Pedo is Neato

I finished up my pediatric rotation this week and basically got confirmation that my stainless steel crown counts and I'm done.  I completed another case, and apparently doing the rotation counts as a completed case, so there's no way they can say I'm not finished.  One more set of requirements down!

I was assigned another perio patient, so there is hope : )  And I'll start another crown tomorrow.  It's something. Then I don't have to see patients until mid January : )

* 1/2 oral surgery progress exams
* 0/2 perio progress exams
* 3/5 root canals
* 6.5/9 removable units
* 1/2 partials
* 2/4 perio cases, plus 1/2 starts
* 1/2 community service credits
* 20/50 crowns - 9 in progress, one ready to cast, one at the lab
* 74/99 filllings
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Oral surgery extractions complete! (105/100)
Nitrous oxide sedations complete!
Molar endo complete!
Stainless steel crown complete!
Removable proficiency exam complete!
Pedo requirements complete!

At least the whole pulling teeth part seems pretty successful...

While on oral surgery rotation, I decided to make it as productive as possible and finish my oral surgery minimum requirement of 100 extractions (150 for an "A") and my "student choice" progress exam.  I have to do one more "instructor choice" progress exam and I'm D.O.N.E. with oral surgery as far as my graduation is concerned.

Speaking of graduation, we got a notice in our boxes that we will be doing cap and gown sizing as soon as we come back from the Christmas break.  Might be a little early to do that, huh?

* 1/2 oral surgery progress exams
* 0/2 perio progress exams
* 3/5 root canals
* 6.5/9 removable units
* 1/2 partials
* 2/4 perio cases, plus 1/2 starts
* 3/4 completed pediatric cases
* 1/2 community service credits
* 20/50 crowns - 8 in progress, one ready to cast
* 74/99 filllings
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Oral surgery extractions complete! (104/100)
Nitrous oxide sedations complete!
Molar endo complete!
Stainless steel crown complete!
Removable proficiency exam complete!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Mr. Angry Tooth and I will be sleeping in, quilting and studying for boards this week.  179 days.

* 3/5 root canals

* 6.5/9 removable units
* 1/2 partials
* 2/4 perio cases, plus 1/2 starts
* 93/100 extractions, I really just need to do my progress exams and call it done after rotation in December
* 3/4 completed pediatric cases
* 1/2 community service credits
* 20/50 crowns - 8 in progress, one ready to wax
* 74/99 filllings

* 3/5 root canals
* 6.5/9 removable units
* 1/2 partials
* 2/4 perio cases, plus 1/2 starts
* 92/100 extractions, I really just need to do my progress exams and call it done after rotation in December
* 3/4 completed pediatric cases
* 1/2 community service credits
* 20/50 crowns - 8 in progress, 2 to be seated tomorrow, will wax one soon
* 74/99 filllings

Ending the Beginning of the End

This is my last full week of patients this semester.  Then I go on rotation *a much needed break* and see a handfull of patients right before the Christmas break to seat a few crowns, do a few fillings, and prophy with the best of them.

* 3/5 root canals
* 6.5/9 removable units
* 1/2 partials
* 2/4 perio cases, plus 1/2 starts
* 92/100 extractions, I really just need to do my progress exams and call it done after rotation in December
* 3/4 completed pediatric cases
* 1/2 community service credits
* 20/50 crowns - 8 in progress, 2 to be seated tomorrow, getting a gold crown ready to turn in for approval
* 69/99 filllings

School is Beating the Life out of Me.

* 3/5 root canals
* 6.5/9 removable units
* 1/2 partials
* 2/4 perio cases, plus 1/2 starts
* 92/100 extractions, I really just need to do my progress exams and call it done after rotation in December
* 3/4 completed pediatric cases
* 1/2 community service credits
* 19/50 crowns - 9 in progress, 2 back from the lab, will cast one tomorrow to seat on Monday
* 69/99 filllings - I've done a lot of fillings lately, but apparently didn't know how to read the record on Axium, hence the big jump!

The Final Numbers are In

My numbers are 50 crowns and 99 fillings.  Really?  99?  We couldn't just make it the full 100?  And we'll see just how close to that 50 crowns I can get.  This basically means I will be working my tail off until the porcelain deadline.  My entire tail.  It will all be gone.

* 3/5 root canals
* 6.5/9 removable units
* 1/2 partials
* 2/4 perio cases, plus 1/2 starts
* 92/100 extractions, I really just need to do my progress exams and call it done
* 3/4 completed pediatric cases
* 1/2 community service credits
* 18/50 crowns - 10 in progress, 4 back from the lab, waxing one up right now
* 57/99 filllings

Onward and Upward. Or Something Like That.

For a week where I only saw 2 patients, a crown, 2 fillings and 2 extractions is pretty good, right?
This week: a denture reline, crown lengthening surgery, 2 completed cases (Please, Lord!), a completed denture proficiency exam, and maybe more.  I might be at 6.5 removable units by the end of the week.  Crazy.  I may even start a new partial on Wednesday.


* 3/5 root canals
* 5/9 removable units, 1 in progress
* 1/2 partials, 0 in progress
* 2/4 perio cases, plus 1/2 starts
* 92/100 extractions, I really just need to do my progress exams and call it done 
* 3/4 completed pediatric cases
* 1/2 community service credits
* 17/40ish crowns - 10 in progress, 4 back from the lab, two at the lab as I type
* 57/100ish fillings

Because Every Crown Seated is Worth Writing About

But this one was a long time coming.  I took off the old crown sometime around April.  I impressed in May, I think.  1st attempt to seat in June.  2nd attempt to seat post re-tx endo in August?  Something like that.  Re-impressed about 3 weeks ago.  Seated 10.12.10.  Hallelujah.  My patient agrees.

Requirements Completed

* 3/5 root canals
* 5/9 removable units, 1 in progress
* 1/2 partials, 0 in progress
* 2/4 perio cases, plus 1/2 starts
* 91/100 extractions
* 3/4 completed pediatric cases
* 1/2 community service credits
* 15.5/40ish crowns - 8 in progress, 6 at the lab as I type
 57/100ish fillings

Bleh

I have my first WREB-type progress exam tomorrow and I'm trying to put off thinking about it for as long as possible.  I'm also hoping to seat another gold crown on Wednesday.  I've got to get where doing crowns this year is like doing fillings.  Quick, easy, often.  I'm booking them as fast as I can.  I have a new root canal patient that I hope will work out better than the last two.  I seriously need perio.  Seriously.  I finished Nanna's partial, I'm just waiting on lower posterior teeth to come in so I can finish up my F/F proficiency, and I have 2 other partials that just need survey crowns seated to get started.  I should also finish my 3rd and possibly last pedo case this week.

