else is new?

Goal: HARDER CLASSIFICATIONS!!  Also, don't scrape where you don't need to scrape. Geez.

Lucky Ladies

Whoever is lucky enough to be in this group, get ready.

Downer

Some days you just feel like crap when you leave.  Even if there were a lot of good things that happened during the appts (saw my brother, did a sealant, passed off (I think) the sealant PE, saw my sister, got through OHI).  My pt canceled this morning (yes that is two weeks in a row, different patients, same reason) so I am going through emergency backup patients like mad and it is only February.  Very thankful to my family for coming in on short notice and sacrificing their free time, homework time, and/or sleeping time.  I am thankful that we have a lab on Wednesday, a holiday Monday, and I don't have to worry about the next patient that will likely cancel on me for a week or two. 

There are so many variables that come into play during one clinic day.  So you can feel good and do great on some, and do bad on others.  I guess it is the net (+) or (-) that does or should determine my mood when I leave.  We are all such high achievers and perfectionists, that it is hard not to compare yourself with others and feel like you are not doing enough or good enough or as good as everybody else.  Also, I've got to remember that somehow people have been graduating from this program for years now and so can I (we).  Somehow. 

Thank you ladies for being kind, supportive, and uplifting.  I owe you one today.

Duh

I was telling my pod-mates about how my patient has a flipper, because she has two teeth broken off at the gumline and is going to get implants.  And they said, "Couldn't that be your removable?"  And I said, "Oh yeah!"  DUH.  The problem is that she is coming back this Monday.  One clinic day before we learn the PE for the Removable.  Maybe she could come back though.  Just maybe.  Or maybe I could use a patient that Stefanie gave me who has a removable.  We'll see. 

I really liked my pt.  She was nice, responsive.  She had the most intense health history I have ever done, but I just took it one question at a time.  She may refer her husband to me.  He is a dento-phob.

Goal:  Remember patient's safety wear so you don't feel like a tard.

Dickens

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times . . .

My lovely love, Chris Moody, came in today.  My patient texted me at 9:30am, saying she had the stomach flu.  Not her fault, not her being irresponsible, just good ol' life.  So . . . Chris came in.

I look forward to cleaning family members' teeth and talking with them and spending time together, so when I get to do that it is the best of times.  When it is over and I don't get to do it for another 6 months, it is the worst of times.

My goal for next time is . . . to REMOVE ALL CALCULUS ON #22-27, AS IF MY LIFE DEPENDS ON IT.  (it does right?)

grrrrr

I thought I was cool, because I was going to email my pts x-rays to their dentist, decreasing overall exposure and increasing efficiency and quality of radiographs.  HOWEVER, I missed one little detail.  Getting my patient to sign a "release of information" form.  grrr.

I finished my Class V patient today.  He was super easy to work with and we found out we have a mutual friend.  Darn those darn radiographs. 

Class Time

For class to be blog-worthy, it has got to be pretty good.  And today it was pretty good.  Things that made me smile today in class.

"This is like the woodchuck song." - Perry while explaining and re-explaining the differences between ortho/hyper/para-keratinization.

"You should kick him in the gonads." -Perry talking about the boy that purposefully gave Emily mono.

"Herpices" -Perry talking about "herpes".

"The body is very magical." - Perry talking about the amazing workings of the human body, how stress can trigger herpetic outbreaks.

Institute had FREE grilled cheese sandwiches, and they were THE BEST GRILLED CHEESE SANDWICHES I HAVE EVER HAD!  Thanks MeChel.

Perio class included popcorn and candy!  We watched a few videos so McConaughy brought goodies.  How fun!

Seriously, these movies about biofilm made me fall in love with biofilm.  Maybe it is because February has begun, but seriously, biofilm is sweet.

Something triggered my memory about getting Orbit drinks (Orange/Vanilla) and candy necklaces with Joni and Shanae in 4th grade at the Chevron, because we could have snacks in class on Friday.  Mrs. Campbell?  Adrienne confirmed with Shanae that they were called Orbits.

Good day.

OH and I got a "free" Montana Jack from PDT out at work.  :)