There has never been a better time to work within the dental profession. Thanks to the latest advances in tools, materials
and clinical techniques, dental professionals are now able to provide a standard of dentistry unlike ever before. From the latest composite filling materials, to dental implants and short-term orthodontics, the dental profession has a great deal to
offer patients and professionals alike, with the chance to create beautiful, natural-looking smiles that make a real and lasting impact on the quality of patients’ lives.
But while there are certainly more opportunities out there now than there ever have been in the past, there is also an ever-present need to keep on top of the latest developments. As dentistry is changing at such a fantastic pace, the need to learn, and to continue to learn, throughout one’s career is more pressing than it’s ever been. This imperative has been reflected by the General Dental Council’s introduction of mandatory continuing professional development over a fiveyear cycle, with a clear emphasis on ‘life-long learning’ and professional growth. As the GDC points out, a primary qualification is only the first step in your education and development – a process that should last throughout your professional life.
To meet the demand for high quality CPD training, a number of companies and institutions now offer CPD to all members of the dental profession. This training can range from articles in magazines to online courses, seminar days, lectures and hands-on workshops. While the quality of CPD provision can vary quite widely depending on your location, and the training provider you choose to work with, there exist a number of high profile bodies that work to ensure members have access to the best quality education in their chosen field. These include societies representing endodontists, orthodontists, periodontists, and even cosmetic dentists. With so many courses out there to choose from, and only so many hours in the day, organisations such as the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (BACD) and others ensure that members have access to the very best educational opportunities available. They may also be able to negotiate discounts on education, and host events featuring hand-picked speakers you might not be able to find elsewhere.
Dental conferences
Dental conferences are a fantastic way to help you stay on top of all the latest developments and get ahead in your career. Conferences can be a good way to sample different lecturers and get a sense of where dentistry is today. This then may lead
you to enrol on more comprehensive courses at a later date. Furthermore, many conferences will also feature an exhibition element where you can talk to representatives from the major suppliers and manufacturers and see for yourself the materials and products that are now available.
As a busy dental professional it can be all too easy to become trapped in your practice bubble. Dental conferences represent a great opportunity to escape this bubble and get a taste for what’s out there and the sorts of things that are now
on offer. As well as providing the perfect platform to learn and to grow, the very best dental conferences are designed to do far more than that: they are designed to inspire; to give you that little extra push to take the next step in your career. Whether you are a recent graduate, or you’ve been working in the profession for many years, conferences can be an excellent way to get out there, challenge your expectations and ultimately raise the bar. Not only that but you will also find conferences are a great way to network, to meet new people and maybe even make a few new friends.
When it comes to furthering your dental education, there are a number of different steps you can take. Beyond enrolling on courses and attending conferences, mentorship can also prove to be another useful step to help you get ahead in your career. This doesn’t have to be any sort of formal arrangement – nor does it have to be limited to just a single colleague. In fact it can help to find mentors in a range of different fields to give you a fresh perspective on dentistry and to help you develop your skills. You will be surprised at just how useful it can be to try and engage with colleagues about cases and
different treatment approaches. It can often help to bounce ideas off other people to gain new insight into how you might approach a problem. If you struggle to find suitable mentors within your own practice, then why not look further afield? Again, you may find that organisations such as the BACD and others can be a fantastic resource to find mentors, or even just local colleagues with whom you can meet and share ideas. You may also find that the internet offers a number of further possibilities for mentorship in the form of online community forums where members can come together to discuss cases and share in learning.
Whatever option you choose to help you get ahead in your career, there are plenty of opportunities out there to help you learn and to grow. As with so many things in life, the secret is in knowing where to look.