We are officially back in the swing of second year. After recovering from studying for the NBDE: Part I, we got a 100% first-time pass rate on the test, setting a school record! All 42 students are back in the classroom beginning to prepare for the second part in a couple of years. So far, second year is a night and day difference from first year. We are spending a lot more time working in the simulation clinic, working on our hand skills. We've finished a few classes in our first couple of months, including radiography and periodontics II. In our periodontics class we practiced perio probing on our classmates, and I have a new appreciation for the light feathered touch. I think it's really good and important that we learn things on each other because then we know what a good job feels like. Although, I'm not really looking forward to learning anesthesia on each other. That isn't until the spring, thank goodness. We have also taken quite a few radiographs, not on each other though. We use a mannequin named dexter who doesn't mind all the radiation. We start endodontics next week, which requires a lot of radiographs to ensure proper treatment. We've been doing a lot of single unit fixed prosthodontics lately, which is crowns of all sorts. They take a lot more time than fillings, but the completed project gives a big sense of accomplishment.
I feel like I've finally caught up on sleep after losing a lot of it last school year. I also have much more free time and time for relaxation so far. I'm able to workout almost every day and get to spend time with the kids I babysit quite often. The stress load is about half of what it was last year, although we are still in class everyday and have tests, it's not as heavy of test load as last year. I think it makes a big difference when you get to work with your hands everyday instead of sitting in lecture, getting talked at all day everyday. Working on my mannequin is physically tiring, and somedays I come home and cannot bring myself to move because I'm so exhausted. It's a good tired, though.
In a couple of weeks we will start our online certification in public health. Each class is 10 weeks and we will take one class at a time online during our other regular classes. We have the opportunity to get our masters in public health during our schooling and I think I'm going to take advantage of the opportunity. I think I am going to work in a community dental clinic for the first few years after graduation, and getting my master's should help me get the knowledge I need to understand how to best treat the patients I will treat there.
I'm starting to get really excited about getting to move in the spring and get out of the same town I've lived in for almost 5 years. I'm ready for a change and for more things to do around town. I've started to look at apartments, and while it may be more expensive and busy, I'm ready for the change of surrounding. There are a lot of decisions that have to be made between now and May, but life is good and I'm happy to be where I am. Life as a D2 is pretty nice, and while the work load is still greater than most, it is better than the last year I survived. We have a break in a week, and I'm ready for it. Thanks for checking in on me, I can't wait to keep on learning how to be the best dentist I can be!
