Dentistry is a hugely exciting field, with technology and scientific research driving innovation, which benefits both dental professionals and their patients. Working in dentistry can be incredibly rewarding, but it’s not easy. One of the many challenges is keeping up with trends, advances in technology and changes in regulations and guidelines. Investing in career development can help you enhance your skills, broaden your knowledge base and ensure you’re up to speed with health and dental news, rules and policies.
Continuing professional development (CPD)
Continuing professional development is an umbrella term used to describe activities dentists and dental workers undertake to hone their skills, learn new skills and update their knowledge to deliver better results for patients. CPD is essential for dental professionals and the people they treat. Taking advantage of CPD opportunities and ensuring you complete the required number of hours can help you develop new areas of interest, optimise performance levels and keep up with industry changes.
Refining your skills through training
Training covers a broad spectrum of opportunities you can seize upon to hone and develop your skills as a dental professional. Whether your practice runs workshops, you attend sessions at local health and dental facilities or you work with organisations that offer courses, webinars or online resources, you can benefit from training. Look for options that suit your individual preferences and requirements. Perhaps you’d like to refine your impression-making skills with help from experts like those at Modern Dentures, or you’re keen to expand the orthodontic services you offer. Maybe you’re thinking about setting up your own business and learning about accounting or marketing or you want to broaden your horizons and take courses that will enable you to teach or mentor.
Keeping up with new treatments and patient trends
Dentistry evolves continuously. Keeping up with new treatments and patient trends is a great way to expand your skill set, learn about new techniques and technologies and develop your practice to cater to changing preferences. Examples include increased interest in adult braces, new cosmetic treatments to whiten and brighten the smile and virtual patient services.
Going it alone
Running a successful dental business can be incredibly rewarding both personally and financially. If you’re looking for the next step in your career, have you thought about going it alone? Setting up a dental practice isn’t easy but being your own boss gives you flexibility, control of your schedule and earnings and opportunities to tailor services based on your skills, areas of interest, passions and target client base. Key steps to get started include conducting thorough market research, exploring funding streams, creating a comprehensive business plan and defining your target client.
Developing your career prospects is beneficial in any job, but this is an extremely exciting time to work in dentistry. A rapidly evolving field, there are amazing opportunities to enhance your skills, explore different areas of interest and follow varied career paths. Top tips include embracing CPD, undertaking training, keeping up to date with new treatments and patient trends and considering setting up your own practice.
