This month, Cat Edney explains how dental therapists can invest in themselves and their careers through further education and personal development.
With the GDC promising a change in the Scope of Practice document which better reflects the working patterns and diversity of ability of dental professionals, what kind of further education and training can a dental therapist take that will help them expand their career and motivate them to maximise their scope?
I have been on a personal development journey of seismic proportions since I decided enough was enough and I wanted to change my working pattern from that of a scale and polish model hygienist to the therapist I am today.
Courses and conferences
There’s nothing like having a little bit of peer support, and the best way to find that is by getting involved in courses, conferences and associations. Transformative moments for me were:
Attending the Deepak Simkhada three-day masterclass
Watching somebody with as much passion for learning as Deepak has cannot fail to make you want to get excited about learning new skills. Deepak also taught me how to work smarter by utilising proper perio protocols in my practice.
I left his course with a spring in my step and a deluge of ideas for making our practice work in the right way while also being more profitable.
NSK Ikigai
Ikigai means ‘a reason for being’ and this couldn’t be a better way of describing the work done by the NSK Ikigai group. I am so grateful to be a part of the group as a member of their professional education team.
The team is made up of some truly inspirational professionals whose aim is to help others find their passion within dentistry. The NSK oral hygiene programme has grown and developed since 2020 and offers a new way of working to deliver exceptional oral care coupled with a deeper level of job satisfaction
Smile Dental Academy Postgraduate Diploma
a year long, intensive and supportive course for therapists run by some of the most inspiring dental professionals I have had the pleasure to meet. You cannot go wrong booking into this diploma.
If you are serious about pushing your therapy skills to the next level and being able to showcase what being a therapist is all about, the Smile Dental Academy will welcome you into the family with open arms. With monthly face-to-face courses focusing on developing exceptional aesthetic and restorative outcomes, dental therapists graduate with a deeper understanding of dentistry and a stronger sense of confidence in their ability.
The Modern Therapist
Of course, I can’t not mention my own series of hands on courses. The Modern Therapist focuses on empowering dental therapists with the skills and tools they need in order to get back to providing high quality dental treatment. This involves looking at hands on composite placement, digital tools for a modern therapist and minimally invasive dental solutions.
Dental publications and Magazines
Reading about developments in the profession is such an important part of our personal development. There are a number of journals and publications that put out exceptional written pieces which push boundaries, question convention and comment on the day to day work we all undertake.
Learning from those who take the time to write and research for these articles helps us to broaden our knowledge.
For me personally, writing in these publications has been a huge part of what makes me tick. Being able to feel heard, to share ideas and to sometimes feel I can have a voice for the profession has been exhilarating. I would recommend submitting articles to anybody who has the slightest inclination to do so.
Keeping in contact with professional reps
I am lucky to have some wonderful and supportive reps who have really managed to keep me up to date with developments within their companies.
Receiving my first test drive toothbrush from Oral B completely revolutionised oral hygiene instructions for me and my patients. I have also been incredibly lucky to work with an Itero digital scanner thanks to support from Align.
There is no reason why a dental hygienist or therapist can’t utilise training from all sections of dentistry. Digital scanning has become an exciting development in my career despite the initial impression being that it was only to be used for orthodontic cases. Now I can show my patients much more of their oral health than ever before, monitoring recession and tooth surface loss in a comprehensive way that I had never imagined possible.
Dental Nursing support
Finally deciding that enough was enough for me, and working only when I was fully supported by a dental nurse made a huge difference to my mental well-being as well as my physical wellbeing.
I have managed to achieve so much more in my appointments because of the excellent team working ethos they bring along with their expertise and exceptional attention to detail.
Feeling able to work in the way I was trained to and following comprehensive protocols while offering exceptional service duties makes all the difference to my day. This is because I can dedicate my time to my patients rather than decontamination. The only person who doesn’t benefit from this is my chiropractor.
Practice support
Working in an environment where your colleagues understand what you do and support your drive and your goals is incredibly valuable.
Achieving this relationship with your colleagues can be a long, hard battle for some, especially if the model you have been following doesn’t seem broken to others. They may question why you are trying to change it.
Taking the time to communicate my goals with my colleagues by writing presentations was a huge leap of faith. As was feeling confident enough to make myself heard and move on from work places where I didn’t feel heard. I put my faith in my abilities and in new colleagues who shared similar goals and aspirations to me.
Celebrating your successes
Finally, the absolute light bulb moment for me was dental photography. I don’t have a big expensive camera and I don’t spend hours taking high quality photos, but I do take before and after images of my work. Being able to showcase these pictures to my patients, colleagues and peers on social media has given me the boost I needed to feel I had a place to progress.
My personal development plan includes more photography training – just being able to provide my patients with a snapshot of where they started and how far they have come makes me feel like my hard work isn’t going unnoticed.
Developing your practice in ways that make you happy is key to your personal development and wellbeing. This could be small changes like taking pictures or big changes like undertaking postgraduate training.
I would encourage any DCP who is considering further education to take a leap of faith in themselves and just go for it. I haven’t met a DCP yet who regrets the decision to learn more.
Catch up with Cat’s previous columns:
- Dental Therapy Explained – the financial benefit of a dental therapist
- Dental Therapy Explained – direct access and dental therapy
- Dental Therapy Explained – what is a dental therapist?
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