Couple of Monday mornings ago at half past 7 I started a big case on a patient at the front of the mouth and some of the photographs are scattered throughout this blog.
The patient was referred to see me “for bone grafting procedures prior to implant placement” but in long discussion with the patient and interpretation of 3-dimensional imaging, explained that it was possible for me to do things as a simultaneous procedure with all of the advantages and disadvantages that, that brings.
It would have been very easy for me to do a graft, to let the patient heal and to go back again, but there are advantages and disadvantages to that.
The funny thing is though in this case, it was quite zen.
I took photographs of everything I was doing, and the practice was quiet, it was like Becky and I working on a specimen in front of us, because the patient was so good and so chilled out.
The radio was on and 20% of my brain was able to be lost somewhere else as we went through the process of doing the best job we could.
I questioned my approach of why I was doing this and watched the rest of the things and looked as I saw the rest of the routes I could have taken to get to a different situation.
I didn’t stress that it was difficult because the patient knew it was difficult and I feel like I ‘ve consented to them really well for any eventuality that might have occurred during surgery.
I criticise some of the things I did as I went along and congratulated myself a little bit when I was happy with what had turned out.
I thought creatively and sat back and looked at things and decided how to overcome one or two difficulties and problems that I encountered and I marvelled at biology right in front of me, live and in HD in my 4.5xmagnification glasses.
In the end I closed everything up the way I suggest everybody closes everything up when we teach them on a course and the patient was just marvellous.
Within the same appointment time, I had time to dictate my operation notes and check my x-rays, fill in the implant log and make sure the patient was telephoned later on to make sure they were ok.
Just on that occasion it felt like everything fell into place and it was lovely.
I can’t control what happens when healing now, everything might fall apart, but it doesn’t usually (only sometimes).
It is lovely sometimes, just to think about what you’re thinking about and to look at what you’re looking at.
Maybe that’s an age thing.
Blog Post Number - 2140
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