My first
block of 4th year is coming to an end and I just start posting up
the first write-up for the year. Next week will be the block I exams and I’m
just getting started with the books. I assure you, I have MANY good excuses for
neglecting to pop in here as I often before.
Today, I just
delivered my first complete denture. That took me around a month and a half to
complete; with many lunches and breaks sacrificed just to rush the work. The patient
was less cooperative than my previous prostho case. However, I learnt and grew
a lot from this one patient. She reminded and taught me a lot about dealing with demanding patient: to what extend should an operator listen to their patient,
how much should we go the miles to fulfill their wishes and always take into
consideration our own limitations instead of promising them the whole world. Besides
that, I finally can visualize and completely understand what is border moulding
and jaw relation. Those methods we read off the textbooks now make sense. I’m
really thankful for the guidance from Dr. Kiran and Abang Zul through the whole
process. All in all, I’m very satisfied with my arrangement and how it turned
out on the patient. Will need to review whether the denture can function well
in a week time.
Besides prostho
work, there were many other things that were going on since the start of the
year. As planned, I took up a new responsibility. I pondered on trying it out
since 2nd year and so I thought it’s time to put myself in there and see how
well I can perform. And well, I can tell you, it’s been a very bumpy ride. There
is no one day where you can rest. Being organized and having things plan for the
next day is very crucial. Even the rides back home for the weekend are always
filled with calls from here and there; often leaving your blood pressure
shooting higher and higher. I really do miss Miss Divya. There seem to be no
one I can seek to get things sort out. Everything seems out of order and I have
to be the office boy running errands. I
have to link and tie things back on track and trust me, it’s not one or two
matters, it’s an everyday thing which I think the management can consider
hiring an admin staff to try coordinating our schedule nicely. It’s not
something nice to write about openly, but hey, this is my blog and my opinion
on things matter only in here no?
Also, our
batch planned a welcoming party for our BDS 3 juniors. The aim was more on
getting the seniors (BDS 1) to know the juniors instead of the welcoming part. As
time for preparation was constrained, we held it on the 9th floor of
the dental building with just some simple refreshment served. We could not afford
a lavish party as our pockets are really tight. The event was not really a
success but I know there were many limitations and we really tried our best to
make it happen. I know things won’t get hot overnight, but at least the seniors
and juniors have seen each other and said hello.
A few weeks
back, I just finished the obturation for my first RCT case. I’m happy how it looks
on the radiograph. For me now, access opening is the most difficult and least
confident thing for an RCT procedure. Just 2 weeks back, we had an endo CPD
programme by Dr. Alex Chan from University of Hong Kong. It was really good
lecture and there were many tips on clinical endo. Sadly, I have yet to look
back on my notes I jot down then. Starting from next obturation, I will try to
use rubber dam. Don’t ask me why, but I truly understand the need of it,
especially after something occurred during my first obturation. Now currently
learning RCT for lower molar on an extracted tooth, trying to get the confident
so that I can treat one of my patients who is waiting for a molar endo.
Last Saturday
also, we had a video making and puppet making workshop for our Community
Dentistry DHE puppet house project. We spent the morning learning to sew and
get our video making skills sharpen. The lecturers were quite impressed with
our work. Now we just left with the stage decoration and we are done with the
project.
I just
attended the walkathon in conjunction with the National Oral Cancer Awareness
Week 2013 yesterday at Taman Bukit Jalil. About 2 weeks before, there was a
competition within the Malaysia dental school to submit the best electronic
campaign to increase oral cancer awareness in Malaysia. I prepared a PowerPoint
presentation while another team from my batch prepared a video. As I was
thinking of making a presentation that suits the population here, I went with
the idea of making a bilingual presentation. The information were projected
both in Malay and English. Myra helped me out big time on the translation and
Chen Wei on drawing the regions of the mouth. Really thank them both for making
it happened. Honestly, I’m proud of my slides. The experience was a good one. Presenting
in front of dental students and lecturers from other school was a little
nerve-wrecking but I think I didn’t do that bad. And oh, my topic? Mengenali
Kanser Mulut: Knowing Oral Cancer
I’m still contemplating
whether to submit my name for the upcoming IDEM-APDSA Student Leadership Programme.
I still not sure what is holding me back from going for it but will really
think about it after the block I exams. Honestly, I really want to see our batch
mates moving out of our cocoon and try to gain more exposure to other things
beyond our dental school. It seem like we are so passive and only restricting ourselves
to classes and clinics. Having said that, congratulation to both Chen Wei and
Naurah on being elected as the subcommittees of MDSA. I’m proud of both of you,
secretly envious.
Interbatch
Cultural competitions have just started, and as usual, I’m really greedy to try
stamping my feet in everything. Well, not really everything just that I will
try my hands on painting and talentime in addition to my usual singing and
dancing routine. Thinking of it, I just have another 2 more years and I’m leaving
my undergrad life for good. (That is if everything goes according to plan.)So,
if it isn’t now, then when?!
There will
be more things to come ahead. As I wrote before, baby steps RC, one thing at a
time. Till after block I exams, bye!
RCT Minion?
Photo credits: Ping, Chen Wei, Naurah