I had my phasing conference, and I'm not sure what my numbers are yet.  I'm not really sure that it meant a whole lot in the long run, except there's a list of treatment I don't have to do because those patients are unreliable or need entirely too much for me to finish in time.  I guess that's a start.

Next up on my plate: part II of boards.

Requirements Completed


* 3/5 root canals
* 5/9 removable units, 1 in progress
* 1/2 partials, 0 in progress
* 2/4 perio cases, plus 1/2 starts
* 91/100 extractions
* 2/4 completed pediatric cases
* 1/2 community service credits
* 14.5/40ish crowns - 8 in progress
* 57/100ish fillings

Because A Good Day is Hard to Come By Lately

A completed pedo case officially gets its own post.  I'm delivering a partial tomorrow.  Get excited!

Requirements Completed

* A ridiculous number of patients
* 3/5 root canals
* 4/9 removable units, 2 in progress
* 0/2 partials, 1 in progress
* 2/4 perio cases
* 84/100 extractions
* 2/4 completed pediatric cases
* 1/2 community service credits
* 13.5/50ish crowns - 8 in progress
* 57/100ish fillings


What I Never Really Have to Do Again If I Don't Want To

* pre-prosth
* stainless steel crown
* molar endo
* nitrous credits

Back on the Wagon

Since I took my blog off Facebook, Rudy can't whine about my requirements posts, so I'll start again.  It's nice to see how it all evolves throughout the year.  I seated 3 crowns today so that was kinda huge for me.

* A ridiculous number of patients

* 3/5 root canals
* 4/9 removable units, 2 in progress
* 0/2 partials, 1 in progress
* 2/4 perio cases
* 84/100 extractions
* 1/4 completed pediatric cases
* 1/2 community service credits
* 13.5/50ish crowns - 6 in progress
* 57/100ish fillings
 
Besides, what else do I have to post about?  I sure could do an awful lot of whining on this here blog, but who wants to hear that...besides, who really reads this anyway?

I Don't Know...

...what the group of interviewers thought of this when they toured through the lab today, but there you have it.  And we've only just begun...

OK, Fine.

I'll actually post about the first week back this fall.

It wasn't great.  It wasn't horrible. It was school.  BCD clinic in all it's glory.  9 months to go.

How has this week as a fourth year been any different than a third year?  I think if anything, I was given more opportunity to be the one thinking like a clinician.  In third year, you present your patient for diagnosis with what you think, and the professor tells you what they think.  You see how you disagree and learn from it.  Then you repeat with consults in every area (root canals, fillings, crowns, etc).  Once you have the final plan, you just do it. They check every little step and intervene when things get hairy.  This week, there was a lot more consulting away from chairside.  This means that your story was all the professor got before they gave you advice.  No professor looking in the mouth, no professor seeing with their eyes what you were describing.  I had to take the advice and run with it.  One day, all of it led to pulling a tooth.  Today, it all led to saving the day and seating an impossible-to-seat crown.  The crazy part was that each time, I figured out exactly what was going on in a crazy situation and made what turned out to be the right call all on my own before having it confirmed by a professor. 

They have to kick you out of the nest sometime.  And then one day, I'll have to pick up a phone if I need one of those consults.

I'm a Fourth Year.

They've always been a revered group.  So smart.  So skilled.  So grown-up.  I watched a group of my classmates casually chatting down in the cafeteria this morning as I paid for my coffee on our first day of summer clinic and realized that they were a group of "fourth years".  So. Cool.  And I'm apparently one of them.

We spent a good 3 hours this morning going over the D4 manual which I had actually already read because it is only 1/10th the size of the D3 manual.  (I didn't fully read the D3 comp care manual until about 1/2 way through when I panicked a bit about finishing and decided I should know the rules in and out regardless of the size of that monster.)

We (and by "we", I mean my group) also found out who our group leader is this year.  We were left in the dark all break while our classmates blissfully enjoyed their time off knowing who their leaders were.  I was left in terror - literal terror - after a well-meant warning from an unnamed faculty member.  I mean some of the people at the school really are scary - make you crawl in a hole and cry kinda scary.  I couldn't imagine spending a year with one of the scary ones.  That terror was completely unnecessary but always a good lesson of just how much I really trust God, and shouldn't fear anything in this world.  Lesson learned for now, right?  Thankfully, after crying, praying, and allowing my body to return to some state of normality, I regained my sanity and could peacefully enjoy my break.  I think it will be a great year.

After Tuesday, I spent the rest of finals week quilting, going to the gym, buying fabric, spending way too much money at Target, swimming at the community pool with Erik, and going to the concert by the lake.  The first full week off, I spent at two different dentists' offices for a preceptorship (i.e. class credit).  My first 3 days were ultimately boring and miserable.  I didn't jive with the dentist, his office was way too intense and overbearing, and when I left my lunch bag in the fridge at the end of the 3rd day, I didn't want to go back and get it. 

The next day and the following Tuesday (after Memorial Day), I was at an office just down the road and it was night and day.  Laid back but productive, totally got along with the dentist, and left with the possible hope of spending some time there after graduation.  But there's a lot to do between now and then - we'll see what the Lord has for us. 

My 2nd full week off was too short, but Erik and I finished it with a trip to Granbury counting dentist offices, going to a drive-in movie (Shrek!), drinking a little Texas wine, and spending an afternoon at a sandy beach on Lake Granbury. 

