Performance of left-handed dental students is improved when working from the left side of the patient

• Published in: International journal of industrial ergonomics 2004-05, Vol.33 (5), p.387-393
• Main Authors: Kaya, M.Dursun, Orbak, Recep
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ergonomics; Left- or right-handedness; Periodontal treatment
• ISSN: 0169-8141; 1872-8219
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ergon.2003.09.006

The presented study compared the performance of left-handed dental students on a common task. The left-handed students worked from either the right or left side of the different patients. Forty-two voluntary students from dentistry faculty were included in this study. Right- and left-handed dental students were directed to right-handed chairs to remove dental plaque and calculus in 42 voluntary patients having nearly similar amounts of plaque and calculus. Another group including left-handed dentists using chairs set up for left-handed operation for comparison to the performance of the left-handed dentists in right-sided chairs was also comprised. At the beginning, plaque and calculus index scores measured using Plaque index (PI) and calculus index (CI) by an experienced colleague. To evaluate the post-treatment, the same procedures were used. The obtained results from each student's treatment were evaluated. A statistically significant difference was found between outcomes of the patients treated by the left-handed dental students and the patients treated by the right-handed dental students for PI and remaining calculus index scores ( p