Sunday, January 31, 2010
I may be a little premature in writing this blog, but, as this is my last semester in school, I'm gonna chance it! The last two years has certainly been long and difficult, but I know that every moment will be worth it! I've made a lot of good friends that I know I will never forget. I hope that we are able to keep in touch after school!
Our first semester was pretty easy, looking back now at least. We only had 4 classes: Orofacial Anatomy, Foundations of Dental Hygiene, Radiology I and Oral Histology and Embryology. We spent most of that semester learning infection control procedures and how to set up and break down our chairs. We also learned some basic patient care, like oral cancer screenings.
Our second semester was, by far, the hardest semester. Everyone in our class made it through though! We took Radiology II, Periodontology, Dental Materials, Pharmacology, Dental Hygiene II, and our clinic. We were certainly busy that semester! I remember spending most of that semester listening to the second year students and wishing I was where they were. Clinic scared most of us to death, but we were learning a lot of neat stuff. This was the semester that we learned the basics of our instrumentation and began working on each other. It was during this time that I first felt calculus and learned to explore a mouth without causing my patient excruciating pain. We also learned the basics of probing and calculus removal. I was amazed at how difficult it was to control the polisher! In Dental Materials we were learning how to take impressions, and it was here that I actually burned my throat by taking so many impressions on myself. At the end of this semester we saw our first real, live, non-student patients. I was extremely nervous, but did well.
So, we began our summer semester with 17 students instead of 18. We were sad, but we knew Karyn had made the right decision for her family. Summer was a great time for us. We were able to learn a lot from being in clinic, and we had a lot of extra attention from our teachers since we were the only students at school. We were still seeing some pretty easy patients at this point, but we were definitely expanding our skills. Unfortunately, we lost another two students at the end of this semester, Anne and Tanya.
We really enjoyed the time away from school! Unfortunately, we were back at school all too soon. About halfway through the semester, we lost another student from our class. Shelley was once again kicked out of the program. It reminded us all to work hard and just keep our heads down till it was over! For me, the semester went by so fast! Before I knew it we were taking finals and looking forward to Christmas break. Sadly, at the end of this semester we lost another student. Deb was not allowed to continue on to our last semester. I think the loss of her hit all of us the hardest. Deb was a great person and would have made a wonderful hygienist. I wish her the best in life and hope she keeps in touch with us! 
So, we continue on.....pressing forward until we reach our goal. We are so close now we can almost taste it! I still look forward to the day that I can post my graduation pictures and sign my name with RDH following it. I know my classmates all feel the same! Here's one last picture of all of us in clinic.
From the back left: Carrie, Cheri, Alex, Alicia, Sarah, me, Rachel, Danielle, Melissa, Nikki, Mallory, Autumn, Kecia and Amber.
Our first semester was pretty easy, looking back now at least. We only had 4 classes: Orofacial Anatomy, Foundations of Dental Hygiene, Radiology I and Oral Histology and Embryology. We spent most of that semester learning infection control procedures and how to set up and break down our chairs. We also learned some basic patient care, like oral cancer screenings.
Our second semester was, by far, the hardest semester. Everyone in our class made it through though! We took Radiology II, Periodontology, Dental Materials, Pharmacology, Dental Hygiene II, and our clinic. We were certainly busy that semester! I remember spending most of that semester listening to the second year students and wishing I was where they were. Clinic scared most of us to death, but we were learning a lot of neat stuff. This was the semester that we learned the basics of our instrumentation and began working on each other. It was during this time that I first felt calculus and learned to explore a mouth without causing my patient excruciating pain. We also learned the basics of probing and calculus removal. I was amazed at how difficult it was to control the polisher! In Dental Materials we were learning how to take impressions, and it was here that I actually burned my throat by taking so many impressions on myself. At the end of this semester we saw our first real, live, non-student patients. I was extremely nervous, but did well.
As we prepared for our summer semester we were all exstatic that no one had been kicked out of the program yet! Our class started with 18 students, but right before summer semester started, one of our classmates decided to drop out. She gave birth to a baby girl and decided that she wanted to spend more time with her kids. Here's some pictures of our class shower for her.