We hit the ground running on Wednesday in clinic.  I've already been doing lab work.  I'm going to be busy fast!  Got to finish up everyone's work!
---------------------------------------------------
A ridiculous number of patients whose treatment needs to be completed
2/5 root canals, molar complete
4/9 removable units
0/2 partials
2/4 perio cases
50/100 oral surgery procedures
4/6 nitrous credits
4/6 pre-prosth credits
0/4 completed pediatric cases
0/2 community service credits

Just to Clarify

Several good friends have expressed concern for me after my last post.  Let me explain:

I'm not really in the pit of despair.  I do this a lot. I finish doing something really exhausting and then have nothing to do but think about how crazy it was.  Then I get all emotional about God's faithfulness and provision for me and the tiredness just completes it all to make me an emotional wreck.  I also cite my first 10K where I cried at the finish line and my breakdown after finishing organic at UT.  Same deal.  Lots of hard work all over at once = breakdown.  And crying seems to be my m.o. when it comes to emotional release.

This reaction was completely uncharacteristic after D1.  I think I was still in shock.  That can be the only explanation. 

I looked back at the end of second year and found nothing.  Nothing.  I think that's because there was no break.  It just flowed right on into 3rd year without a minute to catch my breath.  No wonder this one was so pronounced.

I'm a little worried about what will happen when I walk across the stage at graduation next year.  If I see my mom before hand, it's game over.  She'll already be crying, and if anybody else is crying, I'm along for the ride.  If not, I'm sure the sobbing will start as we all sit there in anticipation.  Yeah, I'm pretty sure I'll need to tuck a large box of Kleenex under my chair before the ceremony starts.  The long rectangular one, not the cube, and definitely not the purse size.

Now, don't get me wrong - I do have a huge climb ahead of me.  Maybe bigger than I know.  We'll see how that one goes.  I'll have to tell the story of getting out of the Grand Canyon here sometime.  It's pretty funny.  Oh, that pita bread!

Veni, Vidi, Vivo

So third year came and went and yesterday I had my "bottom of the Grand Canyon moment".  I'm still getting used to the feeling.  If you weren't there at the bottom of the canyon with me that day wearing a 30 pound pack full of tents and sleeping bags and pita bread, let me fill you in.  Our senior year at A&M, Erik and I, along with 8 other friends went to the Grand Canyon for Spring Break.  We liked to camp every break, and senior year meant we had to do something big.  I was in pretty decent shape, but I had no idea what was ahead of me. Oh, how closely this story parallels my third year of dental school!  (Just you wait, second years!  You have NO idea.)

The first night we camped on the rim in the snow and ice - I don't do cold, just so you know.  I woke up with my sleeping bag incased in a thin layer of ice.  ICE!  I immediately ran to the car and turned it on, praying that the heater would heat up faster.  It didn't.

We packed up our backpacks and even had a scale so we could distribute our provisions as evenly as possible.  We had a lot since we planned to camp at the bottom 3 days or so.  Full of adrenaline and naivety we started down the teeny, tiny narrow path.  We did know a few things: we knew that it was a long downhill hike, that we had to navigate the mule droppings and other visitors as we made our way down, and that if you get into trouble (i.e. fall off the side), no one will come to get you.  They're sure to let you know that when you sign up.  What we didn't know, was that, just as there was snow and ice on the rim, there was also snow and ice a good ways down at the top of the path.  Remember that part about falling of the side?  Yeah.  Since we, in our ignorance, did not have ice picks on our shoes to help us down the treacherous areas, we chose to sit on our bums with our big backpacks on our backs and scoot down the icy patches until we reached solid ground again.  Nerves = on edge.

Now, you may be thinking, "Going down can't be that bad.  At least you're not climbing up."  Oh, contraire.  It was terrible.  My pack was just weighing me down.  My legs started shaking about half-way down.  Visibly.  I was constantly hydrating and eating as much trail mix as I could to get some salt and sugar in my body.  I'd recover and keep going, only having to stop and rest again.  And the worst part of it was the mental game.  See, with every step down, there was a step UP in my future.  How in the hell was I going to get out of here?  Are you kidding me?  Can they just send a helicopter and lift me out?  Can I build a raft and float down the Colorado river to Mexico and fly back to Texas?  On we went.  Down into the beautiful canyon.

My legs were rubber.  Mush.  I got to the campground area at the bottom, took off my pack, sat down on a bench and cried.  I was spent.  I gave everything and I was stuck down there.  I could not walk anymore.  I got a hold of myself, but as I did, the overwhelming dread of the hike up began to creep in.  I was not in a good mood.  Believe it or not, there was a pay phone (remember those?) not far from the cabins (not where we were staying).  I called my mommy.  I did.  I told her I was at the bottom of the Grand Canyon and I asked her to get me out of there.  That didn't work.  This was my reality.

 

My friend let us know that the site where we would make camp was further down the trail at the bottom.  Like 2 more miles or something ridiculous like that.  As unbelievable as that news was, I put my pack back on, and mustered up whatever was miraculously left and followed along.  We made camp, ate dinner and I slept. The next few days I didn't want to move.  Yet another obstacle to getting out of the hole.

The recovery process at the bottom was two-fold:  fight the anger and fear about the climb up and make my muscles work again so I could physically do it.  I spent time alone walking the river bed, spending time with God, and taking pictures of His creation around me trying to psych myself up and rest my spirit.  I went on little day hikes with my friends to stretch my muscles and make my body do something with all the lactic acid buildup - lots of stretching.  Gradually, things got better, and then the big day came.

So here I am.  I just got to the bottom of this hell-hole and I have 2.5 weeks to get ready for the climb up.  After taking 3 more finals next week, that is.  Before dental school, I'd tell people that hiking the Grand Canyon was the hardest thing I've ever done.  That is not the case anymore. 

I did get out of there alive, in case you were wondering. 

****************************************************

Fixed: 6/13 - #7 is back from the lab and my patient didn't show up, #8 is impressed and I'm going to pour it up and pindex it if I like it and #9 is mostly cut

------------------------------------------------
Progress Exam Status:

Fixed: 1 done/1 in progress/2
DONE - Perio, Operative, Oral Surgery, Endo, Removable
------------------------------------------------
D3 Finishes!

Stainless steel crown in pedo...check.
Finished with Operative!
Finished with ENDO! (2/5 to graduate, molar complete)
Finished with Perio! (2/4 to graduate, 2 tx planned)
Finished with Removable! (4/9 to graduate, 2 in progress)
Finished with Nitrous! (4/6 nitrous to graduate)
Finished with Oral Surgery Extractions! (50/100 ext to graduate)
Finished with Pre-Prosth! (4/6 preprosth cases to graduate)
Finished with DAU! (forever)
All assisting is complete!

