Introduction

Ask just about any dentist today if he or she practices four-handed dentistry and you will probably hear a resounding "yes."  Yet, ask the same dentists if they practice true four-handed dentistry and adhere to principles of motion economy and ergonomic concepts, and the positive answers become less resounding.

Despite the keen interest in the issue of ergonomics in the dental workplace by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), fewer dental schools teach the concepts of four-handed dentistry as part of the curriculum.  The result is that many dental graduates learn four-handed dentistry on the job, from formally trained dental assistants or from assistants who themselves have been trained on the job.

Four-handed dentistry is a team concept where highly skilled individuals work together in an ergonomically designed environment to improve productivity of the dental team, improve the quality of care for dental patients while protecting the physical well-being of the operating team.  Four-handed dentistry is not simply transferring instruments from one person to another nor is it "hurry-up" dentistry.  Rather four-handed dentistry is the way to work smarter, not harder. 

Click Here To Navigate Within Article >> Abstract Introduction Basic Tenets of Four-Handed Dentistry Principles of Motion Economy Classification of Motion Strategies of Conserving Motion Zones of Activity Strategies to Ensure Effective Four-Handed Dentistry Twenty-Five Excuses... Conclusion References About the Author