I have always gotten by on the generosity of others

Ok Blanche...today was good. another requirement closer to being done. 8 y o luis pineda was very cooperative even with the retakes on the xrays. Kids are different though. i haven't much experience with them and figuring the primary teeth from permanent was interesting. Need to do more PEs.

Feb 28, 2007

Another cancelation (imagine that) Laura Browne, was to be my full-mouth x-ray patient had to cancel as she was laid off at work and can't afford it. Too bad as she sounded like she was in pain from her teeth as we spoke. Hey if I could help out I would, but I'm not going to be paying for patients anytime soon. Tyler Vallette is already into me for 14 bucks and he's only half way done.
Anyway, I was able to get Forrest Sweitzer off the resource list. He is a Marine on leave from Iraq who wanted to get his teeth cleaned before he goes back to Iraq next week. He said that the Navy hygienist was backed up about a year in appointments. Forrest was a 1B so I was able to finish him entirely (except retaking the two premolar xray shots, but then with someone as healthy as he seemed, perhaps there is no need to retake if you see most of what you need. Regardless, I need to practice on getting the film further forward on those shots even if it is uncomfortable for the patient ( love #3 film, why isn't it used more often?). So hey! four more quads of 1b down, just 14 to go.

Heeerrrrs Norma!

I have been anticipatuing this patient's arrival for sometime. She is my first Spanish speaking onlt patient and I have pondered on how I might converse with her without Lillie's help (she can't be there all the time). I found a good web site that translates english to espanol (and alot of other languages) I managed to quickly put together a powerpoint OHI show and brought in my lap top. Lilly helped me tweek the show (technical language that doesn't translate well) and I was off to the races. The powerpoint went well as did using the translator, but my probing/scaling technique was way off and I couldn't seem to get anything right. She is a class three and I think I still feel rushed to get it done fast rather than right. Once I get the minimum requirements done I will then feel that I can ask for one on one help with my technique. Anyway, Norma (bless her heart) is rescheduled for 3/28 and may need anesthesia for completion.

Feb 21 2007

Hey! Another no show...the story of my life...but I got a guy off the resource list right away...well a 9 am start time again. I managed to do the xrays, I/E oral, probing and OHI. Not much else. His wife is very ill (terminal) so he's not sure about making his appointment day to day. I told him we will do what we can and I have set him up for next week.

2/18/07

Well as usual my patient decided to cancel out at the last moment. Isn't there a better way to get them to keep appointments? Hotels have last minute cancellation fees, so why not dental hygienists? I was able to see Ashley though. She is a four year old who has never been to the dentist and unfortunately it shows. I was able to chart her very evident bottle caries and a couple more on B and H. This was a classic textbook example of bottle caries. I wasn't able to convince her to let me do much more than look, chart and brush her teeth. I'm hoping that this will still count as a 1A patient for me. Julie Hemsley wasn't sure.