Yeah, I like pedo, but not enough to stay in school any longer...yeesh.

Spent the last week in the pediatric clinic.  This time around, on 3 of the afternoons, a group of us were scheduled to work at 2 community dental clinics.  It was nice to have a little field trip with some fun buddies and make some new friends, too.  Highlights of the week?  Another filling on another permanent tooth, a nitrous assist, a lap exam for a 6.5 mo old precious little girl, and a stainless steel crown.  We have to do one in pedo to graduate, so this is a nice thing to have on my progress sheet : )  I had all the good kids this week, too ; )

Back in 3rd year land, I managed to finally get my molar endo swiped, get two crowns waxed and one ready to cast, and rearrange my last Friday so I can seat a PE and take impressions on another patient so the crown can be made while we're on break.  Whew!

Next week is it. It will be insane.  I'll see you on the other side : )


Fixed: 4/13 - #5 mostly waxed, #6 is sent to the lab, #7 ready to cast, #8 cut and scheduled to impress and #9 mostly cut

------------------------------------------------
Progress Exam Status:

Fixed: 2 in progress/2
DONE - Perio, Operative, Oral Surgery, Endo, Removable
------------------------------------------------
D3 Finishes!

Stainless steel crown in pedo...check.
Finished with Operative!
Finished with ENDO! (2/5 to graduate, molar complete)
Finished with Perio! (2/4 to graduate, 1 tx planned)
Finished with Removable! (4/9 to graduate, 2 in progress)
Finished with Nitrous! (4/6 nitrous to graduate)
Finished with Oral Surgery Extractions! (46/100 ext to graduate)
Finished with Pre-Prosth! (4/6 preprosth cases to graduate)
Finished with DAU! (forever)
All assisting is complete!

Pretty Much Done

My last full week of clinic was exhausting but I got a lot done.  I also had 2 cancellations, but I used my time to work on those gold crowns and get my fixed case presentations done so I can push forward as much as possible so that hopefully, they'll let me slide on by with what I have.  If not, I'll spend some time during the summer as a 3rd year in fixed, but that's ok.  It's not like I haven't tried or am not capable.  My goal was to avoid remediating operative at all costs, and that I have done.  My progress exams have graded preps and at least one of them will be seated if not both.  I'd love to seat the other gold crown, but it all comes down to time.  I have some moving around I can do, so we'll see.  I'll finish up two rotations, a filling, a crown seating or two, maybe some work on Nanna, and something like 5 finals, and I'm done.  After not much of a break, I'll come back for what will most likely be my last year of dental school.  Hasn't it taken forever to get here?

Fixed: 4/13 - #5 mostly waxed, #6 is sent to the lab, #7 poured, #8 cut and not impressed and #9 mostly cut

------------------------------------------------

Progress Exam Status:

Fixed: 2 in progress/2

DONE - Perio, Operative, Oral Surgery, Endo, Removable

------------------------------------------------
D3 Finishes!

Finished with Operative!
Finished with ENDO! (2/5 to graduate, molar complete)
Finished with Perio! (2/4 to graduate, 1 tx planned)
Finished with Removable! (4/9 to graduate, 2 in progress)
Finished with Nitrous! (3/6 nitrous to graduate)
Finished with Oral Surgery Extractions! (46/100 ext to graduate)
Finished with Pre-Prosth! (4/6 preprosth cases to graduate) (2 more planned 4/28)
Finished with DAU! (forever)
All assisting is complete!

This Week is Basically Over

Instead of prepping two crowns tomorrow, I'm doing a prophy.  This, my friends, is how dental school works. 6.5 days of clinic left.
*************************************
Rotations left: Pedo, OMS emergency

Fixed: 4/13 - #5 finished next Monday and I'll wax it up and cast and #6 is sent to the lab, #7 cut on Tuesday, #8 and 9 on Thursday
Operative: 46/50 (9/13 class IIs) - last 4 class IIs on the schedule plus a buildup
------------------------------------------------
Progress Exam Status:

Fixed: 2 in progress/2
DONE - Perio, Operative, Oral Surgery, Endo, Removable
------------------------------------------------
D3 Finishes!

Finished with ENDO! (2/5 to graduate, molar complete)
Finished with Perio! (2/4 to graduate, 1 tx planned)
Finished with Removable! (4/9 to graduate, 2 in progress)
Finished with Nitrous! (3/6 nitrous to graduate)
Finished with Oral Surgery Extractions! (46/100 ext to graduate)
Finished with Pre-Prosth! (4/6 preprosth cases to graduate) (2 more planned 4/28)
Finished with DAU! (forever)
All assisting is complete!

I Mean, This Was a Big Day

Rotations left: Pedo, OMS emergency

Fixed: 3/13 - #4 will be seated on Thursday,#7&8 will be cut on Friday, #5 finished next Monday and #6 is sent to the lab

Operative: 45/50 (8/13 class IIs) - last 5 class IIs on the schedule plus a buildup
------------------------------------------------
Progress Exam Status:

Fixed: 2 in progress/2
DONE - Perio, Operative, Oral Surgery, Endo, Removable
------------------------------------------------

D3 Finishes!

Finished with ENDO! (2/5 to graduate, molar complete)
Finished with DAU! (forever)
Finished with Perio! (2/4 to graduate, 1 tx planned)
Finished with Removable! (4/9 to graduate, 2 in progress)
Finished with Nitrous! (3/6 nitrous to graduate)

Finished with Oral Surgery Extractions! (46/100 ext to graduate)

Finished with Pre-Prosth! (4/6 preprosth cases to graduate) (2 more planned 4/28)
All assisting is complete!

Schedule for the Rest of the Year (Apparently)

I went to school this morning and was surprised to find that all but one of my appointments for the rest of the year are booked.  So here's what I have left to do to finish up.  If all goes according to plan (hehe) I'll be finished with everything but fixed and will have 11/13 crowns cut, 6 seated.

