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62 THE TECHNICAL PROCEDURES IN FILLrNG TEETH.

camera. Changed to that position, the instrument hand would be
much less bent, though the position as shown is very good for
many operations. The third finger of the instrument hand is on
the lower incisors, which gives a very secure rest. For heavy
cutting with the enamel hatchets the operator should stand more
to the front, bring the right hand and fingers nearly straight, the
palm down, third finger on the incisors and the thumb of the left
hand well under the body of the lower jaw, while the fingers
expose the teeth as shown. Then the full power of the hand can
be exerted and the control of the instnunent is as perfect as it is
possible to make it. This position, with its valuations, is the best
for very much of the work on the lower molars of the right side.
Some of the operating upon the lower right bicuspids may also be
done in this position, but as the front of the mouth is approached,
the right side behind becomes the better position.
A modification of this position, such as is shown in Figure
48, is especially good for much of the work on the buccal surfaces
of the lower teeth. Notice in this that the third finger is resting
on the lower teeth, affording a very steady and secure rest, which
gives great steadiness to the instrument hand.
In both of these i^ositions it should be particularly noted
that the head of the patient is upright and the chin is down. If
the patient's head is inclined a little to the left side, it will
usually make the i)osition easier for the operator when working
in buccal surfaces. These positions on the right side in fi-ont
should be much used for operations on the lower molars. They
afford a very great variety of modifications for reaching various
positions easily. When the patient's head is i)roperly adjusted
to height, the position is very restful after long confinement in
some other position, such as the right side Itehind.
Right side behind. Upper teeth. Tlie position, right side
behind, is the most important of all of the positions assumed at
the dental chair. The operator can reach more varied jioints
and do more things than from any other position. This finger
position is shown in Figure 49 in the use of a binangle chisel
opening a cavity in the distal surface of an ujiper second bicus-
pid. Note particularly that the left hand is passed over the head
of the patient, the fingers exposing the bicuspid or molar teeth
of the up{)er jaw. The tliuml) of the loft hand is holding the
tissues away, while the forefinger, resting ujjou the teeth liglitly,
is guiding the point of the instrument, rendering the operating
more precise than could be done with the free hand alone. In
this position, only an imperfect rest may be had by the fingers