Scoping the Scene

After a month of my summer internship at Iconic Orthodontics I have been involved in many new experiences. These experiences helped me stay poised in stressful situations and allowed me to learn from my mistakes. Social awkwardness is difficult to get around for someone who is an introvert (such as myself), but actively being around familiar coworkers and paitients in a workspace created a comfortable space for absorb new skills as well as fresh information. I have also discovered the importance of panormic and cephalometric X-Rays regarding a paitient's treatment plan and future teeth alignment.

X-Rays:

Panormic-

A panormic or pan X-Ray showcases the roots of the teeth on the lower and upper jaw. This helps doctors indicate abnormalities such as bone infections, cysts, tumors, or simply trapped teeth beneath the gums. Treatment plans can be as serious as surguries and implants or as uncomplicated as braces and invisalign. If complex abnormalities are found—for example, periodontal disease—the orthodontist might recommend a Dentist or Periodontist to focus on advanced care. The role of a Peridontist is to prevent future damage and cure the gum disease in a paitient.

ex. Panormic X-Ray

Cephalometric- 

A cephalometric or ceph X-Ray shows the doctor the type of bite a patient contains and is primarly used for diagnosing jaw misalignment. These X-Rays allow the Orthodontist to indicate whether the paitient has a severe overbite or underbite. Although Orthodontist are known to solve major jaw and alignment issues, critical malocclusions may lead to corrective facial surgeries in the paitient's best interest. The reference ruler in these X-Rays are used to convert pixels into exact millimeter and angular values for jaw surgery or precise Orthodontic planning. The ruler accuratley shows anatomical sizes rather than distorted shadows or oversized bones.

ex. Cephalometric X-Ray

After clear and thoughtful instructions I was able to take my own X-Rays of a paitient! I've also learned that earrings distort these images since metal can block or absorb radiation. Walking out of comfort zone has given me room to aquire new knowledge and be fearless when working in areas I am unfamiliar with.