4/20 Tuesday: 10am: endo/non-vital buildup
                       1:30 pm: oral diagnosis/consults
Wednesday: 1pm prophy
                    4pm denture adjustment
Thursday: 10am class II filling
                1pm seat crown
Friday: 10am crown preps 8 and 9
            1pm ???
-----------------------------------------------------------------
4/26 Monday: 10am crown prep #28
                       1pm class II filling
Tuesday: 10am oral diagnosis/consults
               1pm crown prep #4
Wednesday: 1pm full mouth extractions/alveoloplasty
Thursday: 10am crown prep #19
                1pm non-vital buildup and crown prep #14
Friday: 10am class II filling
            1pm class II filling
--------------------------------------------------------------------
5/3 Monday: 1pm class II filling
Pedo rotation
-------------------------------------------------------------------
5/10 Oral Surgery Rotation
Friday: 10 am rest preps and impression for partial
            1pm seat crown

*********************************************************
Rotations left: Pedo, OMS emergency

Endo: 1/2 - I will finish TOMORROW!
Fixed: 3/13 - #4 will be seated on Thursday,#7&8 will be cut on Friday, #5 finished next Monday and #6 is sent to the lab
Operative: 44/50 (8/13 class IIs) - last 5 class IIs on the schedule plus two buildups
------------------------------------------------
Progress Exam Status:

Fixed: 2 in progress/2
DONE - Perio, Operative, Oral Surgery, Endo, Removable
------------------------------------------------
D3 Finishes!

Finished with DAU!
Finished with Perio! (2/4 to graduate, 1 tx planned)
Finished with Removable! (4/9 to graduate, 2 in progress)
Finished with Nitrous! (3/6 nitrous to graduate)
Finished with Oral Surgery Extractions! (46/100 ext to graduate)
Finished with Pre-Prosth! (4/6 preprosth cases to graduate) (2 more planned 4/28)
All assisting is complete!

Oral Diagnosis: Wannagetfinisheditis

I have a gloriously long weekend as the 4th years have WREB, the licensing exam, Fri-Mon.  Yeah, get ready to get an earful about that this time next year.  Speaking of exams, I did go ahead and buy a study book for National Boards Part II.  I will not ruin another Christmas studying for that exam.  You heard it here.  I'd rather ruin summer.

On to the numbers:

Of course, none of these numbers changed after my week on oral diagnosis rotation, but my schedule has been beefed up to finish out those class IIs and get crowns in to the lab.  I've done a lot of patient trading for my own needs as well as others' and it's paid off so far.  Two of my last five class IIs are Rudy's pt that I've shared before and Ben's wife.  Those are definitely reliable.  The last 3 are, too, but a different level of reliable : )  I'll get 'em done.

Crowns, well, I'll get done what I get done.  6 cut isn't too bad, and I have 3 more on the schedule = 9.  There are 2 more I've requested appointments for = 11.  That's close to 13.

I'm running out of open chairs in the clinic for the few things I have left, so I'm trying to get everything booked NOW.  I already lost out on next Friday, so unless I stay on top of things I may be finishing out my nitrous or maybe some pre-prosth/extractions - then I can start a "D4 Finishes" list. : )
___________________________________________________

Rotations left: Pedo (May), OMS emergency (May)

Endo: 1/2 - I will finish on Tuesday
Fixed: 3/13 - #4 will be seated on Thursday (#7&8 postponed), #5 mostly cut and #6 sent to the lab
Operative: 44/50 (8/13 class IIs) - last 5 class IIs on the schedule plus a buildup
------------------------------------------------
Progress Exam Status:

Fixed: 2 in progress/2
DONE - Perio, Operative, Oral Surgery, Endo, Removable
------------------------------------------------
D3 Finishes!

Finished with DAU!
Finished with Perio! (2/4 to graduate, 1 tx planned)
Finished with Removable! (4/9 to graduate, 2 in progress)
Finished with Nitrous! (3/6 nitrous to graduate)
Finished with Oral Surgery Extractions! (46/100 ext to graduate)
Finished with Pre-Prosth! (4/6 preprosth cases to graduate) (2 more planned 4/28)
All assisting is complete!

Gittin' 'Er Done

I hit it hard this week and got in 3 class IIs, 2 misc. fillings, 2 fixed PEs started, and an endo almost finished : )  Goals for next week include pindexing and die trimming VZ's crown and sending it, booking all my borrowed patients, and resting up for a crazy 2 weeks of clinic when I get back.  2 weeks and 1.5 days of clinic left for poor little ole me.

Rotations left: OD (next week), Pedo (May), OMS emergency (May)

Endo: 1/2 - I obturated 3 canals but have to redo the distal - grrr...
Fixed: 3/13 - #4 sent to the lab, #5 mostly cut and #6 prepped and impressed
Operative: 44/50 (8/13 class IIs)
------------------------------------------------
Progress Exam Status:

Fixed 2 in progress/2
DONE - Perio, Operative, Oral Surgery, Endo, Removable
------------------------------------------------
D3 Finishes!
Finished with DAU!
Finished with Perio! (2/4 to graduate, 1 tx planned)
Finished with Removable! (4/9 to graduate, 2 in progress)
Finished with Nitrous! (3/6 nitrous to graduate)
Finished with Oral Surgery Extractions! (46/100 ext to graduate)
Finished with Pre-Prosth! (4/6 preprosth cases to graduate)
All assisting is complete!

It's All About the Numbers

Let's be honest.  Right now, you just can't get around it.  We're desperate and cynical and the chalkboard in our lab says it all.  I really just need 8 class II restorations that don't have to be pretty progress exams and finish my root canal and then I can handle whatever fixed I'll need to remediate; I will avoid operative remediation at all costs.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not blowing off any of my patients that need treatment that I don't "need" to do.  I still have a denture patient with a one week recall appointment to do that's been sick, another denture patient ready to start extractions, my Nanna who's ready for her treatment, and a new patient coming in for a prophy.  I'm just being very deliberate about scheduling the appointments that I need to make it to the finish line or as close to it as is humanly possible.

So, this week I'm back in clinic.  Lots to do:

Monday: Fixed PE, perio rotation
Tuesday: class IIs, class III
Wednesday: no clinic
Thursday: class IIs, fixed PE
Friday: class III, finish endo (please, Lord!)

"Get your progress exams done" is the mantra from the head hancho, so that's what I'm aiming at this week.  One crown is a gold survey crown that *will* be seated by the end and the other is a PFM that will most likely be seated - that one I really need to impress that day since I have OD rotation all next week and the porcelain deadline looms upon us.  I would LOVE to impress both of those this week, but I don't have assistants lined up, so who knows.

