A select group of forward thinking GDPs attended the two day course, which was led by professionals at the forefront of anterior alignment orthodontics. ClearSmile Brace trainers Professor Ross Hobson, Anoop Maini, Nick Simon and Andrew Wallace were all in attendance of the inaugural course, as were Inman Aligner trainers from IAS Academy Tif Qureshi and James Russell.
About the innovative training course, delegate Geoff Stone from Bannockburn Dental Practice said:
“Having been an Inman Aligner provider for several years, I was looking to advance to a fixed system that involved labs within the UK. With the introduction of the IAS Academy, ClearSmile Brace and UK labs, this was a perfect opportunity for me to develop my orthodontic training with a team I trust.
“I really enjoyed the course – it was comprehensive, the format was excellent and the quality of instruction was first class. Training provided the relevant skill set and knowledge with which to approach simple cases of adult anterior orthodontics, while also covering the limitations involved. I left confident to commence treating patients, knowing that there is a network of orthodontists and experienced dentists at the IAS Academy available to support me.”
Reiterating the calibre of the instruction and support provided, Greg Marshall from Bramcote Dental Practice commented:
“The two day course was of a very high standard. It was boosted by the presence of Professor Ross Hobson, a consultant orthodontist, who added to the content wherever necessary. The course improved and increased my knowledge of case selection and when referral elsewhere would be appropriate. The safeguard of mentoring prior to any treatment taking place is reassuring.”
Gareth Hargreaves from Victoria Street Dental Practice added:
“I like the IAS Academy’s approach as it's firmly based upon correct diagnosis, treatment planning and informed consent, and the good support available offers peace of mind in an area of dentistry that's not without its detractors and increasing litigation. I thought the content, format and quality of the training course were all good. I would certainly recommend the ClearSmile Brace and training course from IAS Academy to other GDPs.”
During the reception drinks in the evening of the first day, Tif thanked everyone for their time and efforts in organising the course, also thanking delegates for being a part of such an exciting new endeavour. Anoop went on to mark this as an occasion he was personally very proud of saying:
“This first ClearSmile Brace course is a very important moment for me in my career, and it is a milestone I am delighted to have reached. The process of designing the course and working with Ross Hobson has been enlightening and has completely changed the way I approach orthodontics.
“I have spent several years of my career fighting for GDPs performing orthodontics – some specialists still unfortunately believe that GDPs should not be offering any orthodontic treatments. To have someone like Ross, an orthodontic specialist, embrace our goals and help us achieve them is fantastic – he provided me with the vision, direction and the passion to change my philosophy. We are all looking forward to the future and we aim to build a network of mentors around the world, who can provide any support clinicians might need with cases. We want to raise the bar for modern GDP orthodontic training.”
As a further thank you to delegates, a raffle was organised and the lucky winner was awarded a Venus Pearl PLT Masters Kit donated from Hereaus Kulzer.
Professor Ross Hobson, specialist orthodontist, later addressed delegates, highlighting the importance of adequate skill and experience in order to ensure ideal case selection and delivery of appropriate treatment:
“I love what I do and I am very passionate about dentistry. I feel that anyone can perform orthodontics, but it’s important that the right person does the right thing on the right patient at the right time. This guided learning programme provides a comprehensive process. More importantly, it also enables you to explain to the patient what they need, whether you can deliver the treatment yourself or not. I look forward to working with this pathway for years to come.”
The guided learning pathway offered by IAS Academy has been created to prove an appropriate solution for general dentists looking to carry out orthodontics, from simple removables to comprehensive orthodontics. The ClearSmile Brace is an innovative aesthetic fixed appliance, now available in addition to the popular Inman Aligner and ClearSmile Aligners to resolve anterior alignment issues.
Each ClearSmile Brace course is a continuum and following completion of the initial hands-on training, delegates must submit five cases for evaluation in order to gain full certification. On-going advice and guidance is also available both from GDPs and specialist mentors via the online support, ensuring clinicians have all the tools they need to treat patients safely and effectively from their very first case, with emphasis on quality assurance. At the top of the pathway, IAS Academy also offers a ClearSmile Advanced course which spans over 13 months for those GDPs seeking more advanced, comprehensive orthodontic training to resolve complete malocclusions in children and adults.