Left-Handed Dentists

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I highly doubt there is any disadvantage. Just make sure that your school knows that you are a south paw, so they can make arrangements for you.
 
I've heard from a couple dental assistants(right handed) that they won't work for another dentist after working with a left handed dentist because it is so much easier for them to work and ergonomically better also. So I don't think it would be of hindrance to anyone but maybe left handed DA's. Of course I'm not up to date on the equipment aspect of things either.
 
Here at my school, the clinic chairs are convertible from left-hand to right-hand and vice versa. No problems accomodating lefties here in Buffalo.
 
There you go Radioheadblue. A research project. Assuming that the ratio of left to right handed dentists is in line with the ratio of left handers to right handers found in the general population, would one expect to find that the ratio of left handed to right handed DA's is significantly larger than the ratio of left handers to right handers found in the general population.
 
Originally posted by groundhog
There you go Radioheadblue. A research project. Assuming that the ratio of left to right handed dentists is in line with the ratio of left handers to right handers found in the general population, would one expect to find that the ratio of left handed to right handed DA's is significantly larger than the ratio of left handers to right handers found in the general population.
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Actually, I think the ratio of L:R handed dentists would be higher than that of the general population.

If you're left-handed then the right side of your brain is more active.

That means you'd have a higher propensity for doing well with spatial relations (Right-Brained = spatial, Left-Brained = verbal/analytical).

That kind of person would be particularly in demand in the dental profession.


Makes sense, but that doesn't mean it's true. 😀
 
does it mean that lefty are prone to get sued?
o no, i m a lefty too.
 
Sorry guys, it was a joke - of sorts. Pretty weak, I guess. 😀 I've been reading these boards for a while and decided to start posting. By the way, I am a first year dental student.
 
I am a left- handed dentist.
my experience is that with newer dental chairs, usually , there aren't major problems. Sometimes there are even advantages as I can easily grap the tubings from the assistant's side if I have to work alone.

But with older generations of dental chairs, especially those with very short tubings, it is very hard. I often need to grap the handpiece with my right hand and tranfer to left hand. There are 2 things I usually try to be careful with: avoid transfering the handpiece over the face of my patients( it looks scary to them, and you risk dropping the handpiece over their face) and avoid having the tube wrap around the neck of my patient. Most of my patients told me that they felt difference compared to how a right handed dentist work( they said, DOC, you are left-handed!!!), but they didn't tell my anything negative. There are also very old dental chairs which have highspeed tubing from the left side. I loved those ones.

Long tubings from right-side output give more freedom to left handed dentists, but the overall weight is heavier and the pressure arriving at your handpiece is slightly lower. Some people may not feel the difference. If it is eletric handpiece, air pressure isn't a problem anymore.

When I use area- specific currettes like Gracey, I have to kind of adapt what I learned from right handed teachers. I do cleaning, scaling, curettage with both hands, gross decay removal with right hand and final detailed preps with left hand.

In brief, it is more tricky to be left-handed, but it is feasible. I seem to remember that Kavo has a new chair that is for both righ and left handed dentists, it'd be wonderful to have one of those. Otherwise, I am sure one can always open the chair and rewire the tubings to the left.
 
Like the other guys said we probably have about 15 people that are left handed out of 100 and it is actually great. During our second semester we have to sign up for Dent sim lab instead of being assigned and I can basically walk in any time, since there are 2 left handed units for 15 people over a span of 2 weeks. The righties always have to fight for a good time or be stuck with the 8am! We have also only worked on the left side of the maxillary arch for dent sim, and we def have the advantage there (although I guess it will suck a little more for us when we do the right side). Anyway overall most dental schools have adapted for this and it shouldnt be a problem at all.
 
thanks for the replies everyone, as they've all been really rather insightful. I'm starting at Penn this fall, and hopefully I'll be able to prance in whenever I please as well.
 
Dude, that sucks you have to share your setups. We each have our own personal "office" complete with drawers and cabinets with our keys. Theoretically we are still supposed to share with the sophomores but they are always in the "dirty" lab playing with their dentures. 🙂 The place is mine whenever I want it.

