But I have a good reason- school! In these last three months I have learned and experienced A LOT. Since I’m officially on my holiday vacation for two weeks and don’t want to talk too much about school (because my whole life right now evolves around school), I’ll give so brief insight as to what has been going on with me.
- Finished the xray learning guides (all 13, including many exams and in-school performances) and began interning at the dental clinic once a week taking xrays on actual patients. A little nerve wrecking at first, but I’m becoming more comfortable with it. I’ll be taking xrays until I graduate from the school in the clinic as needed so there will be plenty of time to perfect my skills. So far I’ve done 4 or 5 FMXs and two PANOs and about a handful of PAs and BWXs here and there.
- After finishing the xray learning guides, I moved on to learning dental instruments, rotary instruments and handpieces, 4-handed exchange, oral evacuation, and dental charting. You caught all that?!
- Then, I proceeded to learning about Topical and Local Anesthesic application and the dental assistant’s role. ( For those that don’t know this is all about numbing the gums for painless dental procedures.)
- And currently, I just finished oral surgery procedures. Next, I’m on to learning about sutures.
Outside of all of this, I have also chairsided with a dentist at the clinic three times! Each time I was just told, ‘hey, you’re assistance is needed and since you are familiar with charting, suctioning, and 4-handed, go help out where you can. So very nerve wrecking at first but I loved it. My teacher said I’ve done an excellent job chairsiding thus far despite my inexperience with the sequence of the procedures I was assisting with, which were a composite restoration and two Endo. Luckily all the dentists I have worked with so far were very patient in walking me through the steps when needed.
And that’s that. Can’t wait to get back to school but at this moment it’s time to relax, I have to say I have earned it!
Happy Holidays everyone. See you in the New Year!