So, we began our summer semester with 17 students instead of 18. We were sad, but we knew Karyn had made the right decision for her family. Summer was a great time for us. We were able to learn a lot from being in clinic, and we had a lot of extra attention from our teachers since we were the only students at school. We were still seeing some pretty easy patients at this point, but we were definitely expanding our skills. Unfortunately, we lost another two students at the end of this semester, Anne and Tanya.We started our third semester down three students, but, we had gained one girl, Shelley, that had been kicked out previously and had decided to try again. This semester was a stresser for all of us. We were seeing difficult patients and now had the added stress of needing to meet requirements in order to continue on to our last semester. Rarely did a clinic day pass by without our teachers informing us, again, that we would not be allowed to continue unless we met ALL of our semester requirements. This was also the semester that we learned how unrealible patients can be! There were many times that patients would simply not show up, even after confirming their appointment. This is very stressful, because if our chair is empty for any reason we would loose 100 points and an opportunity to meet another requirement.
However, our class really grew closer to one another throughout this time. We took a trip up to Tan-tar-a for our annual Dental Hygiene session. Though the hotel and actual meetings sucked, we had a good time hanging out together. Here's some pictures from our trip.
However, our class really grew closer to one another throughout this time. We took a trip up to Tan-tar-a for our annual Dental Hygiene session. Though the hotel and actual meetings sucked, we had a good time hanging out together. Here's some pictures from our trip.
We really enjoyed the time away from school! Unfortunately, we were back at school all too soon. About halfway through the semester, we lost another student from our class. Shelley was once again kicked out of the program. It reminded us all to work hard and just keep our heads down till it was over! For me, the semester went by so fast! Before I knew it we were taking finals and looking forward to Christmas break. Sadly, at the end of this semester we lost another student. Deb was not allowed to continue on to our last semester. I think the loss of her hit all of us the hardest. Deb was a great person and would have made a wonderful hygienist. I wish her the best in life and hope she keeps in touch with us! We came back from Christmas break with only 14 students. All together, we lost 5 students from our program. We all sincerely hope that will be all that we lose. We are all hoping that this semester goes by as fast as the last one did. We're all focused on passing our board examinations. We are in clinic now more than ever. We are seeing very difficult patients and we're honing our skills. There's not much left for our teachers to formally teach us, so life seems pretty easy. Here's some pictures of us in clinic on the day we cleaned each other's teeth.
So, we continue on.....pressing forward until we reach our goal. We are so close now we can almost taste it! I still look forward to the day that I can post my graduation pictures and sign my name with RDH following it. I know my classmates all feel the same! Here's one last picture of all of us in clinic.
From the back left: Carrie, Cheri, Alex, Alicia, Sarah, me, Rachel, Danielle, Melissa, Nikki, Mallory, Autumn, Kecia and Amber. The Dental Hygiene class of 2010
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Well....I'm taking my mock boards tomorrow.
Bright and early.
8:00 am.
For those of you who don't know, the mock boards is a practice test for my actual national board exam. The purpose is to show me "where I am" in the studying process. Yeah.
Our teachers made sure to tell us that they wouldn't grade us on the results..... I made sure to ask if we would, however, be judged by them.
They didn't answer. Good sign.
Oh, yeah, the test lasts 8 hours. Uh, huh. 8.....
Good times.
Bright and early.
8:00 am.
For those of you who don't know, the mock boards is a practice test for my actual national board exam. The purpose is to show me "where I am" in the studying process. Yeah.
Our teachers made sure to tell us that they wouldn't grade us on the results..... I made sure to ask if we would, however, be judged by them.
They didn't answer. Good sign.
Oh, yeah, the test lasts 8 hours. Uh, huh. 8.....
Good times.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
- There are 4 different kinds of papillae on your tongue
- Most humans have 32 teeth, children have 20
- There is no other smell on earth quite like the smell of periodontitis...yum
- They are researching a way to grow new teeth from stem cells harvested from the teeth you naturally loose
- There are over 16 different cysts you can get inside your mouth
- A blocked salivary gland can cause a condition called a ranula in the mouth. Ranula means frog....