Rotations left: OD (next week), Pedo (May), OMS emergency (May)
Endo: 1/2 - finish #19 on Friday????
Fixed: 3/13 - #4 sent to the lab, cut 5 and 6 this week
Operative: 39/50 (5/13 class IIs) - 3, maybe 4 class IIs this week?, 2 more class IIIs this week
------------------------------------------------
Progress Exam Status:

Fixed 0/2 (2 this week)
DONE - Perio, Operative, Oral Surgery, Endo, Removable
------------------------------------------------
D3 Finishes!

Finished with DAU!
Finished with Perio! (2/4 to graduate, 1 tx planned)
Finished with Removable! (4/9 to graduate, 2 in progress)
Finished with Nitrous! (3/6 nitrous to graduate)
Finished with Oral Surgery Extractions! (46/100 ext to graduate)
Finished with Pre-Prosth! (4/6 preprosth cases to graduate)
All assisting is complete!

Don't Count Your Chickens Before The Eggs are Laid

So, my potential bridge is gone, class II pt rescheduled, my second endo on a molar is crazy hard, and I lost two more crowns to fillings only.  The best laid plans, right?  So now I'm just on fire to get all of my class IIs done so I don't have to suffer this summer. I just haven't had the pts that need them.  So I've done a little trading, and God is working a minor miracle for me by bringing my favorite patient back!  The only problem is that this is all last minute and we all know that nothing in dental school is set in stone until it's swiped at the end of the treatment.  Patients cancel, reschedule, get sick, treatment changes, and more pressing things arise like root canals or major surgery.  I'm just going to have to do what I can.  In 3 weeks....

Endo: 1/2 - WL in progress on #19 - it's really hard!

Fixed: 3/13 - #4 sent to the lab, 4 on the schedule to cut

Operative: 39/50 (5/13 class IIs)

------------------------------------------------

Progress Exam Status:

Fixed 0/2 (2 scheduled)

DONE - Perio, Operative, Oral Surgery, Endo, Removable

------------------------------------------------
D3 Finishes!

Finished with DAU!
Finished with Perio! (2/4 to graduate, 1 tx planned)
Finished with Removable! (4/9 to graduate, 2 in progress)
Finished with Nitrous! (3/6 nitrous to graduate)
Finished with Oral Surgery Extractions! (46/100 ext to graduate)
Finished with Pre-Prosth! (4/6 preprosth cases to graduate)
All assisting is complete!

I'm on Pedo Rotation and the Fillings I do in there DON'T COUNT

Just had to make that clear.  I did a buildup on a pt Monday afternoon when they let us free from pedo (not sure why, but I'll take it!).  Buildup means crown and she's scheduled along with her husband (#8 and 9 = two at once!).  I have another #8 and 9 patient scheduled, too (I'm racking 'em up!)  If you're counting, that equals 5 plus 4 = 9.  That's a pass if I ever saw one.  Just got to fit 2 progress exams in there and I'm not sure if I want to do them on #8 and 9.  Hmmm.

Endo: 0/2 - Accessed #19 and cleaned and shaped #8
Fixed: 3/13 - prepped #4, have some leads for a bridge
Operative: 34/50 (5/13 class IIs)
------------------------------------------------
Progress Exam Status:

Operative - 2/3 (last is scheduled)
Perio -1/2 (last is scheduled)
Fixed 0/2 (1 scheduled)
DONE - Oral Surgery, Endo, Removable
------------------------------------------------
D3 Finishes!

Finished with DAU!
Finished with Perio! (2/4 to graduate, 1 tx planned)
Finished with Removable! (3/9 to graduate, 3 in progress)
Finished with Nitrous! (3/6 nitrous to graduate)
Finished with Oral Surgery Extractions! (46/100 ext to graduate)
Finished with Pre-Prosth! (4/6 preprosth cases to graduate)
All assisting is complete!

Just Doing What I Can in 4 Weeks

My goals for next week while I'm on pedo rotation:

* do not pulp JW's tooth (please, Lord!) and restore with buildup

* finish MT's denture and send to lab, deliver if pt cancels

* get all crown removals/remakes scheduled to bring up fixed numbers (WH, HJ, MW)

* get all class IIs scheduled and find classmates willing to share (HJ, MB?, WA)

* schedule Nanna in DAU again
* meet Ernesto's patient and get ok to do his bridge

* take impressions for MB's crown

When I get back to clinic, I have:
* My last operative progress exam
* convince JK to do a class II when he's getting a SOAP
* finish RCT on #8

* complete MW's buildups so I can do crowns (maybe both as PE's?)

* deliver denture if didn't do it during pedo
* clean and shape #19
* finish WA's consults and prophy, schedule class II

* impress #5 and send to lab

* last perio PE
* class II or take of crown with HJ

------------------------------------------------
Endo: 0/2 - Accessed #19 and cleaned and shaped #8

Fixed: 3/13 - prepped #4, have some leads for a bridge

Operative: 33/50 (5/13 class IIs)
------------------------------------------------
Progress Exam Status:

Operative - 2/3 (last is scheduled)

Perio -1/2 (last is scheduled)
Fixed 0/2 (1 scheduled)
DONE - Oral Surgery, Endo, Removable
------------------------------------------------
D3 Finishes!

Finished with DAU!
Finished with Perio! (2/4 to graduate, 1 tx planned)
Finished with Removable! (3/9 to graduate, 3 in progress)
Finished with Nitrous! (3/6 nitrous to graduate)
Finished with Oral Surgery Extractions! (46/100 ext to graduate)
Finished with Pre-Prosth! (4/6 preprosth cases to graduate)
All assisting is complete!

Great is Thy Faithfulness

The first two days of this week have been huge.  Sunday night was miserable as I realized that the 10 weeks we have left of school was really only 5 weeks for me because I have so many rotations.  You might be thinking, "Didn't you know this was coming and plan accordingly?"  Well, that's true, in a way...but I've had such tunnel vision as I've plugged away on whatever I've had to do, carefully keeping track of my numbers and really just trusting that it would all work out in the end.  A little irresponsible?  Maybe.  So I've been very methodical in my return from Spring Break, making sure that my time is being used to my benefit.  This sounds selfish and not very patient-centric, but within the confines of ethical practice, I have to get done what needs to be done to move on to 4th year.  It has to happen.

