Interesting Times
Been an interesting few weeks at smiles centre as I have recently been enrolled on a course to become a CDT (clinical dental technician). At the present moment I’m a dental technician so this means that I am qualified to construct the appliances but take no part in the appliance being fitted. However since the enrolment of the CDT course I have been asked by my lecturers to participate in patient appointments and then write down my observations. So rather than just working upstairs in the background of smiles centre, I was able to see the appliances I worked to create; actually go into the patients mouth and see first hand. This is a totally different experience to what I’m used to, working entirely with plaster models and wax set ups. Its strange to thing to see, what you made being used in a context with another human, not just a plaster model. I expect there will be a lot more interaction between me and patients over the next few years which I hope to build on my experience and knowledge.
The Long Road
Despite this only being the first, almost “taster” course, they have given us a reasonable amount of homework to do and is perhaps a reflection of whats to come. Graham our CDT at smiles centre has done this course previous and has already warned us of the impending stress and work load that follows with the course. A part of me is looking forward to the work load, only a park of me though!.
The downfall of this course however is that I live in swindon, and the course is mostly in london. This means a lengthy journey on the coach or train and a night in the hotel before the course begins. So like last time I best fill my kindle with random films so I got something to do on the way.
I got a busy few years ahead of me doing this course with many journeys to and from London, plenty of learning and a good amount of writing. Its going to be busy few years for certain but with that much work ahead reminds me of a quote I recently heard which says “Its harder to think about pushing the wheelbarrow, than it is to just push the wheelbarrow.”“ Which I think refers to, how sometimes thinking and stressing about a job or activity is perhaps more draining and stressful than simply just doing it.
Either way I best prepare myself for some busy times ahead.
One Response
For me, being a dental technician is a very rewarding job. It has so many elements of it to master and so much variation that you never lose your enthusiasm for it. but, if its missing one thing, that is the experience of seeing what you have created (a life-like fake body part) being used for what it was designed! To sit and make teeth at a bench really is a challenge, to make them look stunning and function perfectly is a whole new layer of challenge. But the results, the way that you can change peoples lives for the better more than makes up for the time and patients that we put in. Good luck on your new journey and if i have two words of advice for you, “enjoy it!”