Class I Co LIFE LESSONS.

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned from the last week of the summer term is about self-confidence, in a sense that I should be generous in giving myself chances to improve. I’ve come to realize that in the past, I was being a meanie to myself by keeping that “Okay kiddo, an 80 is the best you can do, you’re never gonna get any better.”—and well, that's just wrong.

from the dentalsourceblog.com --THANK YOU!

During my first year at UPHSD, I was seriously struggling with Class I Co restorations, because the school that I transferred from didn't have that listed as a clinical requirement (at least, during my time), plus, considering that I was mostly out of the clinic on my last year at my old school due to a dark cloud hanging over my head, my manual dexterity was really off. My skills were underdeveloped as they were and they were stunted.

We have about 3 Class I Co (Amalgam is a completely different story) requirements in a clinic level-- 3, or 2, sorry, I really couldn't remember. When I started working with Co restorations, I was in Clinic II (second out of four clinic levels-- I completed Clinic I at my old school), and at that time, very special circumstances allowed me to do all the Class I Co's that I can, and to just have them credited over to the next clinic levels. 

I think know I tested my instructors' patience when I was working on my Class I Co's then. I did Co work on typodonts in the past, and did pretty well then, but it felt really different on live patients, and I was pretty much radiating I have no idea what I'm doing-vibes here, there, and everywhere, and it really did transcend to the restorations I was doing. My instructors taught me how to fix my mistakes, but it still didn't change the fact that on my own, my restorations were disastrous. My restorations were so bad, that I even had grades of 80-84. Because I seriously didn't think that I could ever improve, I decided to get those grades encoded. When something's "encoded", there's no turning back, you're stuck with that grade forever. Eventually, I was able to redeem myself. The last restorations have been earning grades ranging from 88 to 94, and while they've been encoded, my previous lower grades have already dragged them down. 

The other day, I performed four Class I Co's, and yesterday, three-- all on the same patient, but because I've already maxed out the Class I Co's that could be graded, these seven restorations don't bear credit anymore. In every essence, I did them for free, but it's fine, because doing them was part of my Prosthodontics treatment plan, and I had fun doing them anyway. When I had yesterday's work checked, my instructor said that my work was "pretty". I was really happy that I still had my face mask on, or else she would have seen my idiotic ear-to-ear smile.:) --Yup, I was that happy.

I no longer dared to ask what my grades would have been if my work had been creditable, but I think having my work described as pretty was enough.

So here's the thing-- Just because you're horrible at something today, it doesn't mean that you'll always be horrible at it. Before you can make other people believe in what you have to offer, you have to believe first. Allow yourself to grow, don't hinder yourself from being a better version of yourself. 

It's all gonna be okay. <3

Love is PATIENT.

It's 1:00 AM of Wednesday, and I'm just about getting ready to get ready for bed! I have absolutely no idea where the day went-- but wait, maybe it is true that time flies when you're having fun. Well, maybe I just had an exceptionally awesome day because I started the day with my love love Periodontology.




I tell you-- the best clinic days are the days that I get to do Perio. :)

I'm on my 7th weekly recall on my Compre Perio case-- Okay, wait. I'm starting to feel that I'm lying to myself, still calling it weekly, when the last time my patient saw me was two weeks ago. Anyway, one more "weekly" recall, and we'll be off to the monthly recalls. On my old blog, I mentioned about wanting to jump back to the surgical phase because of failure of a few teeth to improve. I still want to jump back to the surgical phase, I just couldn't do it this term because the surgery cut-off has passed.

That's the thing with being a Dentistry student, especially when you reach the clinical years-- you want to think that you hold your own time, but in reality, you're nothing but a slave to your patients' schedules. Oh my goodness, slave seems kind of harsh and exaggerated, but of course, you get the idea. The truth is, life gets in the way, not only for you, but for your patients. While there are patients who give tons of excuses just to avoid their appointments (get rid of those patients the first chance you get!), there are patients who fall into unforeseen circumstances-- telling the two apart is a very crucial skill. While it's okay to be frustrated for a few minutes, it's always a good idea to keep calm and look for something else to do.

Sometimes, you also have to remember that for every non-compliant patient, faith and optimism will come at you with a really good patient who would make you love what you do (even more!). It's also fun appreciating patients as actual humans, and not just as requirements to be ticked off a list. You'll give them your skills, and they'll give you their trust.

..and when you love hard enough, you can sometimes get donuts too.:)



--but you know, donuts or no donuts, I love my patients just the same.<3

MONDAZED.

I've been going through a few tummy issues. It started last Wednesday, paused over the weekend, and now it's back! I'm starting to think that my tummy has developed an allergy to weekdays.. Or maybe it just doesn't want to come to school--? Still, the mind and heart are superior to the tummy, both in an anatomical and in an "enlightened zen hipster" sense; therefore, I really had to declare: NOTHING WILL STOP ME TODAY!

I really wanted to give myself a good breakfast today. That would ideally mean having something high in fiber, and/or low in sodium. Unfortunately, when dealing with tummy issues, fiber is not something you'd want hanging around your system.

I decided to have some chicken and potatoes, and then some rice. Carbohydrates, I know! The thing is, I was trying to get as much "binding food" as I can. There's this thing about the BRAT diet, also known as Food for Getting Over An Upset Stomach. B is for bananas, R is for rice, A is for applesauce, and T is for toast. I really wanted to adhere to what the BRAT diet called for, but since there isn't much food variety around campus, I did the best that I could.

--or maybe, I was just looking for an excuse to eat chicken.
Oh my beloved chicken. <3



I went to a restaurant across campus. I know, I know, I know.. It's really odd to be eating alone at a restaurant. Some people say they can't.. but of course, this is me. I can very well get a restaurant table and be comfortable with solitude. The thing is, I always feel constantly surrounded by people, and sometimes, I really crave legitimate me-time.. So that's what I do when I want to be alone-- I go out. And eat.

It's really ironic how someone who claims to be comfortable with solitude to be easily bored at restaurants, but it's my dichotomy. When I go out, I like taking reading materials with me. The whole Dentistry senior thing has just started to sink in, that's why most of the things I read these days have a lot to do with Basic Medical, or Basic Dental subjects. Currently, I'm working on an Anatomy review booklet. I'm actually struggling with Anatomy. I struggled with it in first year, and I'm struggling with it now. I really want to believe in myself, but it's a little bit difficult right now.

I like to think that I made m school day as productive as I possibly could. Well, I was able to start writing my RPD Case Portfolio, so I guess that's something to be proud of. We don't need to come up with stellar results instantly, I feel. We just need to start, and then hope that we don't die.:)