What's it like being LEFT HANDED in DENTAL SCHOOL?

Dentistry is a very right hand dominant profession... That being said, how do left handed students handle dental school? Find out here!
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I am a dental student that will be graduating from dental school in 2021. Thanks for being a part of the dental community and keep living the dream! -Dakota

[@devinard9149]

I'm also a left handed dental student and now I'm in my clinical years. I thought it would be a big issue for me, but not at all. The dental chairs are for right handed people. So I am forced to be able work in patients with my right hand. It's somehow an advantage that I can work with my both hands. I can do restorations, rct, scaling, etc with my right hand (sometimes with my left hand when my right hand is getting tired or because of the tooth position or because I have to do it, lol). The only problem is, when I have to do extractions. I have to do it with my left hand and switch my position, because my right hand doesn't have enough power to pull teeth. And when my supervisors passing by my place, they always ask me why do I have wrong position. Then, I always tell them that I'm left handed and they're okay with it. It's not a problem at all.

[@DentalPro2021]

Devina RD luckily in my school, the ops in clinic are ambidextrous, but what I am most concerned about is actually practicing out of school because I plan on starting as an associate. I might need to buy my own chair haha! You’ll have to let me know how that works out when you get out in practice

[@LauraSmiles]

Wooo I'm left-handed!

[@nomme2810]

LauraSmiles can i be a dentist if i am left handed when i write? Or doing things like toothbrushing working with my left hands?

[@zzz3420]

you are left-handed!!!

[@noelcarrillo7856]

Thanks for the feed back Dakota! 👍👍 lefties rule ☺

[@drbuddie]

I Have been following your videos for couple of months. They are awesome. I also am left handed clinician and I also have a baby. I am gonna start dental school next year So I am gonna be in your shoes pretty much. Thank you for sharing the nicest videos. I get so inspired when you say "Keep live in the dream."

[@DentalPro2021]

Thank you Buddie! Dental school is awesome. You're going to love it. :)

[@cnasaraha.2140]

Hi Dakota, I'm back"it's great to see you again, This was a great video! !!☺👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@DentalPro2021]

Thank you Sarah!! its good to see you back here too!

[@YouMe-mf7ed]

Have you ever had to retake a class(s)?

[@DentalPro2021]

Nope. If you feel you are not ongoing to be able to get a good grade in a class, it is better to drop the class before the add drop date is over so that you don’t have any record of that class on your transcript... otherwise it will follow you through to when you apply to school

[@babithathomas90]

Really?? Is it tht easy.. to work in a right handed chair when you are a left handed dentist??? I hav never experienced tht in my 8 yrs in this field😅😅I hav finished my BDS ( thts what we call in India) worked for 3 yrs and now doing my post grad in conservative dentistry and endodontics and to be honest it has never been easy... all ur instruments, cements and restorative materials are on ur right side and we have to go over the patient or stand up and do the restorative part else ur entire material is gonna set in a matter of few minutes. Bcoz of the standing position at 26 i was diagnosed with cervical spondylosis at the level of c5 and c6 and at the age of 28 with lumbar spondylosis.. and my HOD is least bothered in having an actual left handed chair in the department.

[@sarasiddiqua3907]

I'm a dental student in 2nd year too I'm so scared being left handed plus our college doesn't have left handed chairs. I'm freaking out at the thought of this

[@muruga1971]

Same problem bro..... I too left handed dentist, I feel lots of problem on doing restoration in right handed dental chair

[@amysmith2151]

Hello, my name is Amy. I am new to the dental field. I am a left-handed dental assistant who needs tips on chairsiding when working with a right handed dentist. Do you have any suggestions to make it easier?

[@imansalah3098]

I'm a right handed person but I had an accident which affected my right hand and it will be difficult for me to use it again in dental work..can I use my left hand instead? Or it will be difficult and just waste of time? I'm in the first clinical year and I didn't work on a patient before so I'm afraid of not doing well or hurting a patient..I hope you can answer me

[@michaelprice5958]

Great video!

[@DentalPro2021]

Michael Price thanks man!

[@gammapsideuce]

Hi Dental Pro! I am a huge fan and I have followed you since day 1. I have a quick question. What courses does your program or any dental program offer in reference to the business side of dentistry?

[@DentalPro2021]

Hardly any, if at all. That’s the real challenge with dental school... there is so much to learn in terms of diagnosis and treatment that dental students aren’t really that exposed to business aspects of the profession until they make it out into the real world. If I come across any business classes in the curriculum I’ll be sure to let you know

[@gammapsideuce]

DentalPro thanks!!!

[@MissLysreign]

I'm a single mom hoping to start dental school this upcoming summer. Thankfully I've only got one child and he's already school aged. Oh and I'm left handed. Lol so this is going to be interesting.

[@DentalPro2021]

MissLysreign bless your soul!! I hope you hear good news today since it’s December 1st!

[@MissLysreign]

Thank you! I did!! So excited (and relieved)!

[@ninaniaa2430]

Could you have your wife talking what it's like for her taking care of a baby, running the house hold, having a husband in dental school AND working on her masters degree !!

[@DentalPro2021]

Kary E. I’ll see what I can do! I might have to schedule an appointment with her... :D

[@ninaniaa2430]

Yes! Cause I plan to go to dental school but don't plan to get married till I graduate from dental school lol I feel that there are people in dental school who are married and I would like to hear from their spouse perspective! (The spouse who is not in dental school) God Bless 😁

[@MrEvanston]

Hello, Dental School Friend: Knowing dental school is academically demanding and stressful;. Why would you go to a quarter system program, rather than semester program? Thanks, Doug Merry Christmas, Happy New Year

[@DentalPro2021]

For me, I feel less burnt out at the end of a ten week quarter than I do at the end of a 14 week semester, so in my opinion I just feel like I can pace myself better. I hope that helps!

[@mercedescrawford7430]

So if I wanted to be a dental hygenist is it best to go to a dental hygiene school or go to college for a bachelors but what should I major in to be able to become that? And do you think dental hygienist are in demand ?

[@DentalPro2021]

Dental hygienists are definitely in demand. Most RDH students that I have known have gone to a university to get their associates, do their prereqs for hygiene school, and then finish up their schooling at hygiene school. As far as majors go, biological sciences are best, but as long as you fulfill the prereqs for the hygiene school it shouldn’t matter. Good luck!

[@Kingbling_0]

I have one big question I stutter do you think I could still to do dental school?

[@DentalPro2021]

That is a fantastically difficult question that ultimately comes down to your own desires... I really do believe that no matter what challenges life has given you, you can still find a way to do whatever you want in life, so if it is your ultimate dream to become a dentist, then you go right ahead and do it. You might face challenges when it comes time to talk to patients about their treatments, but If you really want to become a dentist, then don’t let that challenge stop you from doing it. That’s my two cents. Good luck to you!

[@Kingbling_0]

DentalPro Thank you for the good advice

[@skill937]

Hey! Just wondering what you’re up to now?

[@andrewwilliamson9244]

Do you know of any dentists making over $1 million a year?

[@DentalPro2021]

I do. They are all practice owners of large practices (6 operatories or more). Your typical dentist won’t be operating at this level though. Most established dentists can expect around 150 to 200K annually

[@andrewwilliamson9244]

But what about a dentist that owns a dental group that employs another general dentist, periodontist, endodontist, oral surgeon, and pediatric dentist. Is the owner dentist going to make more money of the production of his associates than his own production? Or would those people likely make a salary?