Ethics

I enjoyed the ethics presentations, however, the responses were predictable as I predicted with the exception of Nicole's doctor. He was the only one that answered with an unexpected honest answer.  Not that other responses were not honest, I am sure in most cases they were.  But isnt it expected when faced with any moral or ethical question from one of our peers, that we would answer most honorably in fear of being judged?  I know that "white lies" exist often within medical professionals, most likely due to the fact that they are trying desperately to avoid suspicion of being unethical.  I also know greed controls many who believe they are more valuable than they receive retribution for.  I hope that the situation will not arise in my professional career.....and I honestly hope I will never be tempted to behave in any other way than I would if the whole world had their eyes on me.....

Rotations!

The oral surgery rotation was clearly an eye opener!  I left there more annoyed than I had in the past because of the behaviors of some of the dental students.  I know that there is a stigma/negativity associated with the patients in oral surgery.  There are clearly treated differently than in our clinic.  By different, I mean with little respect or regard for their feelings, fears, or economical disadvantages.  I imagine that every D student has not been spoiled with any and every thing they could ever want in life, but one thing is for sure, they have had the advantage!!!!! Whether it be financially or the fact that they have been fortunate enough to have love and support of family and friends while they take advantage of an opportunity to make  their lives better....with education and income.
Well......not everyone in this world has been blessed with those gifts. Some of the people in that clinic have never been given the opportunity to live in a county with top grade schools free of stress and/or violence! Many have not lived in a home with one or two loving parents who drove them to sports all of their young lives......and most could never have received enough support to attend college.... etc., etc., etc.!!!! It makes me sick to see these spoiled brats, driving their nice cars and going on their wonderful vacations....look down on these patients who could have only dreamed about the life they are living.
As I wiped the tears from a young girls face, in efforts to try to calm her fear, I realized the dental student was treating this young girl, who was having the alveolar bone filed down for dentures (probably due to meth) with such disdain and so little concern...of course I realize that not everyone in oral surgery feels or behaves this way but this is what I witnessed more than twice.  A lesson learned and remembered....

Pedo (but not really pedo) rotation

So I have a pedo rotation, and I look forward to working on some little ones, only I find myself wrapped up in the worst scaling and root planing I could have imagined!  A 33 year old spanish speaking case doc of one of the attending docs in pedo.  He was soooo glad to see me walk in to pedo, because he knew he wouldnt be the one cleaning!!! He practically tripped his way over to me and explained that he needed me to clean this lady's teeth.  Of course I agreed. Right when I touched her gingiva......blood and blood and more blood.  She was so infected and swollen!! I didnt even know where to start!! I had to run around the office trying to find what I needed...cavitron,  instruments, and fluoride.....!!! It was crazy!! The case doc came by and I looked up at him in despair and said "she needs a full mouth probing!!!!" He was not concerned about that and said that he was aware there were some 5-6mm pockets.  Some of them were more!! I did the best I could after wasting time trying to find what I needed and taking 4BW, I was annoyed that this patient was not getting the care I felt she deserved.  I told the doc that she needed OHI and he explained that that would be addressed at a later time.  She spoke SPANISH!!!! He wanted her to sign a tx plan that said she owed over a thousand dollars....after telling her and myself that it was free!!!! I said, "But I am asking her to sign a document that says she owes over a thousand dollars!!!!"  I had to go find someone to translate but the pt asked me if she had to pay.....I said "no" as the assistant who spoke spanish told her that her service was free AS she was signing a tx plan with over a thousand dollars worth of charges on it!!!!! CRAZY!!!! PEOPLE ARE DUMB!!!!!!
I hated that day in pedo and felt the doc only cared about his stupid study.  I am beginning to resent the whole student/masters/education priority over pt care!!!!

