doing operative or crown prep without assistant

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iLuvDAT

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our school has cut staffing to the bone and it's getting so frustrating to have an assistant helping us out while we are treating pts. I am trying to figure out how to do a procedure involving high speed handpiece on my own. All I need is just getting around suctioning. I heard that some dentists are a one-man show, got no assistants. I wonder how they resolve this issue.
 
Think about your patients. Assistants can do more for you than just suction. For one, they can help you by reading your patient's non-verbal cues while you are focused on doing your work.
 
I only need assistant to setup, cleanup, xray, and impression. All the hands-on procedure I rarely truly have need for them.
 
Daurang said:
I only need assistant to setup, cleanup, xray, and impression. All the hands-on procedure I rarely truly have need for them.
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how do you do that when you are using high speed?
 
someone should invent a mirror with peripheral suction.
 
Get an isolite and then stop complaining😎. We all had to do it in D school without an assistant. Seriously, tell your school you want an Isodry. I had to fire my assistant 4 months ago and I have gone without one ever since. The Isolite is my assistant. And it never talks back or drops the suction.
 
K2 Dental said:
Get an isolite and then stop complaining😎. We all had to do it in D school without an assistant. Seriously, tell your school you want an Isodry. I had to fire my assistant 4 months ago and I have gone without one ever since. The Isolite is my assistant. And it never talks back or drops the suction.
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i like isolite but not many dental students can afford it now.
 
iLuvDAT said:
how do you do that when you are using high speed?
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You put a cotton roll between the tooth and the cheek. One hand holds the suction, pulling back the cheek further away from the tooth, while the other hand holds the handpiece. No big deal really.
 
Use a rubber dam or get a suction mirror. I'm surprised you even have assistants at school. The only time I ever had an assistant was when the local community college assistant schools were rotating through, but they were usually so green it was easier to work without them.
 
I just started doing some pt care at a free clinic (assistant stuff)... the dentists are really nice but I honestly have no idea what i'm doing. I'm getting the hang of some of it now but I hate having to be told what to do when. Anyone know of any good lit or website to learn some common procedure steps or names of instruments?

Thanks. BTW: I think the dentists could do what they do with out me easier... though somone who was trained would prob do very well.
 
crazy_sherm said:
Use a rubber dam or get a suction mirror. I'm surprised you even have assistants at school. The only time I ever had an assistant was when the local community college assistant schools were rotating through, but they were usually so green it was easier to work without them.
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Same thing at Temple. You learn to do everything on your own. When ever the few assistants do come around asking if they could help, i always say no, because i know how to work alone.
After a while you learn to work alone, but i can see the advantages of assistants, especially in private practice. but in school learn how to do it all by yourself.
 
Depending on the quadrant, I let my patient hold the high vac; has worked well since 3rd year.
 
you learn how to do preps in the sim lab without an assistant don't you... Put one thing down pick up another
 
Andre3k said:
you learn how to do preps in the sim lab without an assistant don't you... Put one thing down pick up another
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The only problem is that simulated mannequin tongues often are about a million times more cooperative (and DRIER) than a real, live tongue that may or may not be numb 😉 😱 And in some cases, if you haven't encountered one yet, you'll be amazed at how STRONG that tongue your doing "battle" with can be 😱
 
konarocky said:
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Working without an assistant sucks. I won't even do sealants without an assistant. I use the Kona Adapter pictured above and Isolite mouthpieces. This thing is perfect for dental students because it is cheap and easily portable...just pop it out of the HVE valve and go.
 
konarocky said:
Working without an assistant sucks. I won't even do sealants without an assistant. I use the Kona Adapter pictured above and Isolite mouthpieces. This thing is perfect for dental students because it is cheap and easily portable...just pop it out of the HVE valve and go.
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can we buy the mouth pieces w/o having purchased an isolite?
 
zriceman said:
can we buy the mouth pieces w/o having purchased an isolite?
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I had an Isolite, so I had no problem purchasing the mouthpieces. I know someone who ordered the mouthpieces online, who doesn't own an Isolite, and she had no problem. But another person I know got a call from Isolite after they ordered online. They asked if he had an Isolite or IsoDry, and he just told them he bought a used Isolite and they setup his account...no problem.
 

Here is a sample image where in you don't need assistant anymore. As time pas by, new technologies comes out. in the future, we might have robot dentist. Sounds funny but possible. :laugh:
 
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