Annex to Ghost of FPD Past

Dr. T

Grabbed this from sara's site. Para mas nostalgic ang dating, I tweaked the color a little bit. Look intently at this photo while reflecting on the song "Good Times" and relive the ghost of FPD past.

Honestly, he's my favorite UPCD teacher. Walang kokontra!

Pedo Deedo Day

Today's Pedo day in the clinic. Hard to manage kids are like exo cases to me, di kami match. Good thing we were able to get an import pedodontist/ general dentist, all the way from Timog Q.C., my former Dent buddy Doc A.

Speaking of buddy, back in school we have this buddy system where the senior buddy (coming from the previous batch) gets to help his/her junior buddy in Dent subjects by sharing transcriptions, books, etc. Though some of my batchmate were malas with the buddies they had, I was lucky to get a responsible buddy. Not only that she lent me her transcription but also her book which I think she bought pa from the U.S. kasi amoy States pa. (I have this habit before of smelling book pages aside from newly xeroxed paper. Hmmm...sheer joy!) Oh and while most of my batchmate clutch their borrowed transcriptions in SM and generic palengke bags, Doc A would give hers in sossy paper bags!

One time, I got another batch of transcription from her, this time in a Nordstrom paper bag. A batchmate of mine joked, "Uy, nag-shopping ka?" Duh! Yeah, Resto 12B transcription's on sale at Nordstrom today. (Doc A, I hope you don't mind if I wrote about your transcriptions and the sossy paper bags!)

Anyway, back to pedo day, I appointed 2 patients for A for today but unfortunately the other kid was sick daw. I felt bad that I would make Doc A go all the way to Marikina for just one patient. Aba, mahal na ang gas ngayon! Good thing, I had a back-up patient: Robyn.

Yes, today marks the first time my daughter sees a dentist. Well, she gets to see ME (a dentist too) everyday but for her, I'm "Mommy" and it's hard to instill to her that "Mommy" and "Dentist" is the same person. I can't be the same person who would extract her teeth and later tuck her to bed at night. Baka pag nasaktan ko siya during treatment, gantihan ako sa gabi at ahitan ako ng kilay habang natutulog!

I remember a conversation I had with a fellow dentist-mom. She extracted one of her son's molars rather than bringing him to another dentist. The boy screamed and shouted during the procedure while she reassured that everything's OK and that mom (the dentist) won't hurt him (which of course, she eventually did starting from the injection part). She said it was hard seeing her son that way but she doesn't want his molar to get worse. But what was harder for her to accept was what happened after the extraction: her son said to her "Mama ang sakit! Ayoko na sa 'yo." Then the kid ran to his dad. From the time I talked to that dentist-mom, I decided that I would never treat my own daughter. If ever, she'd need RCT in the future? We'll troop to Dr. C's clinic.

The first pedo patient is scheduled at 11am but I brought Robyn with me to the clinic at 10am. We practiced sitting in the dental chair so she would get used to the chair going up and down, etc. I showed her the mouth mirror, which she enjoyed putting in her mouth so I end up replacing the mouth mirror for the 1st patient five times!

Anyway, we still have to let the 1st patient go ahead, even when Robyn was there first since Erap and I share the same principle: "Walang pami-pamilya, walang kama-kamag-anak!" Unfortunately, that boy was really a pain in the pw*t so the treatment took longer than usual. So long that Robyn was able to sleep while waiting despite the loud shrieks of the patient. Secretly I was praying that the boy won't destroy my dental chair since he keeps on standing on the unsupported side of the chair. Son of a tofu! Kaka-full payment ko lang niyan!

After an hour and so, it was finally Robyn's turn. As much as I want to take a picture of her in her first dental experience, I can't since she had to lie down on top of me while I act as her overly cushioned Papoose Board. (To non-dentists reading this, a papoose board is a device to immobilize patients during treatment, wrapping the patient like a burrito.)

A papoose board

Robyn cried her kawawa cry while Tita Doc A cleaned her teeth, good thing I didn't get to see her face, otherwise I would've also cried. Although cleaning is not painful at all, Robyn's not used to it yet and she's sleepy and hungry that's why she's a little cranky during the procedure. In a few minutes, she's done! Talo pa niya yung almost 4-year old kid who had the same procedure done but took an hour and a half!

Not so good news: Her 72 & 73 seems fused. Review Wheeler's Anatomy topic on Dental Anomalies.

