What’s up! It had been 4 days since I finished my block 4 examinations. And yes, now I’m in my study break for unis; time to take out the dusty notes from block 1. For the past 2 days, I have been busy packing. Didn’t know I have so much rubbish. Well, at least that’s 70% done. I’m slowly trying to pick up my pace for revision. Hopefully I can finish in time. Now, I actually have much to blog about. Many events I have to update, but I notice I’ve been writing a lot about fun. Just to take a break, probably I will update a bit on my studies. I haven’t been elaborating much about that. Since we have been having a lot of fun for our pre-conservative classes, will just give you an insight to it.
Caries excavation wasn’t an easy job. We have to remove all the decay portions. Every time we thought we are done, we always get send back to continue scrapping. After that, we have to place Dycal at the deepest portion of the dentine. That really trained us to work fast as the material sets really quick. I was so relieve once Dycal placement were over. Next, we have to fill the teeth with a temporary restorative material, Zinc oxide eugenol. The lab was filled with the eugenol smell; some people hated it, some like me, love the smell~
After we were done with the posterior teeth, we did Class III, IV and V cavity preparation on the anteriors. We were first given a demo on how to use the micromotor. For the first time, I felt like a dentist. After making the cavity, we filled them with either GIC or composite. The light cure units were only 2 so there was always a long queue waiting for it. Same thing goes for the Sof-Lex.
Next, we were told to get our typhodont teeth ready. We screw in the teeth to the base and then place the base to the phantom head. From then on, every class we have to prepare a cavity on a specific tooth.
First we draw the outline using pencil and show it to the lecturer. After approval, we will start drilling. I was really bad for the first few cavities. I wasn't really comfortable with my sitting position at the time. The chair was a right-handed dental chair and I am a left-hander. It really took a few classes before I was comfortable. Another thing was I didn’t put in mind about the bur angulation. I kept getting uneven and deep pulpal floor. It wasn’t until Christine reminded me that my angulation was the root of my problem. I was really depressed about my cavities before.
As a whole, preclinical conservative was a bumpy ride for me. I started out well, faced some difficulties in the middle and ended up with a whole lot better. Hope to learn more in clinical years.
We started off learning cavity preparation on giant plaster model of various tooth. We have to draw the outline of the cavity and later dig into the plaster using a chisel. This exercise taught us all the basic principles of cavity making. Later we filled it up with modelling wax, which act like our restoration material. It’s just the beginning to what was coming.
We were told to collect real human teeth during our last august holiday. 6 perfectly fine anterior teeth and 10 decay posteriors. Many were rejected. I remember some people barely have anything left after screening by our lecturers. We mounted the posteriors in one rubber bowl and the anterior in another. Later, we started our caries excavation exercise in the Phantom Head Lab. I remember we were all so excited the first day we were in the lab.
Caries excavation wasn’t an easy job. We have to remove all the decay portions. Every time we thought we are done, we always get send back to continue scrapping. After that, we have to place Dycal at the deepest portion of the dentine. That really trained us to work fast as the material sets really quick. I was so relieve once Dycal placement were over. Next, we have to fill the teeth with a temporary restorative material, Zinc oxide eugenol. The lab was filled with the eugenol smell; some people hated it, some like me, love the smell~
After we were done with the posterior teeth, we did Class III, IV and V cavity preparation on the anteriors. We were first given a demo on how to use the micromotor. For the first time, I felt like a dentist. After making the cavity, we filled them with either GIC or composite. The light cure units were only 2 so there was always a long queue waiting for it. Same thing goes for the Sof-Lex.
First we draw the outline using pencil and show it to the lecturer. After approval, we will start drilling. I was really bad for the first few cavities. I wasn't really comfortable with my sitting position at the time. The chair was a right-handed dental chair and I am a left-hander. It really took a few classes before I was comfortable. Another thing was I didn’t put in mind about the bur angulation. I kept getting uneven and deep pulpal floor. It wasn’t until Christine reminded me that my angulation was the root of my problem. I was really depressed about my cavities before.
After the February holiday, slowly, I try to gain back my confident. First, I make sure I get the sitting position right. I believe a good sitting posture is really important. My back will need to support me another 20-30 years. The lecturer was also very patience with me and guided me. Dr. Jaya said this once to me “Rei Chiel, just destroy as much tooth as you like now. Because next year you’ll be doing it in the real patient. Try to master it this year and make nice cavities.” I was really happy once I got it. I’m still slow but I try to make sure they are up to the standard.
Later, we were taught to apply base (zinc carboxylate) to the pulpal floor and axial wall of the cavity and also amalgam restoration. A demo was given for that. I actually enjoy the whole process of amalgam restoration (matrix band placement > wedging > condensing > carving). Since I began slow, I ended slow. I did need to attend a few extra classes just to finish up my back log. Well, at least I am done for now!
After all is said and done, we have to present our work for the upcoming university exam. We laid our work out neatly on a polystyrene board covered with black paper.
As a whole, preclinical conservative was a bumpy ride for me. I started out well, faced some difficulties in the middle and ended up with a whole lot better. Hope to learn more in clinical years.
That’s all for now, stay tune~!
