Lefty Dentists Have The Same Rights As Righties!

(No, I’m not talking politics.)

It wasn’t as bad as the olden days when parents, relatives and/or nuns would slap your left hand with a wooden ruler the second it picked up a pencil, but I struggled being left-handed.

Remember left handed scissors - the blunt ended binary tool that didn’t cut anything? Since lefties are so clumsy, someone needed to design a pair of scissors that would prevent us from cutting ourselves. “A 'righty' must have designed them”, I said to myself. School shopping as a kid was hilarious (I can laugh about it now). When I handed my supply list to my parents, the scissors were skipped over. My brother and two sisters each got a pair, but Ninnie (my childhood nickname) went without - unless she wanted to use the leftover right handed scissors. (Often packaged in pairs, there was one leftover.) To this day, the only thing I do with my right hand is cut with scissors.

We (Lefties) are a minority, making up only 12% of the world’s population. According to Serious Facts, here are some interesting Lefty-points:

• Four of the last six presidents were lefties
• We’re called “Southpaw”
• We’re more creative
• We're more athletic
• Left-handed scholarships exist
• We are NOT clumsy
• We drink more
• We have a holiday: August 13th
• We have our own store - “Lefty’s” - but don’t expect to find dental equipment there… but we’ll get to that later.

Since we’re such good fighters, next time I am in a fight, I’ll just tell them I’m left handed. 

It’s not the end of the world, but being left-handed does have its disadvantages, specifically in the world of Dental Equipment. How many 10 year old dental offices can accommodate both left-handed and right-handed practitioners? Meaning, how many are designed and equipped to easily convert from right-handed to left-handed practice? Not many, and it’s starting to become a problem. The most recent example I came across was a dentist who was desperate for an associate. 2 out of the 3 strongest candidates were left-handed. Both had all the qualities and skills the owner was looking for, but they were left handed. He had to pass them over because he simply didn't have a dental equipment setup that would accommodate them. Granted, the statistics are generally in your favor as lefties make up only 1/8 of the population, but luck was not on his side in this case. So what can you do to alleviate this problem - an issue which may be preventing you from choosing the best possible candidate? 

One of the most important questions I ask a client when considering dental equipment is, “what is your orientation?” (LOL!) Are you left-handed or right-handed? Specifically, how do you deliver your dentistry? The way you deliver dentistry is very important. For the Over-the-Patient delivery, the width and length of your operatory must be wider and longer to allow for all those poles. Side delivery isn’t remotely convertible, and Rear delivery is the least ergonomic. The Ergonomic Products’ Universal Workstation is universal, in part, because it’s shows no prejudice. That’s another reason why I love it so much.

I spent a number of years placing fillings in the state of Ohio. The office was set up for Righties, and it was extremely difficult to work two-handed with (what felt like) a handpiece across the room. Keeping a dry field while I primed and bonded was nearly impossible. I had utilities crossing over my body like an octopus tied up in knots - I’m over-exaggerating but you catch the drift. When I first worked with the EP Workstation, I thought, “No way!!! This thing comes to me?!?” I never knew there was an alternative to the backbreaking form of calisthenics I was exercising.

You think that’s bad? I have actually walked into practices and witnessed a left-handed dentists practicing right-handed. Talk about back breaking. How can this be?

Ergonomic Products Manhattan Rooms showing conversion from Left-handed to Right-handed dental delivery. Universal Workstations convert even faster!

So, the next time you think about buying a new dining table, get a round one. Likewise, next time you design a dental practice, think about the Lefties. When it comes to making equipment decisions, I vote UNIVERSAL!! Make it as easy to switch from 2-handed to 4-handed dental delivery - and YES - from Righty to Lefty!! Even if there isn’t a south-paw knocking on your door right now, you need to think about the future. I’m talking about the day you want to sell your practice (make it marketable!) or add an associate (any associate!). Don’t be exclusive, be inclusive - it’s a solid investment in your practice future and besides…

No one wants to be LEFT out...