Page 34 - My FlipBook

some degree with them also, you have an easy position for ;
yourself, a fairly easy position for the patient and an easy
position for the hand and arm. You can continue operating
for any length of time in that position. Then we have one
position for the left side and the two positions for the right
side of the mouth in the lower jaw, with the patient sitting
upright, the chair pretty well forward, particularly if your
source of light is somewhat low. I like the light from the
side much better than a skylight for operating—the positions
are easier.
For operations in the upper jaw throw the patient well
back and raise the chair enough to get the head in position,
about level with the elbow or the middle arm ; then if the
chest is not well out of the way throw the head farther back.
I notice in the infirmary that many of you have the chest
of your patient in your way. Now always contrive to put the
patient in such a position that the chest will not be in your
way. If the head is thrown up in this way, so as to bring
the chin down on the chest (demonstrating) you will not be
able to see into the upper mouth without getting your head
down upon the chest of the patient ; that you should not do
you should throw your headrest back and lower it sufficiently
so that the head drops back, until the light will come well
into the mouth. Then for the left side you will stand in the
same position that you did while operating upon the lower
jaw, and if you have any considerable operation that takes
time, turn the face of the patient to you. Then you will
have your work in easy position, so that you can see well,
your arms are down and you can operate for any length of
time without fatigue, and you will do your operation better.
For the incisors you can generally stand straight if you are
working from the labial, and most of our work upon the
incisor teeth should be done from the labial. If it is neces-
sary in any case to operate from the^lingual on a mesial sur-
face of a tooth on the left side of the mouth, turn the pa-
tient's face well over from you, let the patient turn a little
on the side if necessary, and you will see from this position
without much stooping and get at your work easily. Or if

it is on the distal turn the patient's face toward you
(demonstrating), and you will get at it easily. Now, in
operating upon the molars and bicuspids on the right side, if

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