- Every tooth has 4 layers: Enamel, Dentin, Cementum and Pulp
- Enamel is the hardest substance in the human body
- Contrary to popular opinion, enamel is not made up of calcium
- Enamel is actually made up of hydroxyappatite
- The tongue is one of the strongest muscles in the body
- Calculus (tarter) turns black when it has been under the gumline for too long....so brush your teeth people!
- There is a condition called black hairy tongue....and yes it is disgusting
- Black hairy tongue is not actually hair, it is elongated papilla that has taken on the color pigments of food and bacteria
- The recommended amount of time you should spend brushing your teeth is 2 minutes
- Most people only brush for 30 seconds
- Each tooth has their own characteristics, and we have to know them all
- Such as: the maxillary lateral incisor has a lingual groove extending up into the root of the tooth
- The maxillary 1st premolar has a large mesial depression.
- Novocaine is no longer used as an ansethic in dental offices, so stop talking about it!
- Pregnant women can get a "pregancy tumor" in their mouths which goes away after the baby is born
- Bad oral health in pregnant women has a direct correlation to having low birth weight babies
- A dental infection can go directly to your brain and kill you within days.
- The bacteria in your mouth can travel to your heart and cause bacterial endocarditits.
- I've written every single bullet on here from memory....wow, hope that means I'm ready for boards!
Sunday, January 17, 2010
- I am four months, minus one week, away from graduation!
- I'm still scared I might not make it to graduation, despite just having written thought #1.
- Cody just asked me if it was okay if he made a frozen pizza.....
- I informed him that he was a big boy and I'm not his mom, so if he was hungry, he should make a pizza.
- I'm really hungry right now and might grab me some o'that pizza.
- Taco Bell's new 5 layer burrito is de-lish-us!!!!
- I'm finished with all of my radiology requirements....for the ENTIRE program!!!
- I forgot to call Ashley back today, opps!
- I almost fell going out my own garage door today.
- I caught myself just in time.
- I really want to take down every decoration in my house and sell it.
- I will do that as soon as I graduate!
- The human skull has 22 bones in it
- I can't go very long without random anatomy facts racing through my brain.
- I should do a blog about random dental facts.
- I really need to give my dogs a bath.
- Man, has Cody finished making that pizza yet? I'm starving.
- I probably shouldn't eat pizza at 11:00 at night.
- I really hope my sister enjoys nursing school.
- Every time I think about her starting school, I think about when I was starting hygiene and almost start crying.
- I'm not crying for nostalgic reasons, more like, "Dear God, please don't make me go back there!"
- I'm sure you will never feel that way though, Amber.... :)
For those of you who don't know, my in-laws live way out in the country in a beautiful home on top of a hill. I have had the pleasure of staying the night out there a few times and I love it! Friday night was just such a night. My sister-in-law, Beth, had called and said she was going out there with her son, Parker, to spend the night while my in-laws were on vacation. She asked if I'd like to go. I was really happy that I would be able to spend some time with them, since I've been so busy with school, I haven't had much time to do that. So I packed up my stuff and headed out.
We had a great time, well, once I was able to get there! The driveway up to the house is probably like a mile long and it's gravel. Well, it used to be gravel. With all the snow and rain, it's now mud. Lots of mud. Beth had warned me that it was a little slick, and she wasn't kidding! It was like trying to drive on ice. I would never have thought that mud could be so slippery. There were a couple of times I wasn't sure if my little Honda would get me there. But I eventually made it to the top.
We had a great night of girl talk and had fun playing with Parker. Parker loves to go into the basement (which is completely finished), but he's a little scared too. At one point he came back upstairs to where we were, and he was crying. We asked what was wrong and he said, "I scared", in this sweet little voice. We asked what he was afraid of and he said, "I scared of that tiodul". The "tiodul" is a little metal turtle that Melanie has propping open the bathroom door. He's actually kinda cute, but I guess Parker sees another side of him! Once the "tiodul" was safely put away, he happily went back down and watched his movie. Beth and I talked until late, and then finally headed to bed.