Robyn's fused teeth look something like this

Good news: No cavities!

Pedo Deedo Day

Today's Pedo day in the clinic. Hard to manage kids are like exo cases to me, di kami match. Good thing we were able to get an import pedodontist/ general dentist, all the way from Timog Q.C., my former Dent buddy Doc A.

Speaking of buddy, back in school we have this buddy system where the senior buddy (coming from the previous batch) gets to help his/her junior buddy in Dent subjects by sharing transcriptions, books, etc. Though some of my batchmate were malas with the buddies they had, I was lucky to get a responsible buddy. Not only that she lent me her transcription but also her book which I think she bought pa from the U.S. kasi amoy States pa. (I have this habit before of smelling book pages aside from newly xeroxed paper. Hmmm...sheer joy!) Oh and while most of my batchmate clutch their borrowed transcriptions in SM and generic palengke bags, Doc A would give hers in sossy paper bags!

One time, I got another batch of transcription from her, this time in a Nordstrom paper bag. A batchmate of mine joked, "Uy, nag-shopping ka?" Duh! Yeah, Resto 12B transcription's on sale at Nordstrom today. (Doc A, I hope you don't mind if I wrote about your transcriptions and the sossy paper bags!)

Anyway, back to pedo day, I appointed 2 patients for A for today but unfortunately the other kid was sick daw. I felt bad that I would make Doc A go all the way to Marikina for just one patient. Aba, mahal na ang gas ngayon! Good thing, I had a back-up patient: Robyn.

Yes, today marks the first time my daughter sees a dentist. Well, she gets to see ME (a dentist too) everyday but for her, I'm "Mommy" and it's hard to instill to her that "Mommy" and "Dentist" is the same person. I can't be the same person who would extract her teeth and later tuck her to bed at night. Baka pag nasaktan ko siya during treatment, gantihan ako sa gabi at ahitan ako ng kilay habang natutulog!

I remember a conversation I had with a fellow dentist-mom. She extracted one of her son's molars rather than bringing him to another dentist. The boy screamed and shouted during the procedure while she reassured that everything's OK and that mom (the dentist) won't hurt him (which of course, she eventually did starting from the injection part). She said it was hard seeing her son that way but she doesn't want his molar to get worse. But what was harder for her to accept was what happened after the extraction: her son said to her "Mama ang sakit! Ayoko na sa 'yo." Then the kid ran to his dad. From the time I talked to that dentist-mom, I decided that I would never treat my own daughter. If ever, she'd need RCT in the future? We'll troop to Dr. C's clinic.

The first pedo patient is scheduled at 11am but I brought Robyn with me to the clinic at 10am. We practiced sitting in the dental chair so she would get used to the chair going up and down, etc. I showed her the mouth mirror, which she enjoyed putting in her mouth so I end up replacing the mouth mirror for the 1st patient five times!

Anyway, we still have to let the 1st patient go ahead, even when Robyn was there first since Erap and I share the same principle: "Walang pami-pamilya, walang kama-kamag-anak!" Unfortunately, that boy was really a pain in the pw*t so the treatment took longer than usual. So long that Robyn was able to sleep while waiting despite the loud shrieks of the patient. Secretly I was praying that the boy won't destroy my dental chair since he keeps on standing on the unsupported side of the chair. Son of a tofu! Kaka-full payment ko lang niyan!

After an hour and so, it was finally Robyn's turn. As much as I want to take a picture of her in her first dental experience, I can't since she had to lie down on top of me while I act as her overly cushioned Papoose Board. (To non-dentists reading this, a papoose board is a device to immobilize patients during treatment, wrapping the patient like a burrito.)

A papoose board

Robyn cried her kawawa cry while Tita Doc A cleaned her teeth, good thing I didn't get to see her face, otherwise I would've also cried. Although cleaning is not painful at all, Robyn's not used to it yet and she's sleepy and hungry that's why she's a little cranky during the procedure. In a few minutes, she's done! Talo pa niya yung almost 4-year old kid who had the same procedure done but took an hour and a half!

Not so good news: Her 72 & 73 seems fused. Review Wheeler's Anatomy topic on Dental Anomalies.

Robyn's fused teeth look something like this

Good news: No cavities!

Ang Pagbabalik ng Ultimate Jologs

Quite a number of people from my circle claims to be the ultimate jologs ever. As for me, I prefer to be quiet and let my natural jologness unleash its wrath in unexpected scenarios. I call it my "simpleng malupit na paglaladlad ng ultimate jologs."

