What is four handed dentsitry?

[gentexan]

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What is four handed dentistry? I know it's the doctor and an assistant, but why do some school brag about using it? Both school I interviewed at apparently were not four handed, so I'm a little confused. Is one better than another? Personally I'd like to know that I could do a procedure completely by myself, but having an assistant would make the process go much faster. So do the four handed schools give you an assistant while your in dental school and the others do not? Thanks

 

[kappa505]

The proceedures will only go faster with four handed dentistry. That way you dont have to hold the suction, mirror, drill, and water all at once. Four handed dentistry is what most docs use when they get out of school because it makes financial sense.

 

[wizziefiend]

What is four handed dentistry? I know it's the doctor and an assistant, but why do some school brag about using it? Both school I interviewed at apparently were not four handed, so I'm a little confused. Is one better than another? Personally I'd like to know that I could do a procedure completely by myself, but having an assistant would make the process go much faster. So do the four handed schools give you an assistant while your in dental school and the others do not? Thanks

I've been told that you can get classmates to help you out anyway. Ive been told that those schools who do have assistants, it's not a 1:1 ratio. But I bet it's nice anyway to have an extra person with you to help. I bet some of the assistants know alot after being with students for a few years.

 

[Mila]

What is four handed dentistry? I know it's the doctor and an assistant, but why do some school brag about using it? Both school I interviewed at apparently were not four handed, so I'm a little confused. Is one better than another? Personally I'd like to know that I could do a procedure completely by myself, but having an assistant would make the process go much faster. So do the four handed schools give you an assistant while your in dental school and the others do not? Thanks

Some schools give you assistants that are in training as well, which might make the entire process go slower instead of faster - you don't really know what you're doing, and neither do the assistants because both of you are just training. Hence from what I've heard, some D students opt not to use the assistants.
Bottom line: While four handed dentistry can be the icing on the cake, I wouldn't use it as a criteria for deciding on schools.