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Short Commentary: Get a Grip

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Get a Grip
Effective Use of a Modified Pen Grasp

Years ago, penmanship was practiced for at least one hour a day in elementary school. The introduction of the typewriter decreased the focus on penmanship and now computers are to blame for dwindling handwriting practice. The overlooked disadvantage of the computer age is the loss of the traditional pen grasp – the basis for the modified pen grasp used in dentistry. Those writing with an awkward, unnatural grasp have difficulty learning the “modified pen grasp” used so often in dentistry and dental hygiene. In the “modified” grasp, the instrument rests against the pad of the middle finger, rather than the side of the middle finger as with a pen. To effectively use a “modified pen grasp,” the pen grasp must first be natural and automatic.

Handwriting requires motor coordination of the hand, wrist, elbow and shoulder to write the letters on a page. Grasping the pen and guiding it across paper requires sensory information from skin, joints and muscles of the hand. With practice, an individual’s pen grasp becomes a habit, stored in motor memory. Let’s take a look at the traditional pen grasp.

Ideally, the right arm rests on the muscles just below the elbow and the wrist is nearly flat on the writing surface, yet elevated to move freely over the paper. The middle and ring fingers are turned slightly underneath and touching the writing surface for support. These fingers and the muscles of the arm near the elbow form the only points of rest or contact on desk or paper. The index finger rests on the top of the pen and the thumb is positioned further up the pen. The pen rests between the first and second knuckles of the index finger and points over the shoulder. According to teachers of handwriting, this is considered the most natural, easy and graceful pen grasp.

A pen grasp with the fingers placed other than described above is an awkward and unnatural position that will quickly cause cramping, fatigue and pain. Rolling the pen to one side, or drawing the index finger up into a curled position are sure to cause pain if continued. Hold the pen firmly but lightly, and not with a death grip as though it might escape your grasp.

If you currently hold your pen incorrectly, you can break that habit. Habits are strong, but the will is stronger, and holding the pen correctly for a few days will make it feel easy and natural. The pen should “rest” in the hand, with the hand almost completely relaxed during writing. With the correct pen grasp as your foundation, holding instruments with the modified pen grasp will be comfortable, stable and not fatiguing.
Dentaltown Magazine
September 2025
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