Project Update

Yesterday I spent some time doing a lot more research for ideas and information I can use for my final product. I found a lot of great websites with pretty interesting information. My final product will be a presentation for an elementary class about dental health. I want it to be really interactive, so I'm hoping to maybe work with the second graders. If need be, I would like to do more, but I don't want to do too old of kids and bore them to death. And that's the age where kids start losing their baby teeth, so it's very important to keep them healthy. February is National Children's Dental Month, so I'll be doing all of this around the end of February, which I means I need to kick some butt into gear fast.

I hope I'll be able to find more ideas to make it a more unique presentation than just a powerpoint and me speaking to them. I'm open to ideas!

I'm so relieved we've started working on our papers because now I feel like I'm that much closer to being done with my project. At the same time, time is going by so fast and I feel like I don't have enough time to get it all done. I'm having pretty good luck, so far, finding enough information and research. I don't think I'll have any trouble getting at least eight pages. If not, I'll just add to it.

Research Paper Research

I finally picked out a topic to research for my term paper. The topic I chose is the connection between your oral health and your systematic health. I decided that I would choose three of the most popular to write about, those are heart disease, diabetes, and problems with pregnancy. I'm really looking forward to this idea because I never really thought there would be serious consequences from something as simple as not brushing your teeth.

This weekend, I've been doing some research for my paper and now I'm going to start working on my final project. I hope it will be easier to put all together than I'm imagining.

Research Paper Ideas

As of now, I'm still busy working on my Christmas break assignment we had for our lit class. We're starting our research papers tomorrow when we go back to class. The assignment was given so that we can look into different ideas for our papers, so that when we get back to class we have an idea about how much of a paper we can write with a certain topic.

The assignment hasn't been taking me too long, I just take little breaks in between so I don't get too frustrated. It's helped me a lot though because some ideas I thought would be interesting would actually be pretty hard. For example, I thought I could write about different toothpastes, compare them, and tell if they really do what they say. The problem is finding true evidence and research about it. One website has their opinion and another way has a different view. I did narrow down my options a little, so I'm hoping when I'm done it will be an easy decision!

Gathering Supplies

This evening while I was in Watertown, I decided to pick up some supplies I thought I would need for my expo presentation and project. I bought a 3-ring binder, binder sheets, and a tri-fold. Some supplies are cheaper around Christmas and the end of the year. My cost analysis was pretty close compared to the actual price. I'm trying to figure out some decorating ideas, but I can't really find the items I'm looking for. I guess that isn't the biggest worry now. For now I'll stay focused on my hours and working on my project for the kids.

I decided I'll do my presentation/final product in February during National Children's Dental Month since I'm focusing my final product on the elementary students.

Dentist in December

I went to the dentist office again today. I talked to and shadowed my community mentor, Gail. This time was a lot more exciting because I got to see some procedures I have never seen before. When I got there I suited up and watched another routine cleaning, but after I got to see Gail and the dentist make a mouth guard to people with sleep apnea and snoring issues. I knew I should have brought the camera along with, but I forgot.

I was disappointed that I had to leave right before they did a drilling procedure with a lady's dentures. I thought that would have been interesting to see. I asked Gail if there would be some more hands on things I could do while I was there to get more pictures and experience. There are a lot of regulations against it, but she said if I came after school when more kids were there I could assist her more. I'm hoping we can set up another date like that or maybe even a full day.

Last week, we had an update to check our progress. I updated my time log and my cost analysis. I don't think this project will cost me a whole lot. Just around $30 and most of it goes towards printing costs and my expo presentation in March. I've logged around 5 hours so far. I think in January, I'll start picking up the pace with going to the dentist regularly. Once I start working on my final product I think that will take up a lot of time too. I'm beginning to not be too worried about my project. Starting was definitely the hardest part.

Finally Got the Ball Rolling

Alright, I have finally started my senior project. Yesterday, November 21st, I went to shadow my mentor at the dentist office. I was there for about an hour and a half, but I got there at the end of one appointment and then I left during the very beginning of the second appointment. There wasn't much to the appointments, but in between Gail was able to show me how things run at the office.

I learned about the different rooms and their light system to show where people are needed and when their appointments arrive. She also showed me how she sets up all of her tools. Then she showed me where they store all their items in the cabinets. I also got to see the basement/lounge/eating area. Then I got to get their laundry out of the dryer and put it up for them to use the next day.

All in all I think it was a pretty productive first day. At least I got the ball rolling and I've started. I hope that I'll be able to make another appointment to go in next week.

Down to the Last Second

The deadline is two days away and I finally got my letter of intent handed in and both my mentors are picked out! I chose Mr. Gudmundson to be my faculty mentor. He is a health teacher at Deuel, so I figured he was the closest I could get to a dental assistant. I also chose Gail Toft from the Clear Lake Dentist Office for my community mentor. It took me long enough to get ahold of her, but I finally did it!

After getting my mentors, finishing my letter of intent was easy breezy. I really hope it gets accepted though, I think I have a really good idea. I'm hoping to shadow at the dentist office and learn more about dental hygiene. After all I've learned, I want to do something with the elementary school students about dental health. My research paper is going to be about gum disease, to tie into the project as a whole. I definitely feel like a little weight is lifted off my shoulders now, and now I can just work, work, work!