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FINGER rOSITIONS. 63

of the instrument hand on the tissues of the lower face, and yet
the position is a good one for the beginning of the opening of
cavities, or in packing gold or otlier instrumentation in the bicus-
pids or molars in either the proximal or occlusal surfaces. This
picture shows the position of the second finger in the instrument
grasp to advantage. Notice particularly the instrument grasps
in all of these illustrations. In this particular picture, the grasp
is very well seen, though the instrument hand is not in sharp
focus. In Figure 50 the rubber dam has been removed to show
the grasp and the position of the fingers more definitely than
could be done with the rubber dam in position. It also shows
the use of a chisel in opening a distal cavity in a bicuspid. Often
the position may be changed so as to turn the right hand partly
over, and bring the third, and sometimes the third and fourth
fingers, upon the upper teeth, forming a rest. That can usually
be done if the instrument can approach its work upon an angle a
little more from the front of the mouth.
This is shown in Figure 51 in the representation of the use
of two instruments in starting a filling in the mesial surface of a
second bicuspid. The left hand is holding the tissues away with
the second and third fingers, and also holding the holding instru-
ment principally with the thumb and first finger, but it lies across
the second finger as well. This holding instrument is so formed
that, when placed, only light pressure is needed to keep it steady.
The use of a left-hand instrument should be carefully cultivated
by every operator. The right hand has the third finger resting
upon the upper teeth of the other side of the mouth, giving great
precision in the use of the plugger point. In this notice that the
plugger crosses the nail of the second finger, a grasp that is
unsuited for heavy pressure, but may often be used well with
mallet pressure, or anything in which light pressure only is to
be used.
Positions quite similar to these last three may be used almost
all around the mouth in the upper jaw, the patient's head being
thrown well back, as shown in these illustrations. The patient's
head should often be turned this way or that to gain better posi-
tions. The right side behind is the position for the largest
amount of operating in either the upper or the lower jaw.
Right side behind. Lower teeth. In Figure 52 we have
very nearly the most usual position for operations upon the
lower molars of the left side. It is exactly the position that
should generally be had in introducing a broach into the distal
root of any of the lower molars upon the left side of the mouth.