Any Lefties Who Practice Dentistry Right Handed?

[Hi Im Dent]

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Hi there,

I will be starting my first year of dental school this upcoming and year and I'm left-handed. I write with my left hand and generally do most things with my left hand.

However for certain things like martial arts, when I use swords I used my right hand since the form is made for right handed people and eventually it became more comfortable to hold a sword in my right hand than my left. I've tried holding a handpiece with a fulcrum and at first it was hard with my right hand but after a little practice I managed to do ok but definitely in the beginning I was more comfortable with my left hand.

My question is it smart to try to learn dentistry with my right hand? I know it will make working with assistants, finding jobs, and working in operatories much easier than if I was left-handed. Any dentists or dental students who have done this have any insight?

 

[THS]

I don't think so. Drilling a tooth is more similar to a writing motion than a martial arts motion. Your left hand is already used to precise movements. Stick with that.

 

[CanaDMD]

Do what you're comfortable with. I'm left handed, but right footed. So left hand on the tools, right foot on the pedal 😛

 

[SweetWater54]

I don't think being right handed would make it easier to work with assistants, I think the opposite is true. Most assistants will be right handed so they will be more comfortable on the patient's right side with you on the patient's left.

 

[CanaDMD]

I don't think being right handed would make it easier to work with assistants, I think the opposite is true. Most assistants will be right handed so they will be more comfortable on the patient's right side with you on the patient's left.

Though I think they are taught how to work on the left side

 

[SweetWater54]

Though I think they are taught how to work on the left side

Oh, yea you're probably right

 

[Hi Im Dent]

Thanks for the input so far! Any lefties care to chime in?

 

[cdd365]

I am also a lefty and currently in private practice at two offices. Most operatories are set up so you can work as a lefty. One of my assistant has worked with a left-handed dentist for 20 years and my other assistant got used to assisting a lefty and we figured it out together how to work with each other. She actually has difficulties working with right handed dentists now. It'll all work out if you're assistant is willing to learn. Keep with what hands works best for you. I was previously in career where I worked predominantly with my right hand and it will never be as good as my left hand.

 

[Hi Im Dent]

I don't think so. Drilling a tooth is more similar to a writing motion than a martial arts motion. Your left hand is already used to precise movements. Stick with that.

True, I've written my left hand my whole life. My only right handed thing besides martial arts is using the computer but I don't think that counts.

Do what you're comfortable with. I'm left handed, but right footed. So left hand on the tools, right foot on the pedal 😛

Haha that's quite unique!

I am also a lefty and currently in private practice at two offices. Most operatories are set up so you can work as a lefty. One of my assistant has worked with a left-handed dentist for 20 years and my other assistant got used to assisting a lefty and we figured it out together how to work with each other. She actually has difficulties working with right handed dentists now. It'll all work out if you're assistant is willing to learn. Keep with what hands works best for you. I was previously in career where I worked predominantly with my right hand and it will never be as good as my left hand.

Thanks a lot for the input. I'll keep this in mind as I'm learning since I know once I pick a hand I won't be able to switch to the other. What did you do previously?

 

[cdd365]

True, I've written my left hand my whole life. My only right handed thing besides martial arts is using the computer but I don't think that counts.



Haha that's quite unique!




Thanks a lot for the input. I'll keep this in mind as I'm learning since I know once I pick a hand I won't be able to switch to the other. What did you do previously?

I was a Nail Technician.

 

[sbdento]

Hi there,

I will be starting my first year of dental school this upcoming and year and I'm left-handed. I write with my left hand and generally do most things with my left hand.

However for certain things like martial arts, when I use swords I used my right hand since the form is made for right handed people and eventually it became more comfortable to hold a sword in my right hand than my left. I've tried holding a handpiece with a fulcrum and at first it was hard with my right hand but after a little practice I managed to do ok but definitely in the beginning I was more comfortable with my left hand.

My question is it smart to try to learn dentistry with my right hand? I know it will make working with assistants, finding jobs, and working in operatories much easier than if I was left-handed. Any dentists or dental students who have done this have any insight?

I had the same questions before I started school. I write left handed and do almost everything else with my right. When I first picked up the handpiece I felt more comfortable using my right hand so I just started using my right. There are times when its more convenient to use my left hand so I just switch over when I need to.

 

[shendo]

OP, when I started dental school I had some of your concerns as well being a leftie so for the first two year of dental school, I actually trained to do everything with my right hand. However when I actually entered my 3rd year and started working on patients in the clinic, I decided to switch back to working with my left hand. I've been working in a community clinic for awhile now, and the good thing is I am able to have my operatory set up for a left handed dentist even though I am the only left handed dentist in the clinic. Even though most operatories can be switched for left or right handed dentist, the big hassle is if you have all the supplies/instruments setup one side for the assistant when assisting a left handed dentist, then it becomes an inconvenience if a right handed dentist works in the same operatory such as in a corporate setting where you have multiple doctors working.
I actually knew a dentist who was ambidextrous and depending on which quadrant of the mouth he was working on would then decide if he was going work from the left or right side. This would drive his assistants crazy since they would have to adjust accordingly throughout the day.

 

[Hi Im Dent]

OP, when I started dental school I had some of your concerns as well being a leftie so for the first two year of dental school, I actually trained to do everything with my right hand. However when I actually entered my 3rd year and started working on patients in the clinic, I decided to switch back to working with my left hand. I've been working in a community clinic for awhile now, and the good thing is I am able to have my operatory set up for a left handed dentist even though I am the only left handed dentist in the clinic. Even though most operatories can be switched for left or right handed dentist, the big hassle is if you have all the supplies/instruments setup one side for the assistant when assisting a left handed dentist, then it becomes an inconvenience if a right handed dentist works in the same operatory such as in a corporate setting where you have multiple doctors working.
I actually knew a dentist who was ambidextrous and depending on which quadrant of the mouth he was working on would then decide if he was going work from the left or right side. This would drive his assistants crazy since they would have to adjust accordingly throughout the day.

What made you decide to switch back? Was it feeling more comfortable with the left hand in the end or some other reason? Thanks a lot for your input!