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McKenna Loftus

Clinical Reflection

Mrs. Widrick

January 24th, 2022

Throughout my first week and experience at the dentist office, I was able to see and learn

about an abundance of different things. I didn’t realize how much the dentist actually does. I was

able to observe different fillings, cleanings and even impressions for retainers. Before being able

to see patients, I had to put on a gown and a hair cover; because of the precautions taken for

COVID. I had to wear a face shield whenever I came into contact with patients too. I learned

about the numerous differences between each dentistry, and how every place is run a little bit

differently.

As mentioned, I was able to observe a few different cavity fillings. Dr. Stacy did fillings

on younger people as well as older people; it wasn’t just one specific age group. “Cavities are

permanently damaged areas in the hard surface of your teeth that develop into tiny openings or

holes” (Mayo Clinic). With that, cavities can become extremely painful. In most cases, cavities

tend to become more irritated when eating sugary foods. Among many other things, “bad” teeth

can be hereditary. Diseases like gum disease may be passed on through genetics, but aren't

something you are guaranteed to get; the risk is just higher. Mostly, it is children that get the

most cavities. Although they are still popular as adults, children typically struggle with keeping

up on good dental hygiene more than the average adult would. “Most often, the thing to blame

here is the fact that oral health habits are learned early on by children who watch their parents'”

(First Dental). Therefore, parents demonstrating bad dental habits ultimately have the children
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reflecting the same thing. It is extremely important to be practicing the proper way to take care of

your teeth and to stay on top of it.

Another thing I was able to observe was two different types of impressions. They were

the putty-based impression, and the impression that was completely electronic. The electronic

impression was something new to Dr. Stacy’s office, they had purchased the piece of equipment

about a year prior. Before purchasing said device, they were strictly doing the putty-based

impression. It is made up of powder and water, and is rather unpleasant. The taste of the putty is

something that can cause people to gag, and because of the way it is inserted. Before taking the

impression, the dental assistant made sure the metal trays fit around the patient's mouth; this

would ensure a correct impression. The putty was then placed into the metal tray and placed into

the mouth, being held by the assistant. As the putty dries quickly, they have to be fast. After

watching this, the assistant used the air-hose to blow out all of the bubbles caused by saliva.

When finished with the impression, cement was poured into the tray and the actual impression

was made. The dental assistant told me that because of the material of the cement, it didn’t stick

well to impressions that were already wet or moistened. However, this is unavoidable due to the

amount of saliva that builds up in the mouth. The other impression was done by a wand, and was

preferred by patients over the putty-based impression. The all-digital impression can take a bit

more time because it is much more complex. You have to be sure to scan every surface of the

tooth while doing this. If you do not, the impression could be faulty and the appliance may not fit

correctly into the patient's mouth. Unlike the putty-based impressions, these are sent to a

manufacturer, like Invisalign and made there.

Nonetheless, this week of clinical rotations was very enjoyable. Although I am not

necessarily interested in dentistry, it was amazing to see what they do and how difficult some of
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the cases can be. I never realized how much they can actually do. Being able to see different

models of different peoples teeth was also very cool; everyone’s teeth are extremely different.

The environment was so welcoming and it was fun to be there.

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Works Cited

Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2017, July 19). Cavities/Tooth

Decay. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved January 25, 2022, from

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cavities/symptoms-causes/syc-203

52892#:~:text=Cavities%20are%20permanently%20damaged%20areas,not%20clea

ning%20your%20teeth%20well.

Imrek, D. A. (2020, October 11). Is tooth decay a hereditary? First Dental. Retrieved

January 25, 2022, from

https://www.dentistsugarland.com/is-tooth-decay-a-hereditary/