As I was getting ready for bed, I thought about how comfortable my mother-in-law has made her home. I was sleeping in the basement, which like I said earlier, is completely finished. I love sleeping in that room. It's pitch black down there, and it's a little chilly, which is perfect for climbing into a bed with flannel sheets and a down comforter. I didn't check to make sure, but I think the bed is made of marshmellows! It is the most comfortable bed I've ever slept on! You could sleep for days down there.
The rest of the house is just as comforting too. It reminded me of being at my grandma's house when I was a little girl. You just walk in and immediately feel like you're wrapped in a warm blanket. I don't know how else to describe it. It's a mixture of knowing you are loved, safe, warm, and on vacation all wrapped up in one house.
I love how Melanie has decorated too. The entire house has a country theme with little bears and moose everywhere. It is so fitting for them. She has gotten a lot of her items while on vacations in Colorado and many other states. She really has a knack for knowing how to arrange everything to make it look just right.
So, I really enjoyed my time out at the Stafford house! Some good girl time, some good little boy time, and a comfortable bed to sleep in. Thanks everybody!
We had a great time, well, once I was able to get there! The driveway up to the house is probably like a mile long and it's gravel. Well, it used to be gravel. With all the snow and rain, it's now mud. Lots of mud. Beth had warned me that it was a little slick, and she wasn't kidding! It was like trying to drive on ice. I would never have thought that mud could be so slippery. There were a couple of times I wasn't sure if my little Honda would get me there. But I eventually made it to the top.
We had a great night of girl talk and had fun playing with Parker. Parker loves to go into the basement (which is completely finished), but he's a little scared too. At one point he came back upstairs to where we were, and he was crying. We asked what was wrong and he said, "I scared", in this sweet little voice. We asked what he was afraid of and he said, "I scared of that tiodul". The "tiodul" is a little metal turtle that Melanie has propping open the bathroom door. He's actually kinda cute, but I guess Parker sees another side of him! Once the "tiodul" was safely put away, he happily went back down and watched his movie. Beth and I talked until late, and then finally headed to bed.
As I was getting ready for bed, I thought about how comfortable my mother-in-law has made her home. I was sleeping in the basement, which like I said earlier, is completely finished. I love sleeping in that room. It's pitch black down there, and it's a little chilly, which is perfect for climbing into a bed with flannel sheets and a down comforter. I didn't check to make sure, but I think the bed is made of marshmellows! It is the most comfortable bed I've ever slept on! You could sleep for days down there.
The rest of the house is just as comforting too. It reminded me of being at my grandma's house when I was a little girl. You just walk in and immediately feel like you're wrapped in a warm blanket. I don't know how else to describe it. It's a mixture of knowing you are loved, safe, warm, and on vacation all wrapped up in one house.
I love how Melanie has decorated too. The entire house has a country theme with little bears and moose everywhere. It is so fitting for them. She has gotten a lot of her items while on vacations in Colorado and many other states. She really has a knack for knowing how to arrange everything to make it look just right.
So, I really enjoyed my time out at the Stafford house! Some good girl time, some good little boy time, and a comfortable bed to sleep in. Thanks everybody!
Saturday, January 9, 2010
There's not too much happening in my life right now. I have to start back to school in 3 days. I'm really not looking forward to it, but I know that the sooner I start back, the sooner it will all be over with! This will be the last semester of school I will EVER have. There are higher degrees I can get in Dental Hygiene, but I've decided that I will not pursue them. I've been in school, in one way or another, for 8 out of the 10 years since I graduated high school. Crazy, I know. And yes, that is enough time for me to have become a doctor, but no, I will not be a doctor when I'm done. And, no, I do not appreciate any jokes about it!
There are still several mountains I must climb in order to become an RDH, but they are much fewer in number these days. I'm still looking forward to the day when I can write about my graduation ceremony. Which, by the way, will be May 16, 2010! I can't wait!
Well, that's about it. It is brutally cold outside right now, so I'm trying to stay inside the house as much as possible. Other than that, life is pretty boring!
There are still several mountains I must climb in order to become an RDH, but they are much fewer in number these days. I'm still looking forward to the day when I can write about my graduation ceremony. Which, by the way, will be May 16, 2010! I can't wait!
