If I can summarize the last two days in two words, it would be Bzzz! (drill) and Gurgle! (suctioning water). Not that I'm complaining, but it's 90% what I hear. My internship is still fun though and the people are super nice :)
Day 1:
- mostly getting oriented with the people and equipment (there's too many!!!)
- being informed on what we did after a patient is done
- watched some X-rays being done
- mostly observation, a little assisting
- only two patients for the day
Day 2:
- lots of patients, lots of water, lots of drilling, lots of blood!
- more blood, tooth pulling, bloody holes in gums, rotten teeth, cavities, denture sculpting, reshaping teeth, synthesizing temporary and permanent cement, and a temporary crown insertion after a root canal
- helped with X-ray being done
- a lot of assisting meaning very up close observation (so much blood......)
- watched my cousin perform surgery on my uncle
- took a few pictures and recorded a tooth extraction
Seriously guys, brush your teeth! You only get one set! I sympathize for the patients. If cavities aren't convincing, would you like a giant freaking syringe with numbing agent injected into your mouth?
Anyways, I never knew that cardiovascular problems is the most important thing a dentist should screen for (next to allergies and antibiotics) because the standard numbing agent contains epinephrine (adrenaline).
Noteable dentist-to-patient dialogue and personal thoughts:
"We're going to numb your mouth to ease the pain."
"Cool! My first sight of numbing! ...Oh my God! That's a freaky looking syringe! "
I'm not used to blood yet but I think I was thrown in on that one.
Instance 1: bleeding gums: Ok. He's bleeding a lot but it's not that bad. If this is the worst I witness, easy peasy!.
Instance 2: tooth extraction: Oh God! There's a profusely bleeding hole where the tooth used to be!...Why is she deliberately digging in and scooping out the blood!?
"Suction the blood away from my tool whenever I pull the tool out of the gum please."
"Yes, Doctor...Oh God. The blood!"
P.S. - Scrubs are amazingly comfy!