Handedness of orthodontists and its impact on practice

Abstract

Objectives: To assess the handedness prevelance of orthodontists and analyse the discomfort of left-handedorthodontists on practice. Materials and Methods: A questionnaire about the laterality of orthodontists and their discomfort was preparedand distributed to our orthodontic society members. 173 questionnaires were investigated.Results: Fifteen of the participants were left-handed individuals. Of all the 15 samples, only 1 practitioner hadbeen educated with left hand manipulation while studying dentistry. One of the 7 private practioners preferredleft-handed chair for his clinic. Regarding left-handed participants working with right-sided chair, 4 of themthought this situation depresses their treatment quality and 9 of them refused. Most of the left-handedparticipants complaint about the university education. Conclusions: Left-handed orthodontists afford to adapt themselves to a right-handed world. They could to beeducated on left-handed dental chairs to display a more skillful clinical performance.