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56 THE TECHNICAL PEOCEDURES IN FILLING TEETH.

records so made has diminislied. The diminution of finger
power seems to be due to the use of the dental engine in exca-
vating and of the mallet in making fillings. These are both neces-
sary and a marked improvement over former methods, but the
excessive use of the engine to the exclusion of hand instruments
in the preparation of cavities, is bad ; not so much for the reason
that power and delicacy of manipulation with hand instruments
is not being so well developed, but intrinsically because excessive
use of the engine means poor cavity prej^aration.
Whatever may be the cause, a distinct loss in the average
of finger power by dentists, as shown by tests made at society
meetings, has become apparent within the ten years that these
tests have been made. Fewer men are found who can use twenty
pounds pressure with the pen grasp.
Positions at the Chaik.
ILLUSTRATIONS FIGURES 34-45.
:
In the training for one's life work in dentistry the positions
assumed at the dental chair become a very important matter,
and should be considered with great care in order that the best
may be done for both the operator and the patient. (1) The
position should be such that the operation may be well done.
(2) The position should not be especially trying to the patient.
(3) The position should be the most comfortable to the operator
in each given case that is consistent with (1) and (2). It is
obvious that the dentist who expects to stand at his chair during
most of the hours of each day, should study positions of reason-
able comfort; and also those changes of position that will give
rest without interfering with his progress should be studied very
closely in the formation of his habits at the chair. Observation
has shown men to be in a large degree creatures of habit, and that
habits once formed are not very easily changed. Therefore,
every young man should give this matter very careful attention
as one among the many elements of success.
The modern dental chair needs no description. Many styles
are offered in the market, but all the better ones agree fairly well
in the essentials of usefulness. All are made to raise and lower
as a whole on their pedestals sufficiently for the practical pur-
poses intended, and very many of them may l)o raised much
higher than is ever necessary. The cliair should bo adjusted (I)
to the height of the operator; (2) to the height of the patient;
and (.3) so tliat the moutli of tlie patient shall be level with the
lower half of the operator's upper arm (humerus) when stand-