Ashley's Blog

My very first client that I had from my second year was a difficult P3 client, and I overcame the frustration and difficulties I was experiencing in order to value the situation as a learning experience. I feel I gained a strong rapport with that client, and I will always remember her. My experience with this client affected my attitude towards clinic for the rest of my second year, and much of my third year. It made me view the clinic as a place of high-stress, and I did not particularly like the clinic setting for this reason. However, I have always enjoyed my clients, it is simply the pressure that made me uncomfortable in the clinic setting, and to an extent, scared. While my classmates were experiencing relatively healthy clients, gaining their first positive experience in building clinical skills, I was constantly checking medications, blood pressure, performing research, investigating client management, learning about every restoration under the sun, and ever so slowly debriding a client who would still be considered on the more complicated side for me at my current level of clinical skill. I was incredibly lucky for this woman’s patience with me and the slow system of checking all intra and extraoral findings.

I am now very grateful for this client experience, it has allowed me to more effectively deal with stress, and work under pressure. It reinforced the value of organization. And my treatment planning and clinical therapy benefitted my client and her oral health. She was also my first experience with someone who spoke little english, which has come to benefit me in my final two years of education. Although I could have become overwhelmed, I dedicated myself to learning instead. I feel as if my very first client experience actually was a positive one. I built great rapport with my client, something I enjoy doing extensively, the change in client attitude is amazing once rapport is built. I truly believe I had a direct effect on my client’s oral health and attitude, a rewarding feeling that makes me strive to do the same for each client I encounter, and will encounter throughout my professional life.

The most difficult clinical experience I have had thus far took place while I was performing community work at the Union Gospel Mission (UGM) in Surrey. At the UGM, which is a Christ-centered organization that provides basic living services to those in need. At the UGM my three classmates and I provided basic oral hygiene services to a vast range of people. Immigrants, refugees, native-born Canadians, educated individuals, individuals living in poverty, and those with alcohol or drug addiction came to the UGM, seeking our free services.

One client, in particular, was difficult for me in many ways. He did not speak English, he was a refugee from Somalia, and he had many medical complications. Born with epilepsy, he had eventually developed brain damage and would become angry when frustrated, and so I was to always have one of his family members with me. He did brush his teeth, though, for several minutes two to four times a day, with blood filling the sink each time. This man was 34 and had never been to a dental professional in his life.

Upon first examination of my client’s mouth, there was spontaneous bleeding occurring around many of his posterior teeth. The smell of his breath was distinct. Interestingly enough, he had no caries. Unsure of how to proceed, I did a periodontal assessment, to find periodontally involved pockets in each sextant that bled profusely. It was the type of case that should not be done in a community setting. After discussion with the family, the client’s wish and the wish of the family was to continue treatment in the community setting as best that could be done.

The debridement lasted a total of twelve hours, divided. Within those twelve hours I constantly had to attempt to accommodate my client, and his comfort. Though there was lack of spoken communication, body language can be clear enough. I did not push his comfort, and was able to use an ultrasonic, without which, I would not have been able to complete my client. My clinical skills doubled with this one client. I debrided in deep periodontal pockets, with use of instruments I had never used before, my favourite of which were the files.

Through this experience I gained an immense amount of knowledge. I now have more confidence when working with those of a completely different culture. Before this, I had never debrided so many deep pockets, nonetheless any 12 mm pockets. The experience also solidified my passions for helping people who need it most. The UGM has made a large impact not only on my clinical skills, but on my life.