Karla F. can attest to how unspeakably jologs I can be. I, as others would say, am the resource person if you want to know who was Jennifer Sevilla's leading man in Mundo Man ay Magunaw by Seiko films (It's Michael Locsin, an alumnae of Marist School). Or if you want to know who's this That's star, aside from Lea Salonga, got to play Kim in Miss Saigon? (Caselyn Francisco, although she didn't get to play in the London production)

I also remember someone from school (several batches younger) asked why the Thursday group always perform this native numbers during That's Saturday edition. Hmmm, where did she get the idea that I'd be able to answer that? Kay Mariel siguro. (Mar, mag-react ka kung hindi ha?) By the way, the answer to that girl's question? The group leader, Smokey Manaloto, is good friends with several Bayanihan Dance Troupe members so most of their dance numbers are choreographed by BDT members.

I have this fond memory while waiting for my turn at the old UP Health Service Building (alam ko sa ibabaw ng parkingan ng ambulansya ng PGH). Among the other would-be UP freshies there, I recognize one girl as Em-Em Mabanglo, that maldita girl who played "Macy" in the soap Annaluna. Of course being a natural jologs and probably due to severe boredom too, I started a conversation with her. Here it goes:

T: Uy diba ikaw si Macy?

E: (looking uneasy) Ah...

T: (unfazed) Yung sa Annaluna!

E: Oo pero bata pa ako nun...

T: Ako rin bata pa ako nun! (Sheesh. From then on everytime I see her in CAMP, I'd yell, "Hi Macy!")

I guess I got my jologs genes from my Dad. Back in the early 90's, we have just one TV set back then and by 6pm, my Dad fix his eyes on the monitor for his daily dose of That's Entertainment. I would attest my equal right to the television, since I want to watch Ang TV dahil idol ko si Marnie Arcilla, but as king of the house, my Dad would always win the remote.

Now why am I writing about all these jologs stuff all of a sudden? Well, I just got jologs high after spending hours downloading "Manay Po 2: Overload." Wala akong makitang DVD sa Quiapo eh.

State of TINation Address

As GMA gives her SONA to review her accomplishments as President, I have my STNA to reflect on my first month back in UPCD.

Yeba! Naka-one month na ako!

I was a little bit hesitant to write about this "teaching stint" since I don't know how my friends would react. Back then, my friends would bet a thousand moolahs that I would never ever try to teach. I admit, I was never the patient type. I would give Simon Cowell a run for his money when it comes to becoming brutal na manlalait (especially after too many San Mig Lights).

I also vowed (after completing my requirements) that I would never ever step in UPCD again, only to come back days after dahil kailangan magpaprint ng TCG kay Ate Mel. But after Boards, I swore (again!) that I'll never be back...following it up with "For real na 'to ha? Promise!"

So happy we're done with dent requirements

But alas, I find myself going up the familiar Dentistry Building steps again. Only this time, I traded my white uniform (with a few ballpen marks) for a white coat (still with ballpen marks) and my feet meet that steep stairs to where the clinics are with heeled shoes instead of my dugyot sneakers.

I thought that after all those FPD discussions with Dr. T, I would never encounter anything so frightening. I realized that getting a job in your old school is much harder than getting a job in any other place. Take the interview, for starters. During my past jobs as an associate dentist, I managed to make pa-impress with my former bosses by having a good resume, flaunting that I came from UP and post-grad trainings and seminars that I attended. But now, I would be seeing my former professors who knew me as a student, or worse, something like this, "Oh Tin's teaching na? Isn't she the one who took the removals in Resto molar exam?" Oh my gas! The ghost of christmas past?!

Fortunately, my former professors aren't that judgmental (or should I thank the fact that some had early-onset Alzheimer's? Hehe...peace.), in fact some were even happy one of their former students even considered teaching. Hay, those kind words from Dr. T & even Dr. B.M. untied some knots in my tummy.

Then came Dr. C., whom I get to be with most of the time since I get to teach her subject. I was so paranoid before that I pictured how shocked she would be when she learns that I will be teaching Endodontics. 

Oral Surgery 31 study nights with Rish & Tan

Endo was one of my so-so subjects back in college. Oral Surgery was actually my best, only to find out that extractions and I aren't destined in real life. Darn that root fragment! Panira ng mga pangarap!

