Clinic begins...sort of

So the horrible semester is finally done, and we have started into the summer session which consists of Treatment Planning and Introduction to Clinic. Talk about getting into the good stuff. Lectures are a lot more laid back, but full of useful information, and we are finally in the clinic. True, it is just assisting the upperclassmen, but it is in the clinic. We have one admissions and one oral surgery that are scheduled for us, and then we have to go in on our own time and attend two sessions of pedo, endo, treatment planning, removable, fixed prosthetics, and restorative. I have done my required time in Admissions and one session in restorative and treatment planning.

Admissions was a little boring at first, as we are waiting for someone to come to be admitted. But once the patient showed up, it was a little intimidating. You have to review the medical history, and it is amazing how many people are just sucking down the medication. One thing that was crazy is when the attending doctor grills you on what to do if the patient has this medication or what would you ask or what would prescribe for this problem remembering that the patient has these problems. It got hectic and you are humbled when you realize how much you need to know. The good news is, I know most of the information, I just need to learn how to mash it all together and apply it to each situation.

Treatment planning is kind of fun. It basically consists of a recall/hygiene appointment in private practice without the hygiene cleaning. We record the probing depths, mobility, recession, previous restorations, and then treatment plan (duh) what would be best for the patient to help them get back to their optimal health.