Although, maybe if it was a little bit harder to get a time slot, I'd appreciate it more and spend more time practicing my preps and restorations. 😉
 
As a south-paw trying to do things in a right-handed world I've become quite good at both hands. I worked as a machinist for 4 years and everything is made for right handers, but in machining both hands are often doing different and sometimes opposite motions. Because of this, I never have a problem getting access with instruments or handpieces because I can use either hand, IT ROCKS!

If you happen to be able to use both hands fairly well my advice is to keep using both hands. I have profs who get really pissed when they see me switch. They say, "You need to pick one hand and stick with it!" They don't have a clue. That's like kindergarten teachers trying to make a left handed kid switch to being right handed.
 
No disadvantage ... whatever comes natural to you is how it'll work out. We have 4 students out of 80 and the only thing that is different for them is in the dentsim lab, but that's worthless so it doesn't matter.

Everything's reversed as far as handing out instruments, but it all comes together.
 
CJWolf said:
No disadvantage ... whatever comes natural to you is how it'll work out. We have 4 students out of 80 and the only thing that is different for them is in the dentsim lab, but that's worthless so it doesn't matter.

Everything's reversed as far as handing out instruments, but it all comes together.
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Southpaws unite! 👍 😀
 
It's so refreshing to see all the lefties come out. I'm a lefty/ ambidextrous. Like a previous poster, I use my right hand for strength, but fine instrumentation with my left. It was a little challenging to work around the chair, but you get used to it and discover what you like and don't like. If there is a left-handed professor, ask him/her for advice. A lefty professor made me use my left foot instead of my right for the rheostat- it's good to start learning good habits early!
 
When Dr. Malamed taught our pain control course, he mentioned that being able to give injections with both hands can be a real benefit, so props to those lefties who can do things with their rights, and vice versa!
 
Hipstraights said:
How large is the disadvantage of being left-handed in dental school/ as a Dentist? Please let me know.
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There is no disadvantage. You can be left handed and most of the practical tests and exams are done on the harder side for the majority (the right handed students) so you sometimes have it easier!
 
The real problem is that all of you lefties are the evil spawn of satan. Don't we all miss the times when kids were forced to be right handed, now those were good times. Evil I tell you, evil. And those of you who can't figure out which hand to use, get off the damn bench and pick a side. We don't want any wishy, washy dentists do we. We want ones that can make a decision and stick with it.
 
TucsonDDS said:
The real problem is that all of you lefties are the evil spawn of satan....
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That's nothing new to me. I have been attacked and reprimanded for being a wicked lefty by complete strangers who, feeling some sort of obligation, informed me that the world's ills can be traced back to a lefty and that my parents clearly lack a spine otherwise they would have 'corrected' me as a child. Yes, indeed, southpaws unite!
 
I saw this alluded to once but one thing to think about is that on average, your dental assistants will usually be right handed and that is an ideal combination, ergo you will have it easier when working with most assistants. 😉
 
Cudental007 said:
It's so refreshing to see all the lefties come out. I'm a lefty/ ambidextrous. Like a previous poster, I use my right hand for strength, but fine instrumentation with my left. It was a little challenging to work around the chair, but you get used to it and discover what you like and don't like. If there is a left-handed professor, ask him/her for advice. A lefty professor made me use my left foot instead of my right for the rheostat- it's good to start learning good habits early!
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hi ....how r u....my name is john.....i hv the same thing....i donno if it is a good thing or such a problem...i use my right hand for strength and my left one for fine instrumentation...for example i extract with my right hand as my left hand is weaker than right but more accurate ......while cavity preps with my left one....i find a problem on the chair....is this a nice thing? or a bad one...thank u.....
 
I have a great comment I've used several times in the past for those who make comments about my being left-handed...


Lefties are the only people in the world who are in their right mind!

:laugh:
 
leia05 said:
I have a great comment I've used several times in the past for those who make comments about my being left-handed...