Endo squeezed its way into my practice slowly but surely. It all started with my Occupational Dentistry stint in J.F. Cotton where as a "newbie," I get to have the unwanted RCT cases. I discovered that I found a new love in Endodontics when I traded my pang-rebond funds to buy a set of ProTaper files. (For non-dentists reading this, ProTaper files are just a few of the expensive tools used in root canal treatment.)

I haven't been doing true-blue teaching stuff yet, except helping Dr. C in Endo 31 lab and signing that sheet enabling clinicians to start whatever they're going to do in their patients. I do have the leisure of eavesdropping when someone discuss his/her Endo case with Dr. C and compare if that clinician was worse than me when I discussed my Endo 32 and 40 cases. So far, the 3 clinicians I got to listen to got more "kuyumus ng mukha" from Dr. C (obvious sign na mali yung mga pinagsasasabi mo sa discussion) than what I got before.

Now, if any UPCD student stumble upon this blog, don't plan a massive attack against me with you newly-sharpened-from-perio31-class sickle scalers. I do have my share of boo-boos as a student too. I did get bokya grades in the diagnosis part of my perio chart (ask my husband, he was my patient when Dr. K gave me a zero on that part hehe), I present underfixed and unwashed radiographs much to Dr. C's horror, I grazed my odontec patient's lower lip with my low speed which Dr. E took a picture of (for his slides daw on "What Not To Do During Surgeries") and cried to Dr. T with this dialogue "I know how an ideal prep should look like! Ask me and I'd be able to tell you. I can even draw it but I just can't do a decent mock prep on this @#%! cast!"

I had so many mischiefs as a student and I had this image that the faculty will retain this memory of my shortcomings for as long as I live. Honestly, I used to hate some teachers back in dent since they seemed to me like a bunch powertrippers and perfectionists. My most hated professor na itatago ko na lang sa pangalang Dr. Swabe, I would say that the guy isn't really that bad. If I would take an old Pinoy adage seriously, bundat na bundat na ako ngayon, since I am eating a lot of words I said before.

Dramatic as it may seem, the heaviness in my heart toward my former teachers & my Alma Mater has been lifted. 

Special message to TanyaMac: "Don't worry, I'll remember that I was once a banutik student too!"

Oh and to Dr. Swabe: "I stand firm, the 3rd molar may look like a 2nd molar." I read that in Wheeler's Atlas of Anatomy...or somewhere.

TanyaMac & me: Green shift payatot days

If all recipes are written like this...

I was looking for a recipe for Corned Beef Sinigang, when I came across this blog. I was laughing while following the procedures. The blog can be seen here: http://anchafluconchuchu.blogspot.com/2007/11/corned-beef-sinigang.html

The wacky recipe goes:

2 lata ng purefoods chunky corned beef o isang mamahaling PALM CORNED BEEF
1 mahaba at matabang labanos
2 bungkos na kangkong , isama rin ang ilang 'stalks'
4 siling haba
panggisa chenes
paminta durog or otherwise, kevs
konting mantika
tantiyahang dami ng LASAP sinigang mix

paanix? may-i-gisa mo lang ang sibuyas, bawang at kamatis in that order. mas maganda kung bongga ang cookware mo, never aluminum. then pag medyo kulontoy na sila, throw in mo ang manipis at pabilog na hiniwang labanos at sili haba. sing ka muna ng 'kering-keri', taz put mo ang corned beef. cover mo muna, as in 'pagpawisin'. makaraan ang ilang glory be, put mo na ng katamtamang tubig/sabaw at join na ang kangkong. pakuluin habang nagbebending ng 50X, taz put mo na rin ang pampaasim. alalahaning maalat na corned beef kaya alalay lang sa pampalasa , if ever.

ihain na nakangiti. kung taksil pa rin ang palalafanging papaysung , titigang alternately ang 'cornedbeef' at siya. makukuha naman seguro niyang corned beef ang kahihinatnan niya kung di siya umayos. eching.

Crush as early as 2 years old?!

My 2-year-old daughter absolutely ADORES DJ Lance Rock of Yo Gabba Gabba. Ay grabe, ang bata pa pero you could see how "kilig" she gets everytime she see this Ponkan guy on TV. She even kisses the monitor! Ay naku. As my line everytime I get stress goes (Roomies, remember this line?) "BP nga!!!!" Hehehe.

                                              Our future son-in-law???