Term three here at Niagara College has really helped open my eyes to see what my future will somewhat be like on a regular basis when we are off to work in real practice. Some of the greatest learning opportunities I have faced in clinic so far would include taking radiographs on real clients and being able to see the result right away. I enjoy “trying to interpret” the images by seeing if I can see all of the things I am aware of and had learned in term 2 and 3. It’s been fun kind of showing my clients their radiographs after taking them and just showing/pointing at simple things like how clear the pulp is and then I like to mention “that is where all of the blood vessels and nerves are, because I don’t know if you know this but teeth are actually living”. I have already recommended a patient go out and buy Colgate PreviDent and she seemed very sold when I told her how the regular toothpaste is for a “average person” and how it doesn’t have a much of a therapeutic benefit for her.
I have realized that I definitely need to take a look back at all of the assessments when I have time. I was doing PPD’s and indices and did feel a little lost and I felt very slow. So far, the clients I have had haven’t had complex medical histories and though that has made it “a bit easier” that may catch up with me later. I need to make more cue cards or even just change my binder to the things I really need, I am noticing a lot of unnecessary things in it, or the papers I do need have way too many words on it. They need to be simplified. I also need to work on charting again for the odontogram. If I have spare time I would like to try and do some fake scenario ones (odontograms) based off internet pictures of mouths just to refresh on all the tilts, drift, turns, ect.
So far, I have had three clients. My very first was taken away due to her difficulty and so I am hoping to end with at least six completed clients by the end of the semester. I like to talk to my client about what I am going to be doing to them and why it is of importance. For example, “I am going to do an extra oral exam….we are looking for lymph nodes that may be swollen because that may be a sign that they are not draining properly”. I like to talk to the patient about home care and see what kind of toothpaste, brush and mouthwash they are using. So far, I am feeling very confident in my radiographs besides being a bit slow. I would hope to develop more confidence in what I am doing by the end of the term. I also would like to just feel more comfortable with my client and start being a little less shy. I do really wish that pharmacology was taught to us before clinic, I feel like we would have 100% benefited from that instead of histology.
The funny thing is that when I go home all I talk about is teeth and the things I have learned so I guess I made a good choice. It is honestly really hard for me to grasp that in four short months we will be seniors already.
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