Lefties are the only people in the world who are in their right mind!

:laugh:
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yeah babe...i agree with u....i am a left handed....but not purely left handed...i hv a ****en mix of right and left......even in my work....this some times confusing me....and plz i wanna talk to u soon URGENTLY...thx liae
 
John22 said:
yeah babe...i agree with u....i am a left handed....but not purely left handed...i hv a ****en mix of right and left......even in my work....this some times confusing me....and plz i wanna talk to u soon URGENTLY...thx liae
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regarding? i'm pretty ambidextrous too... i play tennis right-handed and write/paint/eat/etc as a leftie...confused the hell outta my tennis coach haha
 
leia05 said:
regarding? i'm pretty ambidextrous too... i play tennis right-handed and write/paint/eat/etc as a leftie...confused the hell outta my tennis coach haha
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i play tennis and football with right too...i eat paint tc as a lefties..but i hv a confusing question....by which hand do u extract teeth for example? by which hand do u do yr operative crown and endo work? that's it...i am waiting for yr answer....coz i extract with my right..while other operative crown and endo worksss with my left hand....i am waiting for yr answer ..and thx a lot
 
John22 said:
i play tennis and football with right too...i eat paint tc as a lefties..but i hv a confusing question....by which hand do u extract teeth for example? by which hand do u do yr operative crown and endo work? that's it...i am waiting for yr answer....coz i extract with my right..while other operative crown and endo worksss with my left hand....i am waiting for yr answer ..and thx a lot
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john, i'm not in school yet. i start my first year this august. i have a feeling, however, that i will fall into the previously mentioned category of doing finely-detailed work with my left and techniques requiring greater strength with my right. i'm basing this assumption off of things i do in my life now, so that is definitely subject to change! so i guess one could say my hands are kinda like this:
left = brains right = brawn :laugh:
 
leia05 said:
john, i'm not in school yet. i start my first year this august. i have a feeling, however, that i will fall into the previously mentioned category of doing finely-detailed work with my left and techniques requiring greater strength with my right. i'm basing this assumption off of things i do in my life now, so that is definitely subject to change! so i guess one could say my hands are kinda like this:
left = brains right = brawn :laugh:
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Yup..............same condition here.....listen do u hv any messenger program? yahoo or msn????
 
there sure alot of lefties on sdn.. we need to do a poll i bet there are more lefties than righties!
 
The worst thing I went through as a lefty is being separated from my twin brother who is a righty. 👎 They had to move me to a lefty seat they said, sure.
 
groundhog said:
There you go Radioheadblue. A research project. Assuming that the ratio of left to right handed dentists is in line with the ratio of left handers to right handers found in the general population, would one expect to find that the ratio of left handed to right handed DA's is significantly larger than the ratio of left handers to right handers found in the general population.
Click to expand...

Some studies indicate that left-handed people are represented slightly more in high intelligence fields. That would suggest that dental school would have more than lefties than the general population.
 
mdub said:
Some studies indicate that left-handed people are represented slightly more in high intelligence fields. That would suggest that dental school would have more than lefties than the general population.
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Some say the left hand is the tool of the DEVIL!!! :horns:
 
drhobie7 said:
Some say the left hand is the tool of the DEVIL!!! :horns:
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Well, that's also true. Dentisty is full of evil geniuses.
 
Glad to hear there are so many of us...

On the topic, did anyone hear about this? (its a few years old)

The Left-Handed Whopper:
Burger King published a full page advertisement in USA Today announcing the introduction of a new item to their menu: a "Left-Handed Whopper" specially designed for the 32 million left-handed Americans. According to the advertisement, the new whopper included the same ingredients as the original Whopper (lettuce, tomato, hamburger patty, etc.). However, the left-handed whopper had "all condiments rotated 180 degrees, thereby redistributing the weight of the sandwich so that the bulk of the condiments will skew to the left, thereby reducing the amount of lettuce and other toppings from spilling out the right side of the burger."

