concern over pulling teeth

[Yellow Snow]

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I am concerned about my ability to pull out someone's teeth when the time comes. I was shadowing a dentist today and he pulled out this older guy's molar. It was a very easy pull and stuff but I don't know if I could pull out someone's tooth w/ a pair of pliars like that.

So, this is normal and I will just get used to it, right? Or should I be looking into another field? Anyone one else concerned or was concerned about this?

I know that some gen. practitioners refer out all pulls to oral surgeons but I just wanted to hear how others feel about it.

 

[ackbar]

?? are you like mr. noodle arm or something?

proper leverage and technique and you can pull a man's jaw out of his face.

 

[onetoothleft]

I think everyone has their own apprehensions about dentistry. Just stick with the shadowing and see if it gets easier. After a couple of years of watching these things you will become more interested in the science and technique than the gore.

 

[flat4]

I had similar thoughts when I was shadowing a few years back. When I extracted my first tooth a few weeks ago however, I was so worried about not hurting the patient and using proper technique that I completely forgot about everything else. Once it actually came out (a long #31) and I could think again, I was amazed at how fun it was and was ready to do the next one. I don't know if it's just me but I think it's one of the funner procedures.

 

[The Musketeer]

It's not all pliar work....you will also utilize various elevators to loosen and 'elevate' the teeth so you can grab it with pliars when they are loosen. An analogy that I will use is pliars are your drivers for the final pull and elevators are your irons and woods that you will use most of the time. Extraction is also about proper technique and not brute force.

I am concerned about my ability to pull out someone's teeth when the time comes. I was shadowing a dentist today and he pulled out this older guy's molar. It was a very easy pull and stuff but I don't know if I could pull out someone's tooth w/ a pair of pliars like that.

So, this is normal and I will just get used to it, right? Or should I be looking into another field? Anyone one else concerned or was concerned about this?

I know that some gen. practitioners refer out all pulls to oral surgeons but I just wanted to hear how others feel about it.

 

[ItsGavinC]

It's not all pliar work....you will also utilize various elevators to loosen and 'elevate' the teeth so you can grab it with pliars when they are loosen. An analogy that I will use is pliars are your drivers for the final pull and elevators are your irons and woods that you will use most of the time. Extraction is also about proper technique and not brute force.

Excellent comments. The secret is in the elevation. Elevate, elevate, elevate. Then, when you've done that, elevate some more.

 

[brandiwine1160]

I was the same way. The first time I ever saw a dentist pull a tooth, I had to leave the room. It made me queasy. At the time I was interviewing for a dental assistant job. I decided to take the job and just deal with it. Now it doesn't even bother me. It is something you can and will get used to. Don't give up because of one bad experience.

Oh and let me add, if your scared of not being able to physically pull the tooth because of strength, don't be. I worked for a little bitty Chinese lady who wasn't an inch over 5 feet and didn't weigh 100 pounds and pulling teeth was the main part of her practice(she specialized in dentures). If she can do it so can you.

 

[Yellow Snow]

I was the same way. The first time I ever saw a dentist pull a tooth, I had to leave the room. It made me queasy. At the time I was interviewing for a dental assistant job. I decided to take the job and just deal with it. Now it doesn't even bother me. It is something you can and will get used to. Don't give up because of one bad experience.

Oh and let me add, if your scared of not being able to physically pull the tooth because of strength, don't be. I worked for a little bitty Chinese lady who wasn't an inch over 5 feet and didn't weigh 100 pounds and pulling teeth was the main part of her practice(she specialized in dentures). If she can do it so can you.

Haha no I am not concerned about not being strong enough to pull the tooth. Thanks everyone for your comments, it is good to know that I wasn't alone in feeling apprehensive about it.

 

[r0entgen]

Haha no I am not concerned about not being strong enough to pull the tooth. Thanks everyone for your comments, it is good to know that I wasn't alone in feeling apprehensive about it.

yeah i know what you mean...the first time i saw a tooth extraction, i felt the same way...not because of the blood though...it was more related to the 'violent' nature of the extraction..lol...but i think this is something to get used to...when we become professionals, i think we would just realise it's our job, and not think of anything else..

 

[ISU_Steve]

Put it this way, I've shoved tubes down peoples' throats, stuck large needles into their chests, their arms, their groins, or their necks, helped thread catheters through hearts, inserted chest tubes, and done myriad other invasive procedures over the past few years. Despite all my prior medical experience with doing things that surpass tooth extractions on the scale of invasiveness, I'll still be nervous as hell the first time I did it.

Jitters are a normal part of learning. They will pass once you gain some experience- and that goes for any procedure. Good luck. You'll do fine.