Working with both hands.

[JohnDoeDDS]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hi guys. Just a quick question to you dental students. How easy is it to learn to practice with both hands? The thing is I write with my right hand but throw with my left. But lately I have been expereincing some weakness in my right hand but I still want to go into the dentistry field... Is it possible for me to learn to drill with my left? I am pre-dent. so I have never tried but it would seem logical for me to use my right since thats the hand that I write with. So will it be possible to teach myself to use the left? Has any1 done this sorta thing before? Thanks.

 

[ecdoesit]

It is a good thought. I am a lefty while people can read my right hand writing a lot better than my left. (ya, i gave up writing notes and rely on my comp now). being a right hander has a great advantage since all the laboratory setting is for "righty". it will take me some time to get used to having my handpieces on the right side. and the burs cut differently too. since there are so much to learn at dental sch, learning to use both hands will likely more than double ur time in the lab, u could try, but i wouldnt do it.

now i think back, i sometimes use my right hand to reach areas that is less accessible with my left hand, but only used for 1 or 2 strokes.

wait until u get to scaling, then ur hand will be so sore.

Hi guys. Just a quick question to you dental students. How easy is it to learn to practice with both hands? The thing is I write with my right hand but throw with my left. But lately I have been expereincing some weakness in my right hand but I still want to go into the dentistry field... Is it possible for me to learn to drill with my left? I am pre-dent. so I have never tried but it would seem logical for me to use my right since thats the hand that I write with. So will it be possible to teach myself to use the left? Has any1 done this sorta thing before? Thanks.

 

[JohnDoeDDS]

wait you are telling me that if I am lefty they will not adjust the setting to accomodate me? Isn't that discrimination or something plus the fact that I am paying so much, shouldn't they accomodate me? The reason I am asking is because I am having some problems with my rigjht hand. I dunno if its because I injured it or something, but sometimes out of the blue I feel rally weak in that hand and can't squeeze anything with that hand for a couple of minutes. I am just scared because if this happens while I'm in dental school I won't be able to hold the handpiece... Any advice?

 

[Geezer99]

wait you are telling me that if I am lefty they will not adjust the setting to accomodate me? Isn't that discrimination or something plus the fact that I am paying so much, shouldn't they accomodate me? The reason I am asking is because I am having some problems with my rigjht hand. I dunno if its because I injured it or something, but sometimes out of the blue I feel rally weak in that hand and can't squeeze anything with that hand for a couple of minutes. I am just scared because if this happens while I'm in dental school I won't be able to hold the handpiece... Any advice?

My dental school was like a 100 years old and even their chairs could be changed to accomodate leftys. Actually all the leftys had the corner spots with the windows. My advice for you would be to pick the hand that you want to drill with and practice that in dental school. It's going to be a fresh start because unless you've done dentistry before, both of your hands won't have learned the muscle control needed to drill. I do know of one guy who lost his right hand to an accident shortly after dental school. He took some time off and relearned with his left hand. He didn't seem to think it was that big of a deal. As long as you know what to do mentally, then you'll find a way to do it physically.

 

[ecdoesit]

I need to get into that. But the only thing is that the connecting tube is going to be on patient's chest. It is pretty much the same. This is in the clinic

In the pre-clinical labs, they usually have lefty bench. Just make sure you made up ur mind. Once you start, you are not likely to switch.

wait you are telling me that if I am lefty they will not adjust the setting to accomodate me? Isn't that discrimination or something plus the fact that I am paying so much, shouldn't they accomodate me? The reason I am asking is because I am having some problems with my rigjht hand. I dunno if its because I injured it or something, but sometimes out of the blue I feel rally weak in that hand and can't squeeze anything with that hand for a couple of minutes. I am just scared because if this happens while I'm in dental school I won't be able to hold the handpiece... Any advice?

 

[lnn2]

Yes, they have reserved operatories for the lefties.

 

[dentwannabe]

Hi guys. Just a quick question to you dental students. How easy is it to learn to practice with both hands? The thing is I write with my right hand but throw with my left. But lately I have been expereincing some weakness in my right hand but I still want to go into the dentistry field... Is it possible for me to learn to drill with my left? I am pre-dent. so I have never tried but it would seem logical for me to use my right since thats the hand that I write with. So will it be possible to teach myself to use the left? Has any1 done this sorta thing before? Thanks.

coulda swore u made a similar post before

 

[lnn2]

I dunno if its because I injured it or something, but sometimes out of the blue I feel rally weak in that hand and can't squeeze anything with that hand for a couple of minutes. I am just scared because if this happens while I'm in dental school I won't be able to hold the handpiece... Any advice?

You must had been squeezing for while awhile now huh?! squeezing is not good for ya or the others!
You hold the hand piece like holding a pencil (I'm sure you're familiar with it!), light touch. Everything in dentistry is fine-touch!
Use your dominant hand to hold the drill, you know, the one you ummhh....well, you get the message! You'd know what happens if you use the wrong hand, in dentistry that is!

 

[JavadiCavity]

Unless you have good manual dexterity with your off-hand, I think it would be significantly harder to learn to use the handpiece than if you could use your dominant hand.

 

[JohnDoeDDS]

I see. Thanks guys. I am applying for a program at UMDNJ called pathway to dentistry and if I get in they actually will let me try out the drill so I will see. I have pretty good manual dexterity in both of my hands so we'll see. Thanks everyone for your help