The entire dental profession is predicated upon education. From the provision of safe and skilful dentistry taught in dental schools, to the research underpinning the products you recommend to your patients, education is the solid foundation upon which all this is built.
During your practising career, you may expand your scope of practice through the development of new skills, or you may wish to narrow your scope but deepen your knowledge of a particular area by choosing a more specialised area of practice. Choosing to maintain and increase your knowledge will inspire you to offer improved treatments through enhanced techniques, and in doing so compulsory and valuable continuing professional development will be attained along the way.
Completing the right type of education can be of huge benefit to the team, the practice and ultimately the patient. However, with so many training courses available, it can be difficult to select the one which best fulfills your needs; be it filling in gaps in your knowledge, enhancing your skill offering, or teaching you new techniques.
According to the General Dental Council, for an activity to count as verifiable CPD it must meet the following criteria:
1. Concise educational aims and objectives.
2. Clear anticipated outcomes.
3. Quality controls (you should be given the chance to feedback).
4. You must obtain and keep documentary proof, a certificate for example, of your attendance/participation from the activity provider/organiser.
As well as meeting the essential baseline criteria dictated by the dental regulator, to ensure you get the most from your training, choose a course that also promises the following:
Learn from experts. Educational training courses that provide the opportunity to learn from inspiring and talented experts, will equip you with advanced clinical expertise. It is not only reassuring to learn from enthusiastic and passionate professionals, it also enhances the whole educational experience, filling you with anticipation and the confidence to implement what you’ve learnt when you return to practice.
Hands-on courses vs lectures. We all have different styles of learning. Some learn best using visual aids or via hands-on training, and others a combination of both. So it is important to find a course that complements your learning style from which you will benefit and be able to implement immediately.
Lectures offer an excellent environment to share the latest research, whilst hands-on demonstrations link together the practical and the theoretical, providing an opportunity to be exposed to new techniques.
For example, one might attend a lecture that highlights the oral health issues seen in the ageing population, which discusses the latest evidence-based solutions available to combat xerostomia and dental diseases. Follow this with a hands-on demonstration of how professional oral care products can be used to maintain the oral hygiene of patients who have a removable or fixed prosthetics, and you will have accumulated knowledge and skills to help you successfully care for this increasing patient group.
Whichever your preferred learning style, always try and be aware of all types of education, try something different that takes you out of your normal comfort zone and you may be surprised at the results.
Value for money
In the current economic climate, it is important that the course you choose offers value for money. As a consumer of CPD, you want to be sure that your investment in terms of time and money can improve your efficiency and help you and your practice deliver new levels of performance, whilst offering continuous support and guidance.
Empowerment through education
Attaining CPD is more than just meeting the compulsory hours each year, it is an essential component of lifelong learning. Look beyond the obligatory element, and instead consider how it provides the opportunity to learn new information and enhance skills, empowering you to provide patients with the best possible treatment and care.
Everybody learns in different ways, so finding a course which suits your learning style, be it through lectures or hands on demonstrations, will prove to be the most beneficial for you.