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!
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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
