Page 33 - My FlipBook

The Positions for Different Particular Operations.

First as to operations in the lower jaw. This chair
doesn't go quite as low as I would like, that is, with a tall
patient sitting bolt upright. You will find a great deal of
difference in patients in regard to this. I rather like this up-
right position for most operations. Some patients will in-
sist upon sitting bolt upright, while others will slip out of
the chair and be continually getting away from you. But
for long operations, what should be the position? Suppose
you are making a filling in a lower molar that will take con-
siderable time. It is in these long operations that you should
take the easiest position for yourself, while not ignoring en-
tirely the ease of position for the patient. If you are operat-
ing upon the left side of the mouth on the lower jaw you will
stand to the right and a little behind the patient, so that
you can stand upon both feet and stand straight, then bend-
ing just a little forward, with the left arm around the head, be
in position for your operation, whether you are putting in
gold, excavating, or what not. A position like this for the
molars and bicuspids on that side you will find the easiest po-
sition that you can assume. Your arms are not raised up,
your work is in the right position for your eye, your back

is bent just a little, your head thrown just a little forward
and you are in an easy position to go ahead with the work
for .hours, if necessary, with the least tiring out of yourself.
You can also change about more or less, throw your weight
upon the one foot or upon the other, without getting out of
position, so that you can rest one set of muscles and then
another set of muscles, and still go on with your operation.
In operating upon the right side of the lower jaw we will
assume two positions. Occasionally we will pass upon the
left side of the chair and operate from this position (demon-
strating) ; a great deal of the operating upon the right side
of the low^er jaw is easiest done from that position, standing
on the left side of the patient with the right arm around the
head and holding the tissues away with the fingers of the
left hand. In some instances, however, it is the easier posi-
tion standing upon the right side of the patient, and a little
in front of him, holding away the tissues again with the first
two fingers of the left hand, and while using the fingers of
the right hand as a rest upon the teeth, holding the tissues in
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