Summary of Clinic Experience

      Although we've had plenty of practice working on one another, clinic was very different with patients. I found the first day of clinic to be very challenging. Trying to navigate Axium and remember every step to complete proved to be daunting tasks. My partner and I completed all portions of the appointment except AP and fluoride treatment. We finished our first patient on the second appointment, feeling very satisfied with the service we provided.
       Our second clinic session was somewhat easier, although our patient had a few other medical conditions. I'm now much more appreciative of the cases we have reviewed in class since it prepared me for clinic patients. I actually knew how to alter the treatment plan based on the medical status of the patient! Due to the lengthy medication list and medical history, we did not accomplish as much as we did in the previous clinic session.
       The second appointment with this patient was very frustrating and made me doubt myself. Our patient had a very bad gag reflex and we had to take BWXs on her. After several failed attempts at placing the film, one of the radiology technicians came over to take them for us. It was amazing to see how fast she could take the BWXs! Once we returned to clinic I realized that I had no idea how to create the treatment plan on Axium. A faculty member had created it for the last patient and I missed how she brought it up. Realizing that I was unaware of how to create a major portion of the appointment made me doubt how much I actually knew.
        Althought the second appoint did not go as smoothly as anticipated, I did learn a lot from it. Due to heavy calculus deposits, we had to complete the patient's AP in a third visit. I was excited to try out the cavitron and was amazed at how well it worked. I can't wait to use it more next semester.
     
   The clinic sessions this semester were building blocks from which I hope to add to next semester. I'm somewhat nervous to work alone next semester, but know that with time it will become second nature.