...a baby tooth? in an adult's mouth?!

Today was quite grand.  Not in the sense of a '100 Grand' chocolate bar of course, because we all know that chocolate is to die for...(Wait-- sometimes I get so nervous for clinic days that I'd rather be dead. . but lets not go there--)  Back to the point: Today was grand in the fact that we were able to practice dental screenings, which is where we all take a lil tour in our friend's mouth, and check out/chart what they have had done.  Candice was my buddy today, and boy was her mouth exciting.  So, I start examining her mouth on the maxillary right, and decide that she has no wisdom teeth anywhere...so i X all those out of course, (since that is the rule, silly!) and then I continue moving to tooth numbers 2 and 3, and find that she has had some composite fillings, and some sealants placed.  So, of course, I chart those, (since that is the rule, silly!).  I put a big red 'S' on some of her teeth, because the TA Karen told me to. . haha jk-- but because she could just use some sealants in some places, so when we learn that skill, hopefully I can place them :)  Anyway-- i continue scanning around her mouth, and arrive at a crazy finding!  She has a BABY tooth in her ADULT HUMAN MOUTH!  So: i charted it, (since that is the rule, silly!) and it was fun to put a big fat X through number 21 on her chart.  That was about exciting as it got.  There are lots of symbols and signs and colors to use for dental charting, but just like everything else, I'm sure i'll get the hang of it :)  We had a lot of time to practice scaling today, and it was sure grand.  I finally had my AHA! moment. . and everything clicked.  I have been such a wuss to go subgingival in people's mouths, because I feel like I slip and slide....but!  Something clicked in my little mind: if I have a light grasp on my instrument, I'm able to turn the instrument in between my thumb and index with no trouble!  Which= no POKING of the poor gums.  Karen (our TA for the day), helped me figure out this simple concept.  She kept saying, "Think light thoughts, think light thoughts", and it seriously helped, as weird and creepy as that sounds.  She is a sweetheart I tell ya..  Anyway-- this blog post is l   o   n   g and boring to the rest of the world: but hey, when I become a RDH and look back at this time of life, I'll laugh and remember this GRAND ole' day. . when something inside me just clicked.  (finally)  :)