Utilizing the four-handed dentistry in your practice
The dental professionals are facing a lot of challenges in practicing dentistry. Striving for better quality services, coping up with everyday stresses and dealing with work related pain are just among the many challenges a typical dentist face every day.
It is sometimes unavoidable for dental professionals like you to have poor working positions and posture. You need to twist and turn every now and then to reach the dental tools and instrument that you need for certain tasks, stay in uncomfortable positions to ensure better access to the oral cavity, and move around in your stool. These small actions seem too light but the fact is, they pose great negative impacts not only on your health but also on your productivity and efficiency.
While all these challenges can be solved by using ergonomically designed tools and devices like Schultz optical loupes and dental headlight, by proper patient positioning, by placing dental instrument and tools within easy reach, and by modifying the work environment, having an extra hand to help you around can make your daily dental practice less challenging and stressful.
What is four-handed dentistry
The concept of four-handed dentistry was first introduced in 1968. This concept involves both the dentist and his or her assistant or the dental nurse to work as a team in a deliberately and carefully planned manner. The coördinated work of the dentist and his assistant when performing dental procedures can lead to faster and higher quality service, more efficient and smoother workflow, lesser individual strain and fatigue, among others, and better ergonomics.
The concept of four-handed dentistry has been around for almost 5 decades already. And it has also been proven to be effective and efficient in encouraging coöperation between the dentist and his assistant to enhance efficiency, workflow, productivity, and ergonomics.
Unfortunately, not many dentists know about this concept and only a few practice this technique these days. You can seldom finding it being taught at dental schools as well.
Principles of four-handed dentistry
The concept of four-handed dentistry revolves around 7 basic principles. These are:
** Utilization of preset trays
** Practicing motion economy
** Advance planning of the patient treatment and preparing a logical sequence for it
** Both the dentist and the dental assistant should sit comfortably in an ergonomically designed chair
** Implementation of standardized infection-control procedures
** Utilization of ergonomically designed dental tools, equipment, and devices
** Assigning legally delegable tasks to a qualified dental assistant or nurse
It takes two to tango. And this is also true with four-handed dentistry. The dentist and the dental assistant or nurse should closely work hand in hand in a smooth, professional, sequential, and logical way in order to make four-handed dentistry practise a great success. Mutual understand alertness, and respect are also crucial for this kind of practice. It is also important to carefully choose dental tools to improve ergonomics, for instance, using the right pair of dental loupes.