I personally like the sidekick, but I always sharpen my Barnhart 5/6 or 204S with a manual stone. I also round the toe of my Graceys with a stone instead of using the one built into the sidekick.

For my non-flossers with somewhat intact interdental papilla, I recommend soft picks. I advise patients that these can be purchased at the dollar tree and it usually grabs their attention. For those with loss of papilla, I recommend a proxabrush. I think something is better than nothing at all.

My class’s sold candles, chocolate bars, and custom dental hygiene tshirts and tumblers. I’ve also heard of doing a raffle for a designer purse.

There isn’t a quicker way to check. It will come by mail only. Good luck!

In comparison to direct digital sensors:

Pros: smaller, more flexible and resembles traditional film.

Cons: it’s not directly displayed on computer screen. I worked at a busy office with 10-15 dental assistants and often have to wait in line to use scanner.

I like both but prefer direct digital because less time is spent unbarriering sensors and leaving the room to scan.

At the perio office I work at the periodontist has the dental assistant take an FMS every 3 years. He does full perio charting (PD, CAL, furcation, etc) himself at the first visit and will update complete charting every 3 years with the FMS.

I do a plaque index at every appointment, perio maint and then probe. If I see any changes in probing depth, I’ll write it down on the side and he will check them. If they’re calibrated then I’ll make a note in the notes.

I am allowed 1 hour per patient for maintenance, and 1.5-2 hours for 1 quad SRP. We will only do half a mouth if the patient life’s far away. He will see difficult cases for SRP. Hope this helps!

Assuming the patient DID accept FMD proposal, should I have done it? There was not a lot of supra, mostly sub deposits.

I took WREB in April 2014. I don’t know if the requirements are different from the exam you’re taking, but the patient I used for boards did not have radiographic calculus. The patient did have subgingival calculus that binded the explorer. I almost changed my mind the night before because all of my classmates were submitting patients with radiographic calculus. All in all, I say trust your instinct. If you feel that the patient meets the requirements, then go for it! But be prepared mentally and physically for a back up. Good luck!