Clinical Experience

      Throughout summer I had the opportunity to work hand in hand with my mother in her office. Our day began at 8: 30 am Monday through Friday and ended around 7:30 pm. At first I was able to observe her ortho appointments in order to learn the whole mechanism of placing spacers in patients, how to adjust retainers, the technique of placing the brackets in the first appointment, which materials were used and how to use them and their names, to observe the interaction between the dentist and patient, the dos and dont's, and the whole protocol used to run the clinic. After a week or two of observership I was able to begin to help my mom in placing separators, adjusting retainers, placing ligatures, cement the orthodontic molar bands and learn how to evaluate what size the patient needs beforehand, and the removal of brackets in the last appointment. 

      My mom explained everything to me, allowing me to learn both the manual skills as well as the reason behind each one, so that I would be able to understand the whole procedure. After she was able to see my clinical skills as well as my people skills she started to let me have my own appointments with patients that needed dental care but did not have the means to pay for it. The appointments consisted of the patients paying only the materials for their dental care in order for me to purchase them. The root canal treatments which I was able to work hand in hand with Dra.Luz Amanda and consult Dr. Presa in Monterrey, which I am very thankful for their advice and help throughout my procedures. 

I was able to do a total of: 

Procedures	Quantity
Cleanings	14
Sealants	13
Fillings	60
Simple Extractions	3
Root Canal Treatment in Anterior Teeth	4

     I attended my mother's office for a total of 8 weeks, it was an unforgettable experience. I was able to cherish each patient because they made me grow in different ways: the special patients which remind me of why I study dentistry, those patients that give you a hard time and show us that we need to be patient and try to do the best job we can, and the smallest patients that look up to you and love to go visit you. I think this experience has given me a real picture of the dental practice in the real world and prepared me both mentally and physically of what the future may behold. A quote that would represent my summer practice would be:
"Too often we underestimate the power of a a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around."
Leo Buscaglia 

My space at my mother's dental office, where I 

was able to make my appointments and help my mother during some procedures: placing spacers, molar bands, checking retainers or putting ligatures. 

This picture shows one of my favorite patients that would regularly go for cleanings, sealants, fillings and check ups. They were the sweetest and most cooperative kids I know.

Hector is 5 years old and it was his first time at a dental office and all the psychology that Dra. Aida taught us in the Pediatric Clinic was key in order to make this little guy feel at ease and enjoy all of his appointments. 

With me here are both of my little cousins, my younger cousin is the patient and she is at her ortho appointment and the older one wants to be a dentist when she grows up so she would go and help me and I would teach her the basics of dental anatomy among other stuff.

This is a panoramic view of my mother on the left and me in the right. 

Dental Mission: Ignite

Throughout the week of June 25-28th, I was able to participate in a Dental Mission with the group Ignite. In this dental brigade we were able to give spiritual teaching, full medical evaluations, diagnostics, medicines, dental check ups as well as dental extractions. We were able to visit four different towns in rural areas of Tegucigalpa Honduras.

We arrived at 8 am and left around 1pm. It was a wonderful experience, the people were vere cooperative and welcoming. The dental group was integrated by a dentist, a hygenist, a nurse that helped us clean the instruments and myself (dental student). I was able to perform 45 extractions throughout the whole dental mission. Being able to reinforce techniques that we had learned in the Clinic of Dental Surgery with Dr. Jorge Martinez, as well as learn new tecnhiques with the dentist in charge. It was a very interesting challenge because at some point we had very difficult patients, limited equipment, and had to work with what we had. I feel I was able to practice, learn and enjoy what the dental mission was all about, and being able to forge connections with patients. At the end we were very tired and I even had some blisters on my fingers from the consecutive extractions but a smile from a little girl made the whole day worthwhile. The patients were very thankful, but the one who should be thankful is me because they gave me the opportunity to keep learning and make of myself the best professional I aim to be.

All the children eventhough some were difficult were the stars that kept us going

It was truly a maginificent experience.