It occurred to me that I always see dentists in films and TV set up on the right side of the patient. So I asked my oral surgeon if left handed dentists set up on the left side. Turns out indeed they do. In fact, at the suggestion of his mentor my surgeon taught himself to operate left handed also. That way during complex oral surgeries he can assist a right handed dentist from the left side.
My dentist for years was left handed.
(Sadly he has died)
It was awkward feeling. He practically was laying across you to work on your mouth.
I asked him about it. Why didn’t he get a left handed chair? He said that’s how he was taught. Refitting the practice when he bought it was not feasible.
He was a great dentist.
I have an appointment next month and will try to remember to ask my dentist about this.
I suppose the trend now will be towards open handed dentistry.
Can’t find it online, but I remember a Bloom County comic strip from when Bill the Cat was running for president. His running mate Opus the Penguin is seen addressing a small group called (I think), “Blind Left Handed Dentists of America”. Opus is saying, “Gentleman, I need your votes - both of them.”
Hey, if it worked for Jimi Hendrix…
Not a dentist, but: a friend of mine had cataract surgery a few months after I did. Like me, hers was done in 2 sessions.
Her eye hurt more after the second one - because the doctor was working from the “other” angle on that eye.
I would bet that, all other things equal, a left-handed dentist might find it easier to work on one side of the mouth, while a right-handed one would find it easier to work on the other side. But obviously they’ve learned to work on both sides of the mouth, regardless of handedness.
“I’m sorry, Mrs. Smith, we can’t schedule you for Tuesdays. It’s tooth number 6, and Doctor Dexter only works on teeth 9-16 and 17-24. Doctor Sinister only works on teeth 1-8 and 25-32. He only works on Mondays and Wednesdays. Can we move you up a day?”.
I asked my current dentist about this w/in the past year. He said the dentist he had bought the practice from, whom I had gone to for 5-7 years - was a lefty. I never noticed. When I asked, my guy mentioned the few adjustments that were needed for a lefty, but they escape my memory.
I have to say that Dr. Sinister would be an awesome name for a dentist. Good work! They might have a hard time getting their practice established though. 
I knew a guy who practiced dentistry for years. I was never his patient but we were friends.
He was in his late 40s. While using a chainsaw he sustained severe injuries to his left hand (he was right handed). He lost 1 1/2 fingers.
After a long hiatus from work during which he saw an occupational therapist, he decided to return to practice. He worked for about six months, then quit. His patients were too uncomfortable having him work on them.
I had a left-handed hygienist at my last cleaning. The room wasn’t set up for a lefty- as she repeatedly pointed out- and I would almost rather her be laying across me than awkwardly pulling me towards her in the chair like she did. It was very uncomfortable. I usually get the same hygienist every time but my usual lady must have been off that day, I hadn’t ever seen this woman before.
My oral surgeon’s name was Dr Blood. A great guy. He has a painting in the operating room that is just the word, “Love” written all over it in various fonts. I told him he should commission another one with just “Blood” on it. He liked the idea.
Or he could have a copy of this poster hanging there. I’m sure all of his patients would find it hilarious.
