Curious about clinic time...

[ItsGavinC]

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I've been in the clinic for a month or so now, and from time to time I find myself getting a bit down about how things are going. Some days are spectacular and I really enjoy myself, while other times it seems I'm literally staring at my patient pool and wondering how I'll ever be able to get some of the patients back in to the clinic.

Overall I have this nagging feeling that I'm somehow lagging behind my peers accross the country, although I don't know if that is true. I suspect everybody has trouble getting patients to come in on a consistant basis. Thus far I've done about 30 individual restorations (5 or 6 class 2, 9 class 3, etc.), one full complete denture, 3 pulpotomies, and a whole butt-load of hygiene/probing/perio.

Am I way behind the ball for a 3rd year student? Does anybody else have completely crappy days?

 

[aphistis]

I've been in the clinic for a month or so now, and from time to time I find myself getting a bit down about how things are going. Some days are spectacular and I really enjoy myself, while other times it seems I'm literally staring at my patient pool and wondering how I'll ever be able to get some of the patients back in to the clinic.

Overall I have this nagging feeling that I'm somehow lagging behind my peers accross the country, although I don't know if that is true. I suspect everybody has trouble getting patients to come in on a consistant basis. Thus far I've done about 30 individual restorations (5 or 6 class 2, 9 class 3, etc.), one full complete denture, 3 pulpotomies, and a whole butt-load of hygiene/probing/perio.

Am I way behind the ball for a 3rd year student? Does anybody else have completely crappy days?

Let me put it this way: if you're *behind* after doing all that in your first month of clinic, there's no hope at all for me.

 

[drhobie7]

It's the same way for everyone. Some days I just don't look forward to my afternoon appointment. Granted, this has a lot to do with the patient.

 

[sandman]

Give it time. Part of it is the instructors slowing you down, part of it is just getting into the flow and the routine. It took me at least a month just to figure out all the paperwork and which consults I needed and when. As for patient load it will work itself out. You'll go through fazes of being way too busy and then having nothing to do. Relax, its only the first couple months

 

[ItsGavinC]

Thanks for the replies. I suppose what I'm experiencing is natural, but like I said, that doesn't always help me to deal with the frustrations.

 

[OMFSCardsFan]

Give it time. Part of it is the instructors slowing you down, part of it is just getting into the flow and the routine. It took me at least a month just to figure out all the paperwork and which consults I needed and when. As for patient load it will work itself out. You'll go through fazes of being way too busy and then having nothing to do. Relax, its only the first couple months

By the time you get to your last six months of school, you'll be able to do in one month what took you your whole first year to accomplish. When you get to the end, you'll be amazed at how your speed has improved. What's even more amazing is that you'll still be way behind the average DDS's speed. Don't worry at all about how much you've gotten finished at this point. On paper, when I left to go interview for OMFS, I was behind most of my classmates in terms of case completions. By the beginning of February, I was finished with every single requirement. I did a whole lot of nothing during those last three months, except become half addicted to online poker...

 

[Dr.SpongeBobDDS]

Holy crap! I wish I had gone to Arizona. Gavin, you are getting tons more experience than me and I started seeing patients last year!!!!

 

[umkcdds]

the record time for someone to complete a complete set of dentures at umkc is 31 days...and that can only happen if the patient can come in more than once a week.

 

[ItsGavinC]

Holy crap! I wish I had gone to Arizona. Gavin, you are getting tons more experience than me and I started seeing patients last year!!!!

But not peds man, which is what I recall you being interested in. Our peds clinic has only been up and running for 3 weeks now, and it's deathly slow (methinks the contract with Medicaid isn't worked out yet, or something such as that).

On the bright side, I did a couple more restorations today.

 

[BDS-DMD]

I think the trtick is to get those patients out of your list asap who do not wish to come in or you are trouble getting in touch with. I know what I am saying sounds very obvious,but it can happen that you might decide to do that tomorrow and before you know it,a fortnight has passed.

 

[aphistis]

But not peds man, which is what I recall you being interested in. Our peds clinic has only been up and running for 3 weeks now, and it's deathly slow (methinks the contract with Medicaid isn't worked out yet, or something such as that).

On the bright side, I did a couple more restorations today.

I've finally, just these last two weeks, started developing treatment plans worthy of the name. My best so far is 6 direct restorations (4 amalgam/2 resin), 1 FGC, 1 PFM, and 7 resin veneers. It's about bloody time, and here's hoping some pros starts floating my way soon.

 

[tx oms]

I didn't even cut my first crown until late November of my third year. My first amalgam (or filling of any kind for that matter) was a three cusp coverage pin-retained bitch that took three hours. That's right, three hours. That's also one hour less than it takes Cards Fan to pull a canine.

 

[OMFSCardsFan]

That's also one hour less than it takes Cards Fan to pull a canine.

That's because I spent the first three and a half hours up in the call room with a certain woman you know...you're right, she is demanding...

 

[leafhound16]

I'm the same year as you and I haven't even done half the things you did! (or, for that matter, any of my classmates!) You seem to be getting a good enough experience, I wouldn't worry if i were u

 

[toofache32]

That's because I spent the first three and a half hours up in the call room with a certain woman you know...

Your left hand doesn't count as a "woman".

 

[toofache32]

My first crown prep took me 3 appointments. I cut the occlusal on the first appointment, the buccal and lingual on the second, and did the interproximals and the temporary on the 3rd visit. And in the end it looked like $hit.

 

[MsPurtell]

Gavin, it sounds like you are getting loads of experience! I think you've probably done more than most 3rd years do in six months. Don't worry!

And, yes, all of us have days where we are terribly frustrated. It's only natural.

I've been in the clinic for a month or so now, and from time to time I find myself getting a bit down about how things are going. Some days are spectacular and I really enjoy myself, while other times it seems I'm literally staring at my patient pool and wondering how I'll ever be able to get some of the patients back in to the clinic.

Overall I have this nagging feeling that I'm somehow lagging behind my peers accross the country, although I don't know if that is true. I suspect everybody has trouble getting patients to come in on a consistant basis. Thus far I've done about 30 individual restorations (5 or 6 class 2, 9 class 3, etc.), one full complete denture, 3 pulpotomies, and a whole butt-load of hygiene/probing/perio.

Am I way behind the ball for a 3rd year student? Does anybody else have completely crappy days?