sim days

Sometimes, days in the sim clinic can get quite frustrating.  Today was one of those days.  The project seemed simple enough.  We had all day to prepare 2 abutment teeth for a bridge, make a temporary bridge, and take and impression of the preps (as if we were going to send it to the lab to be fabricated).  I finished the preps in the morning, which meant that I had ALL AFTERNOON to make a temporary bridge and take an impression.  Normally these tasks do not require an entire afternoon to complete.  Today they did.

I must have made that stupid temporary bridge at least 3 times.  The first time, there were huge air bubbles in the material.  The second time, it broke in 3 pieces.  Luckily, it broke into the 3 main parts, so I tried to bind it back together with flowable composite.  That worked until a huge part of it chipped away in a place that is not reparable.  Then, I finally got one that appeared to work.  The margins were good, and there were no air bubbles.  It came off the teeth in one piece.  I spent probably 10 minutes trimming the contacts and embrasures and making it generally appear pretty.  I go to try it back on the preps and it does not fit.  The material had shrunk so much that I had huge open contacts (a BIG no-no) and it rocked back and forth.  By this time, I have spent about 2 hours working on something that should have taken 1/2 hour tops and was pretty exhausted/frustrated.  I called my professor over for some help.  She tried for about 10 minutes to get the thing to work using various techniques.  That didn't happen.  Apparently, the material we were given to make these provisional bridges was pretty lousy stuff.  Finally she declared, "this is shit!" and threw my temporary across the desk.  I gave her a puzzled look and she explained that the reason I was having such problems was due to the material I was using and not caused by my technique.  Then, since class was technically over, she helped me do a quick impression (which coincidentally also turned out not so great).  Her response?  "That'll do just fine.  Go home and have a good night."  And that is why I love Dr. S.  She knows what battles to pick (and she raises burros).

The evening turned around though.  I saw 7 hot air balloons over the mountains over the mountains just outside my apartment.  Then I went to Zumba (which was surprisingly and pleasantly not crowded).  Zumba is always fun and puts me in a good mood.

AND Odontoblast (aka dental prom) is on Saturday.  They just announced that the D2 class is going to do a flash mob during the awards given at Odontoblast.  I've always wanted to be in a flash mob.  Even though this one will be on a small scale, I am excited nevertheless.  (And if you don't know what a flash mob is, check out the video.)