Hello! My name is Alex Holland, I am 22 years old, I love to read, write, and run, and I’ve known I wanted to work in the dental field ever since I was a kid. Just to ensure the dental field is where I wanted to be before applying for the dental hygiene program, I decided to apply to Lamar State College Orange’s dental assisting program. As my year proceeded and our class went to different dental offices, I decided the dental field was precisely where I wanted to be in my future. I loved assisting but I knew I wanted to be a hygienist, and with my new knowledge of dentistry, I was able to have a better understanding of the important roles a hygienist has for their patients.
My first class in the dental hygiene program was Orofacial Anatomy, Histology & Embryology or as we knew it the OMG class. In this difficult introduction class I learned a vast knowledge of the anatomy of the head and neck. I was overwhelmed at times but when I finished my first dental hygiene class I felt so accomplished. It prepared me for what was to come in the next two years. In my first semester of dental hygiene I gained knowledge of instrumentation, preventive dentistry, and dental radiology. Over the time span of my first semester I became frustrated with myself and at times wanted to throw my instruments and yell at my hands for not understanding the proper way to hold my instruments. As the end of the semester approached I of course finally learned how to correctly use my instruments in preparation for the semester to come when I would finally get to see patients. My preventive dentistry class gave me the knowledge to teach my patients about preventive dentistry and taught me how to properly give patient education to meet each individual patients needs. Dental radiology gave me information on what to tell my patients when they are concerned about receiving radiation when getting X rays taken. Radiology also taught me the proper and safest way to take x-rays, while getting the best image possible. In my second semester of the program I was taught pharmacology, nutrition, dental materials, and how to adjust to having patients. Pharmacology gave me all the information I need to know about the different drugs my patients might be taking and how to give them patient education on each drug. Nutrition helped me learn about my own nutrition and how it affects my oral health. Dental materials helped me understand the different procedures that happen in the dentist office so that I can better educate my patients on the different procedures they might have. As for having patients for the first time in clinic, as time went on I felt more and more comfortable with how to schedule them, giving patient education, and cleaning. I can honestly say that clinic was my favorite class, I loved seeing patients ever tuesday and thursday afternoons and teaching them about dental hygiene and being able to clean their teeth. This portfolio is to track my growth and progress throughout my experiences with the LIT Dental Hygiene Program. |