He replied, “Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17:20

So on Sunday, despite my general feelings of hopelessness and demise, I cried out to God with the speck of faith I had left that He could really get me through this.  Faith of a mustard seed, right?  I realized that the phrase "oh, ye of little faith" (a category I found myself very comfortably sitting in) is always such a put down...but all it takes is a little.  A mustard seed.  Maybe that was just a way for Jesus to remind folks that while, yes, they were capable of having more faith than they possessed at the moment, they still had a little faith - enough for God to pull out all the stops and amaze them - at least.  So despite all odds, I told God that yes, it was still possible to pass a progress exam where just about everything (except my actual work) went wrong.  Yes, it is still possible for Him to provide all the right patients and situations to get my requirements taken care of.  Yes, it is still possible for a tooth with a possible hopeless fracture to just need a root canal.

Monday: tooth with possible hopeless fracture is restorable and I start the root canal
Tuesday: passed progress exam - a true miracle
           : get new patient who doesn't need perio and has class IIs (I need them!) and crowns (I need them!)
           : get my Nanna in to fill an opening in my schedule, do 2 fillings, complete my DAU requirements, and get her appointed for my last progress exam

It's not just that things are going my way, when they haven't been in weeks past.  It's not that I'm just more optimistic after some careful planning and swift execution.  It's been a real kick in the pants of how little I trusted that God could do anything about my situation, so much so that I didn't even ask.  Didn't even try.

Lesson learned.
______________________________________________________________

Endo: 0/2 - Accessed #19 on Monday and will start RCT on #8 tomorrow.  Wow, what a blessing! All in one week!  I'll keep praying that everything goes as planned and if not, that another will be provided.


Fixed: 3/13 - prepped #4, have some leads for a bridge

Operative: 31/50 - two more planned this week
------------------------------------------------
Progress Exam Status:
Operative - 2/3 (1 is scheduled for this month)
Perio -1/2 (second one in the works)
Fixed 0/2
DONE - Oral Surgery, Endo, Removable
------------------------------------------------
D3 Finishes!

Finished with DAU!
Finished with Perio! (2/4 to graduate, 1 tx planned)
Finished with Removable! (3/9 to graduate, 3 in progress)
Finished with Nitrous! (3/6 nitrous to graduate)
Finished with Oral Surgery Extractions! (46/100 ext to graduate)
Finished with Pre-Prosth! (4/6 preprosth cases to graduate)
All assisting is complete!

Spring Break and I'm Freaking Out

When I get back from Spring Break, I have a ton of work to get done, and a lot of rotations that will keep me from getting it done.  I'm going to have to be soooo productive during the time I have available, and have a really good attitude during the weeks when I can't see patients.  I know things usually work out for people by the end of 3rd year, and I know God is in control of all this.  I can't wait to see how He's going to make it happen.  Wow.

I think all I did last week was a perio progress exam and a filling.  Go me!


Endo: 0/2 (First NSRCT on Wednesday.  I just got 2 possible RCTs assigned to me and will SOAP those Tuesday, I'm also pulping a tooth on Monday that I started last Wednesday.  Yikes)


Fixed: 3/13 - prepped #4, have some leads for a bridge

Operative: 29/50

DAU: 9/10 to graduate

------------------------------------------------
Progress Exam Status:

Operative - 1/3 (1 is scheduled for this month)
Perio -1/2 (second one in the works)
Fixed 0/2
Oral Surgery - DONE
Endo - DONE
Removable - DONE

------------------------------------------------
D3 Finishes!

Finished with Perio! (2/4 to graduate, 1 tx planned)
Finished with Removable! (3/9 to graduate, 3 in progress)
Finished with Nitrous! (3/6 nitrous to graduate)
Finished with Oral Surgery Extractions! (46/100 ext to graduate)
Finished with Pre-Prosth! (4/6 preprosth cases to graduate)
All assisting is complete!

Week 5 - Still Alive

In total this week, I did a filling, finished a perio case, delivered a denture and a flipper plus 2 more extractions. Eh, I'll take it.  I actually saw 4 patients in one day (today) and did more than survive.  It actually worked just fine.  Huh.  Next week I have an operative progress exam, I'm still working on another denture, a buildup, some consults, impressing a fixed PE, and a perio PE.  Kevin has a lead on a bridge for me and I *have* to call him on Monday.  I'm also screening another potential bridge patient on Thursday.  I got a new patient today who has 2 possible root canals, so I pray that will pan out and I can get those off my list.  I won't be able to do the other root canal my classmate gave me until after Spring Break.

In other news, I'm finding that some of my patients that I diagnosed early on in my clinic career are coming back to haunt me.  Granted, I am not solely responsible for finding all the cavities and other issues - I'm still learning.  I have licensed dentists checking everything I do and they've missed it, too.  But it sure leaves me in a lurch and makes it hard to *esplain* it to my patients.  2 now.  And they're married.  Double trouble.  They're both getting teeth pulled and not excited about it.  Neither am I.  So far I've lost 2 crowns out of it, and the wife *who was a completed case* is now back on my roll with removable - the last thing I need right now.  I'm going to try to pass her off to a classmate.  I can't afford any more removable.

-----------------------------------------------
Endo: 0/2 (I've been assigned a case and will do it after Spring Break.  I just got 2 possible RCTs assigned to me and will SOAP those soon)

Fixed: 3/13 - prepped #4, have some leads for a bridge

Operative: 28/50 (2, maybe 3 next week - I'd love to be in the 30's by the end of the month)

DAU: 9/10 to graduate (I'm going to schedule Nanna so we can get her finished)
------------------------------------------------
Progress Exam Status (apparently, this is the key to moving on):

Operative - 1/3 (last 2 are scheduled for this month)
Perio -0/2 (one scheduled)
Fixed 0/2 (one in progress)
Oral Surgery - DONE
Endo - DONE
Removable - DONE
------------------------------------------------
D3 Finishes!

Finished with Perio! (2/4 to graduate, 1 tx planned)
Finished with Removable! (3/9 to graduate, 3 in progress)
Finished with Nitrous! (3/6 nitrous to graduate)
Finished with Oral Surgery Extractions! (46/100 ext to graduate)
Finished with Pre-Prosth! (4/6 preprosth cases to graduate)
All assisting is complete!

