I could not have been more correct when I predicted the first lab was going to be a total bust. The funny thing is, it is the exact same thing we had to do in our 1st D1 lab with minor alterations. I will admit, I totally suck at taking alginate impressions. Either I really stink at it or the faculty row instructor I had was real picky about everything. It is probably a combination of both. Wednesday was the first day of lab. I had to stay extra late just to get one alginate impression done so I could get signed off on the work. Some people had not only gotten both alginate impressions done (one for each arch), but they had made the plaster casts. Guess who those students were?

The AP’s…..not surprising. The D2’s have a lot of catching up to do. The great thing about the AP’s is that they know all these neat tricks, so to speak, if you screw up or are having trouble, so having AP’s has its advantages. Take the time to learn from them. I guarantee they will make you feel like a moron in lecture. They know everything being taught in lecture as well. It is funny how the Professors ask the class all these questions, and the only ones with the answers are the AP’s. Lots of catching up to do.

But back to lab, so I had to come in today (Saturday) to get my mandibular arch impression and then pour the plaster to make the casts. The mandible is such a **** to get an impression from. You always screw up something. If its not the retromolar pads that are the problem, then you have too many air bubbles. I must have done it 20 times before I finally got the hang of it. I got in at 11AM and finished at 4pm. What a fun start to the weekend. Im going to take pictures of the whole process on Monday so you guys have some clue as to what I am talking about. The good thing is that we have lab once a week in the summer, so if you dont finish something in lab (no one but the AP’s do), you have the rest of the week to get it done.

Ill have more on our lecture classes tomorrow.