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!!!!
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
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!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sunday, April 10, 2011
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