My left eye is driving me crazy. I think its just dry, but i can survive a post while stabbing it out.
Regarding work attachment/experience at the dental clinic.
Lovely Amanda Loo recommended me to the dentist, Stiina, and I was attached there for a week!
Here goes my notes...
15 Dec Mon (day1)
Approx 20 patients (including the 3 after I left at 6pm)
They were pretty busy that day...opening up till 8.30pm (they're closing time is 6.30, but this dentist doesn't care)
Lots and LOTS of FILLINGS. i think i might have gone crazy. I didnt know the job was so repetitious and routine-like.
Almost all patients were female (ranging from middle-aged to elderly), except 2 elderly men (1 last-minute appt: toothache)
Staff present: Stiina (dentist), Shoma (dental assistant = d.a.), Leanne (mostly administration = front desk)
Clinic has 4 surgeries: 2 old, 2 new
They just started using 2 new last week; still unorganised re: equipment wise. The new dental chairs are great, with the exception of lots of water produced while using hand pieces.
Annoying problem: They only have 5 sets of handpieces (the 'drills'), so shortage during rotation occurs often (because sterilization takes time).
Procedure of sterilisation: In the Sterile Room
Place used trays near door -> put in the wet machine called Biosonic (i forgot what they called it) -> put in the dry machine which takes ages called the Autoclave (i think) -> repack dental trays which are in 2 categories, filling (big) trays or cleaning (small) trays.
16 Dec Tues (day2):
filling capsules are "activated", then put into a mixer..........
not all filling material is the same though........very confusing
10-6pm again. I think there were 14 patients.
saw 2 root canal treatments. gosh....so many needles.
99% of fillings she's done have needles preceding. i didn't know...
17 Dec Wed (day3):
10-3pm
9 patients.
no appts after 2pm, the dentist was meant to leave at 2.
but on the day there was a filling at 2. so i left at 3. this dentist likes to overbook herself.
Saw an extraction! :( must dig the woman's mouth really hard, using this screwdriver like instrument. and blood. but im ok with blood.
Staff present: dentist, same front desk, and different d.a. called Gary
Both d.a.s are waiting for registration so they can work as dentists in aus. (they are already dentists, Shoma for 2 years in Fiji and Gary for 7 years in India)
Everyone complains that Gary is very last minute etc etc and its true.
18 Dec Thurs (day4):
For fillings --> Estelite(pink screw-tube)
A2, A3, A3.5 are used (standard shades)
For different shades of teeth
A2 is for people with lighter shades = the lucky people with pearly whites ----- A3.5 is the yellow teeth :(
Shoma's here today. For got how many patients....maybe 14? The dentist double booked 2 slots. Apparently she always does this and makes her patients wait. and apparently she always runs late, like 30mins-1hr behind schedule. I dont know how she manages because sometimes at 6.30 she has to go off and pick up her little daughter from prepschool
Ive also noticed that when she numbs a patient, she runs off to do the other patient (since she's always running late, usually there's two patients at the same time), and the first patient has to wait like crazy until she comes back (usually from numbing the other patient or finishing their cleaning...which takes 15-45mins) and while she's away from the first patient, she can go have her afternoon tea and take her own sweet time sometimes........
I told mum about it and she said most dentists tend to do that, and as a patient you think that's how long it takes for the anesthetic to sink in!
19 Dec Fri (day5):
18 patients
I asked about the injections, needles, different cartridges used, and this is what I got from it:
Cartridges (dental block or infiltration)
3 types used there:
#1) Scandonest 3% - Mepivacaine hydrochloride - 66mg
#2) Lignospan special (Lignocaine & Adrenaline Injection) --> For people without high blood pressure, asthma etc. People with those health problems (listed on their dental card - their administration thing) get one of the other 2 types listed. Adrenaline is used to contrict blood vessels, anesthetic holds in place longer.
- Lignocaine hydrochloride - 44mg
- Adrenaline - 27.5 microg
#3) 3% Citanest Dental
with Octapressin
- Prilocaine - 46.3mg/1.8mL
-Felypressin - 0.054IU/1.8mL
(for Dental Injection) -> doesn't last as long as the other two)
and also working on little kids...
cleaning teeth: 8 year old girl.
polishing with propy paste -> "tooth tickle"
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Now my nose is making me crazy. And i have to take the responsibility of cleaning up the house before my aunt and little cousin, William, arrive from singapore tomorrow night. Because justin grabbed the harddrive (probably to watch heroes or sth) when i asked him to vacuum....then i have to mop!
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It'd be nice if all who visit here can tag me? Its can be a little creepy talking randomly about my blog. Its nice but just a little creepy. (like bringing up things on my facebook account haha) No offense intended! and if you dont talk about my blog anyway, it'd be nice to hear from you too!
