No-shows

This is why you always call your patients to remind them of their appointment. The one day I forget/decide not to, my patient no-shows.  So annoying! I was so lucky to have booked a perio chair for her within a few days - as of today, perio is booked up until November. She has no idea how lucky she was.

As a dental student, booking patients and doing procedures is my life. It's what I need to do nearly everyday, since my clinical expertise and graduation requirements depend on my completing x crowns, x RPDs, x root canals, etc. I hate the numbering system, especially since the patients are assigned to us rather arbitrarily. My school instituted a pilot program at a nearby clinic, which involves sending a select (and lucky) few students to the clinic to see multiple patients/session. Not only do they build hand skills quicker, but they have their own patient pool and their own faculty. I would like to be a part of that in my fourth year, but I can't if I don't finish third year! So aggravating!


Bottom line: show up for your appointments. If you can't show up, then call.

Tuning out

Word of advice to professors all over:

Don't EVER say "this material will not be on the exam" when referring to your ENTIRE lecture, if you want anyone to pay attention. 

That strange clicking sound? That was the sound of everyone's brains turning off.