This affords many advantages, from a higher quality of patient care to accelerated career progression and increased job satisfaction for clinicians.
Chetan Mathias is a highly-renowned cosmetic and implant dentist based in Coventry who understands the impact that mentorship can have on an individual and the dentistry they deliver. Having placed thousands of dental implants and completed hundreds of comprehensive smile makeovers, he is ideally positioned to help colleagues broaden their skills in the field. Chetan shared his thoughts on the peer-to-peer support available today.
He said, “It’s very important to have a mentor – it’s a non-negotiable in implant dentistry. I’ve been doing implants for the last 19 years and I wish we had the mentoring programmes we have available today when I started. There weren’t many people doing implants back then so, to learn new techniques, we had to go abroad to Europe or the US.
“This hurdle no longer exists and clinicians today have plenty of colleagues they can rely on to guide them in the next stages in their professional journeys. By engaging with those who have experience in the field, dentists can fast-track their own careers. They can learn from others’ mistakes and therefore avoid making the same errors themselves. Not only does this improve their outcomes, but it enhances the quality of care they can deliver to patients even early on in their implant journey. That’s why mentoring is so vital for clinicians at any stage in their career.”
Chetan provides mentoring to colleagues through the uniquely designed Chairside Visitation programme. This offers a fantastic opportunity for dentists to observe Chetan as he plans and treats cases within their field of interest.
He said, “For effective progression into a complex area of dentistry, it’s really important for clinicians to see planning technologies, surgical techniques and restorative workflows applied to specific cases in a practical way.
“The Chairside Visitation programme, therefore, gives clinicians an opportunity to observe a case first-hand, from start to finish. The clinical strategy and techniques employed can then be more easily replicated in their own clinics.”
The Chairside Visitation programme enables dentists to watch the entire treatment process, with the chance to ask questions for an enriched learning experience. In some instances, a second case will be discussed and observed in the afternoon. The day concludes with a presentation about the diagnosis, treatment planning and surgical protocols implemented to afford a comprehensive understanding of the workflow from start to finish. Chetan added, “The entire learning experience is tailored to the individual. The initial video call with the dentist is crucial to discuss their current expertise, competence and experience. This allows us to determine the type and complexity of case that would be most beneficial for them. I am mindful that they have sufficient surgical experience before observing a full arch or complex rehabilitation case, for example, in order to get the very most from their day with us. We have had great feedback from clinicians so far who found this format of observation and learning to be truly eye opening.
“The main difference between a Chairside Visitation and attending a training course, is that you get a more realistic understanding of the process. Many courses present some really amazing cases, but they are not always at the right level for the individual. To observe a case that has been picked specifically for your expertise, and to see it happen in real-time is a completely different experience. You develop a better appreciation for the work that is required to achieve the very best result.”
Chairside Visitation is available to clinicians in collaboration with BioHorizons Camlog. Chetan said, “I have been working with BioHorizons Camlog for the last 15 years. I’ve been part of their journey as they’ve grown into the company they are today, and they have been a pivotal part of mine. For me, the organisation is more than an implant company – they are an extension of what I do, of my team. I firmly believe that to be able to offer the service and treatment that I do, I need a company that can back me at every stage of my journey.”
For more information visit education.theimplanthub.com/chairside-visitation