Rotation.....GPG

Most other students have made it clear they dont like the GPG rotation.  But I have found it interesting and an opportunity to meet patients and dental students!  One day, I was helping a D-3 with a patient.  She was my age, and presented with crowns, an implant, missing teeth other than 3rd molars and current decay under a porcelain crown!! I noticed her gingiva was healthy, pink and firm.  Her hygiene was very good as there were little to no deposits.  My first question was "Do you have diabetes.....systemic disease.......smoke?"  When she answered no to all, I enquired about her diet.
I had plenty of time while the dental student was running around getting endo and pros. consults to counsel my patient on the fact that sugared tea, coffee and sodas were very likely the cause of her recurrent decay.  She sipped these all day.  I explained how this was compromising her oral health and costing money and teeth!!
She was SO THANKFUL AND AMAZED to have this revealed to her.  She had obviously spent thousands on her teeth and was getting ready to spend much more.  She said she was worried she had contributed to her childrens decay and was going to change her families dietary habits!!
I was amazed that in all of the specialists she had seen, NOONE HAD EVER TOLD HER THIS! I felt valued that day as if I had made a difference in someones life.  She told me she was upset to find out that there was decay under the crown and that she would need endo not only because she felt her oral hygiene was good, but because of the money. Just had finally saved to get new hardwood floors and was now going to have to spend it on her teeth!
NOTE TO SELF:  I feel like some of the dental students are concerned about their production, competencies and egos instead of the patients.  Why would her diet be neglected over and over again? From this mother to another, I understood the sadness in buying crowns instead of getting the new hardwood floors she had worked so hard to save for.  I sympathized with her situation and was angered by everyones lack of  professionalism. Its our job to help the patients PREVENT THE DISEASE, NOT JUST MAKE MONEY FROM IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rotations!

SPRING!!!

Its almost half way through our second semester now, and as crazy as this semester has been, I have to admit I am enjoying it and here is why.  Head start is a place I can go and feel like I'm worth a million bucks.  I used to go to daycares and coach this age at gymnastics and I had forgotten how wonderfully sweet and enjoyable that age is!  It was a chore that turned out to be rewarding.....shame on me.
I also look forward to clinic and have truly enjoyed my patients.  One issue with that though.....is that it seems every pt is a COMP!!! I am sick of hearing about comps, worrying about comps, and seeing pt's treated as comps!! Where is the quality of care when that is all these wonderful pt's have become?  I refuse to make a mother who took off work come back if I can help it JUST TO GET A COMP DONE!!! I feel like I should be worrying about how to scale a 5mm pocket on the distal of #1!!!!!  This is what i want to accomplish, not freaking out about a quad or denture qualification pt!!!!!!!  Somehow this needs to change. Not sure what the answer is. I believe it woulnt be as bad if we had more patients, but i refuse to stress over every pt being a COMP. Every pt should be a learning experience, not a box checked off the list :).  BUT ON A BRIGHTER NOTE,
I have noticed more and more that the knowledge I have been aquiring since August of last year is slowly but surely coming together.  It seems to .....make sense, correlate, blend, and build on itself.  I realize all the time that I HAVE  learned a lot and its becomming useful!!!! What I have retained in my crazy mind is finally being used!!! This is exciting to me.  I feel...., i dont know, ......EDUCATED!!! :)   Except for perio, .......I could have studied another 18 hours and still have missed those questions on the midterm!!!! URG! so frustrating!  I of course do not have a masters in biology or immunity. How does an A student get a C on a test that she studied 18 hours for!!!!!!??????

Rally Day!!

Rally day .............was better than I thought it would be!  Although I am not much on politics, I really enjoyed sitting in on the proceedings of the General Assembly.  We enjoyed running around the building and I especially liked the tour.....lots of interesting facts and sooo much history.  Even I was impressed!!! I wanted to include a picture we had taken with the Mechanicsville delegate Chris Peace but have yet to find one of the owners of one of the cameras circulating that day.  Chris was very nice and took time to speak with us which I appreciated.  All in all, I was rather dreading it but it turned out much better and more informative than I ever anticipated!!!!!! I should know better!!   :)