Job Shadow #1

---

I had an amazing opportunity to shadow Harvey & Thomas Orthodontics. I was able to follow Dr. Kimi Butts around for the day and watch what she does as an orthodontist.

It started with Dr. Butts receiving a patient who had just finished getting a consult and was ready to have the braces process begin. During the consultation, the nurse examines the patient's teeth by using X-rays and other machines to help guide the orthodontist to give the best care possible to help their patient have a pretty smile again. The next step in this process is cleaning and prepping the teeth for braces. This is important because any plaque or food particles can affect how well the braces bond to the teeth. The teeth will then be dried, and gauze will be placed to make sure there is no moisture in the mouth. A gel called “etching gel” will be applied to the surface of the teeth. This gel is used to help the enamel roughen slightly to help the bonding agent stick better. Once the bonding agent is applied to the teeth, the doctor uses a light to cure this to make it harden. Dr. Butts then placed the bracket in place and carefully aligned it to ensure that the bracket was in the right position. Once the bracket is in the right position, they use the curing light again to bond the bracket to the adhesive on the tooth. After all the brackets are in the correct places, the archwire is placed through the brackets. This archwire is the main component that helps the shift begin of the teeth. The wire is then secured in the bracket when a rubber band is placed to prevent this wire from moving. After she had placed all the brackets, inserted the wires, and added the rubber bands, she checked with the patient to make sure everything was comfortable and nothing was hurting the patient.

After the braces were put in place, the doctor moved to the next patient, and the patient was in charge of watching a couple of instructional videos. These videos provide essential information about caring for braces and help the patient gain a deeper understanding of their treatment. Topics typically include what foods to avoid, how to properly clean teeth with braces, how to floss effectively, how to handle any discomfort, and other important concepts related to maintaining oral hygiene and ensuring successful treatment. These videos help empower patients to take responsibility for their braces care.

One of the main things that I realized from observing Dr. Butts was her unwavering focus on ensuring the patient’s comfort and understanding. Before performing any new procedure, she always took the time to explain the entire process thoroughly. She would describe each step clearly and ensure that the patient was fully informed and at ease. Dr. Butts also made sure to ask if there were any questions, offering reassurance and clarifying any concerns, creating an environment where the patient felt confident and relaxed throughout the procedure. This approach helped build trust and alleviate anxiety.