Class IV

This morning I saw my previous mockboard patient to do his OD and scale another quad. I was getting worried because next week is our last mockboard and I still had not found a patient. This patient had one quad left, and I asked him if he would not mind being my mockboard patient one more time. He said that was no problem at all, I was so relieved! My afternoon patient is my class IV. Jamie found him at the last screening and did not need anymore class IV quads, so she did his OD this morning and he stayed all day so I could start his cleaning this afternoon. I have come to the conclusion that I really do not like working on Class IV's. I 'm so glad he got an appointment because he really needs it, but I think mobility is just the saddest thing! All of his teeth are mobile and as I ultrasonic the bars of calculus off of his teeth, they just get looser and looser. I was getting really worried that he would be confused of what is going on becasue he doesn't speak English. I had Mr. Salomon explain to him that his teeth may feel more loose than they did before becasue of the calculus is holding his tooth more snug in the pocket. Once that is removed, the teeth are going to be more mobile than before. This patient is so kind and he brought Jamie and I a little gift when he came for his afternoon appointment. His calculus is some of the most tenacious I have ever seen. I had to go over it several times with the ultrasonic to even make a dent in it. I do not dare scale the teeth too much becasue I am worried that any lateral pressure will pull it right out! I finished one quad today and did not have quite enough time to finish another quad. So Instructor Wold recommended that I do one quad + 3 teeth and call it a day since he had been there all day. I am sure glad he came in. I am worried to start his mandibular anteriors becasue I know they are going to be so mobile when the calculus is removed. But the patient says he understands, so hopefully it will be good in the end and he will be glad he came. He seems so grateful to be here. My goal is to practice the angles for the left PSA. My left PSA today was less than beautiful. Final mockboard next week!!