Well, that's about it. It is brutally cold outside right now, so I'm trying to stay inside the house as much as possible. Other than that, life is pretty boring!
Sunday, January 3, 2010
One of my very best friends just gave birth to one of the sweetest and tiniest babies I've ever seen! Greyson Mayes was born to Ashley and Luke on December 29, 2009. He only weighed 4lbs and 14oz! He's doing great though, and was brought home two days after he was born. I have anxiously awaited this little angel for many months now, so I was very excited to finally meet him.
Ashley and Luke don't live in the same town as me, so I had to wait a little longer than I wanted to go and see him. My friend Leslie and I had planned to drive up this coming Wednesday to see them, but I just couldn't wait that long. My family was driving to Kansas City on Friday to have Christmas with my grandma, so I decided to stop in at Ashley's along the way. Ok, well, it wasn't exactly on the way.....I might have gone three hours out of my way, but I HAD to meet the little guy! My mom decided to ride up with me, so off we went! Now, for those of you who know my mom, you'll also know that she is a complete baby-hog! Knowing this, I had to plan out how I was gonna get to hold that baby first! So, for those of you who know my mom, you also know that she has to pee about, oh, every other second. Sooo, I decided that we would just not take so many bathroom breaks towards the end of the trip. Evil, I know, but I got the baby and mom headed to the bathroom!
Ashley had told me that the baby was small, but nothing prepared me to see just how little he was. He was having a little trouble keeping his temperature up when we got there, so they had him bundled in several blankets and a super cute hat on his head. When I held him, it was like holding a doll. He was in preemie clothes, but they were still huge on him. His little hands and feet were adorable. Aunt Brittany (Ashley's sister)told me that his eyes were really dark, but Greyson was determined not to show them to me. Despite everything that Mommy, Daddy, Auntie and Grandma did, he refused to wake up!
Mom and I were able to stay for a couple hours, holding the baby and enjoying Ashley and her family. Eventually, Mom had to tear me away so we could continue our trip to KC. I was so glad I was able to make the trip though. Hopefully, Leslie and I will be able to head up again this week. It's supposed to snow though! :(
Greyson's tiny little foot~ it was still bruised from the hospital tests
Poor little guy was so cold when we changed his diaper
look how little!
All bundled to stay warm
Ashley and Luke don't live in the same town as me, so I had to wait a little longer than I wanted to go and see him. My friend Leslie and I had planned to drive up this coming Wednesday to see them, but I just couldn't wait that long. My family was driving to Kansas City on Friday to have Christmas with my grandma, so I decided to stop in at Ashley's along the way. Ok, well, it wasn't exactly on the way.....I might have gone three hours out of my way, but I HAD to meet the little guy! My mom decided to ride up with me, so off we went! Now, for those of you who know my mom, you'll also know that she is a complete baby-hog! Knowing this, I had to plan out how I was gonna get to hold that baby first! So, for those of you who know my mom, you also know that she has to pee about, oh, every other second. Sooo, I decided that we would just not take so many bathroom breaks towards the end of the trip. Evil, I know, but I got the baby and mom headed to the bathroom!
Ashley had told me that the baby was small, but nothing prepared me to see just how little he was. He was having a little trouble keeping his temperature up when we got there, so they had him bundled in several blankets and a super cute hat on his head. When I held him, it was like holding a doll. He was in preemie clothes, but they were still huge on him. His little hands and feet were adorable. Aunt Brittany (Ashley's sister)told me that his eyes were really dark, but Greyson was determined not to show them to me. Despite everything that Mommy, Daddy, Auntie and Grandma did, he refused to wake up!
Mom and I were able to stay for a couple hours, holding the baby and enjoying Ashley and her family. Eventually, Mom had to tear me away so we could continue our trip to KC. I was so glad I was able to make the trip though. Hopefully, Leslie and I will be able to head up again this week. It's supposed to snow though! :(
Greyson's tiny little foot~ it was still bruised from the hospital tests
Poor little guy was so cold when we changed his diaper
look how little!
All bundled to stay warm
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