Jim Watkins, senior vice president for marketing at Burger King, was quoted as saying that the new sandwich was the "ultimate 'HAVE IT YOUR WAY' for our left-handed customers." The advertisement then noted that the left-handed Whopper would initially only be available in the United States, but that the company was "considering plans to roll it out to other countries with large left-handed populations." The following day Burger King issued a follow-up release revealing that although the Left-Handed Whopper was a hoax, thousands of customers had gone into restaurants to request the new sandwich. Simultaneously, according to the press release, "many others requested their own 'right handed' version."
 
My experience for being a lefty in school is that you may need to buy a trash can for your cubicle. It is because you may need to turn your cubicle 180 degree and the designated trash can is too far to reach.. One thing you need to remind your patients, especially during summer time not to wear short dresses (or you can provide a light blanket to cover their feet). Becasue their feets are pointing to the hallway instead of the wall after you turn the chair 180 degree to accomodate right spaces. One more thing, your preceptors will have a hard time to sit on your chair to check your work, they may or may not understand your situation. So, I turn 180 degree on my 3rd year and using a righty cube on my 4th year. I can get my work checked faster but ergonomically speaking, it hurts.
 
Has anyone that has been looking for a job after dental school found it hard to find a place that will take you as a left handed associate?
 
For what its worth, my dad is left handed and graduated DS in the mid 70s. He learned to be ambidextrous in DS because there were no left handed chairs at his school. He has said on several occasions being ambidextrous has been a valuable skill in his toolbox.

Good luck lefties and righties, alike!
 
CanadaDent said:
Has anyone that has been looking for a job after dental school found it hard to find a place that will take you as a left handed associate?
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This is probably the major issue for lefty's such as myself. Schools are all ambidextrous, but actual private practices may be right-hand only and won't hire lefty's.
 
I'm left-handed, and I consider it an asset. It allows both me and my assistant to work with our dominant hand in the operating field, which makes life easier in lots of intangible but real ways.

Also, most lefties learn to be at least somewhat functionally ambidextrous; the world is completely right-handed, and it's frequently easier to just do something yourself than to ask for accommodations. As a result, I do a lot of oral surgery right-handed, and a somewhat lesser amount of operative. It makes life much, much easier.
 
aphistis said:
I'm left-handed, and I consider it an asset. It allows both me and my assistant to work with our dominant hand in the operating field, which makes life easier in lots of intangible but real ways.

Also, most lefties learn to be at least somewhat functionally ambidextrous; the world is completely right-handed, and it's frequently easier to just do something yourself than to ask for accommodations. As a result, I do a lot of oral surgery right-handed, and a somewhat lesser amount of operative. It makes life much, much easier.
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Did you have a problem finding a position after dental school?
 
If you really want the advantage, learn to use both hands. The dentist that wrote my LOR uses his right hand to work on the top, and the left hand to work on the bottom. I guess that way if anything ever happened to one of his hands, he would still be set. It was the strangest thing to see, but makes sense why he did it that way. He said he just started doing it that way from day one and never looked back.
 
Yay to us lefties! I can write fairly well with my right hand so I hope that helps me in dental school.

I am a tutor at my university and I would always be in the way, and I would smear the ink by accident so the students could not see anything. I began writing with my right hand and problem solved. 😀
 
I'm a lefty. I think being a lefty puts you at a disadvantage in pre clin
 
I'm a lefty. Most lefties are ambidextrous which is an advantage. I eat and write as a lefty, but played baseball, hockey and golf as a righty. I can hold and manipulate instruments with both hands equally as well.

When you graduate ... you can set up your dental operatories as you want. As an ortho .... working with right handed DAs ... my set ups were designed for them since they do a lot of the simple procedures. Is it a pain sometimes ... sure. But you adapt.
 
fellowstudent92 said:
I'm a lefty. I think being a lefty puts you at a disadvantage in pre clin
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How so? I've had no problems so far. My only complaint is it's hard for instructors to relate to the side I am working on because it is opposite for them. Sometimes if I have a question I ask them to go to the other side of the arch and demonstrate what they would do there.
 
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