Snowed Out and Week 4.4

I had to wait a few days to make last week seem like anything productive.  Not that this week has proved to be any better.  The snow last week put a wrench in my schedule and I'm still recovering from the set-backs.  Such is life.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Removable: 1.5/3 to pass (4 to get an "A") - I'm delivering a denture on Thursday and a flipper on Friday = 3

Perio:  2/4 completed cases to graduate (I'm scheduled to do a Diagnostic workup progress exam on the 26th)

Endo: 0/2 (I've been assigned a case and will take impressions - since I'm going through a crown - next Tuesday)

Fixed: 3/13 - prepped #4, have some leads for a bridge

Operative: 28/50

DAU: 9/10 to graduate

------------------------------------------------
Progress Exam Status (apparently, this is the key to moving on):

Operative - 1/3 (last 2 are scheduled for this month)
Perio -0/2 (one scheduled)
Fixed 0/2 (one in progress)
Oral Surgery - DONE
Endo - DONE
Removable - DONE
------------------------------------------------
D3 Finishes!

Finished with Nitrous! (3/6 nitrous to graduate)
Finished with Oral Surgery Extractions! (44/100 ext to graduate)
Finished with Pre-Prosth! (4/6 preprosth cases to graduate)
All assisting is complete!

Christmas in February and Week 4

Last week was very uneventful.  No-showed on Monday, did my oral surgery progress exam on Tuesday, crazy patient issues on Wedensday, jaw relations on Thursday (set teeth all night long), and anterior/posterior try-in and crazy patient issues on Friday.  I finished up the denture at home over the weekend and turned it in today! 

I also made a visit to Dr. Gannaway's office due to all the crazy patient issues to ask - PLEAD - for another patient.  Since my fixed seems to be vaporizing before my eyes and I have no bridge, I'm a little panicked.  He filled me in on Friday that he earmarked a patient for me, and I got her in my box today!  Answered prayer.  She needs a bridge (!), some fillings (!), and might be type II perio (!).  That means I need to get her through consults, in and out of perio, hop on that bridge, and get those fillings done - all before April.  I hope she's good!  I'll keep plugging away as if she's not, but pray that she is : )  Early (late?) Christmas!

----------------------------------------------------------
Removable: 1.5/3 to pass (4 to get an "A") - turned in denture #2 to the lab today and started Nanna's flipper = 3

Perio: 2/4 diagnostic workups, 8/16 quads SCRP, 1/4 re-evals to graduate (I've arranged to share a pt to get my progress exams done)

Endo: 0/2 (I have one promised for February, but I need another!)

Fixed: 3/13

Operative: 27/50

DAU: 9/10 to graduate
------------------------------------------------
Progress Exam Status (apparently, this is the key to moving on):
Operative - 1/3 (last 2 are scheduled for this month)
Perio -0/2
Fixed 0/2 (one is scheduled for this month)
Oral Surgery - DONE
Endo - DONE
Removable - DONE
------------------------------------------------
D3 Finishes!
Finished with Nitrous!  (3/6 nitrous to graduate)
Finished with Oral Surgery Extractions! (40ish/100 ext to graduate)
Finished with Pre-Prosth!  (4/6 preprosth cases to graduate)
All assisting is complete!

Week 3

I was supposed to start a new denture today, but my patient cancelled...again.  I seated a crown last week and did 3 fillings.  Things are really slow and it's kind of depressing.  I've lost all my bridges and even the crowns are starting to look grim.  Ah, but the Lord will provide.  The Lord will provide.  The Lord will provide *it's my new mantra*...

------------------------------------------------

Removable: 1.5/3 to pass (4 to get an "A")

Perio: 2/4 diagnostic workups, 8/16 quads SCRP, 1/4 re-evals to graduate (I've arranged to share a pt to get my progress exams done)

Endo: 0/2 (I have one promised for February, but I need another!)

Fixed: 3/13

Operative: 27/50

DAU: 9/10 to graduate
------------------------------------------------
Finished with Nitrous!

Finished with Oral Surgery Extractions!

Finished with Pre-Prosth!

All assisting is complete!

2 Weeks Back

Slow week, but short week!  I have 2 more fillings and finished a perio case.  I also got my operative progress exam approved pending one filling that needs to be done next to it.  Whew!

Next week is good for fixed, as I take off a crown on one pt and do a buildup on another.  I also hope to get a crown back from the lab and get that thing seated as my pt's temporary came off and she didn't call the school over the break get another one since she lost it.  Praying that that one seats!

Removable: 1.5/3 to pass (4 to get an "A") - 1 complete denture in progress, and clearance to start another in 2 weeks!  I'll also start a flipper next week and deliver as soon as we extract - gotta bump up that "0.5".

Perio: 2/4 diagnostic workups, 8/16 quads SCRP, 1/4 re-evals to graduate (I've arranged to share a pt to get my progress exams done)

Endo: 0/2 (I have one promised for February, but I need another!)

Fixed: 2/13 and one prepped and sent to the lab - 2 buildups scheduled and 1 just waiting on me to prep!

Operative: 24/50

DAU: 9/10 to graduate

------------------------------------------------

Finished with Nitrous!

Finished with Oral Surgery Extractions!

Finished with Pre-Prosth!

All assisting is complete!

1 Week Back - Just Plugging Away

I decided to re-work my tallies here, keeping in mind that all I need to *not* worry about right now is getting through 3rd year, not graduating.  It also looks more exciting to say I'm finished with things! : )  I just need to finish something significant, even removable will do!

Removable: 1.5/3 to pass (4 to get an "A") - I started a full over full on Friday (1)
Perio: 2/4 diagnostic workups, 8/16 quads SCRP, 0/4 re-evals to graduate (I've GOT to do my PEs)
Endo: 0/2 (I have one promised for February, but I need another!)
Fixed: 2/13 and one prepped and sent to the lab - 2 buildups scheduled and 1 just waiting on me to prep!
Operative: 22/50
DAU: 9/10 to graduate
------------------------------------------------
Finished with Nitrous!
Finished with Oral Surgery Extractions!
Finished with Pre-Prosth!
All assisting is complete!