7 Reasons Dental School Isn’t Enough Anymore and What to Do Next

Dentistry is constantly advancing, and you should too.?

Finally receiving your DDS or DMD after years of schooling is certainly a great accomplishment, but is it enough to provide quality care and run a successful practice today? Many dentists are now seeking out continuing education courses beyond their foundational education for 7 significant reasons.

1. Technology has never advanced more rapidly.

The oldest evidence of dental treatment dates back 14,000 years, when a skeleton was discovered with clear tool marks on a partially decayed molar. Dentistry has come a long way since then and is only accelerating in technology and the range of care options.

The first dedicated dental school was founded in 1828 by John M. Harris in Bainbridge, Ohio. The Angle School of Orthodontia became the first school of orthodontics just 71 years later, in 1899.

From these foundations, dentistry and its various specializations have continued to introduce new technologies, treatments, and techniques at an increasingly rapid pace. Today, dentists need continuing education courses and seminars to stay up-to-date with the technology and technique changes that happen regularly throughout the field.

2. Continuing education is legally required.

Some level of continuing education is a requirement just for dentists to keep up with the basics and to maintain their licensing. Each state has its own specific requirements, but they all require a certain number of continuing education hours each year from recognized organizations.

Required hours can vary from as little as 15 to as much as 100, with most states having requirements of around 30 to 40 hours.?

Dentists must complete courses to renew their license. Some states also specify the areas for continuing education, whether in general dentistry or specializations like orthodontics education.??

3. Patients expect a comprehensive range of services.

Another key reason to seek out opportunities, such as ortho courses for general dentists, is that they can expand the range of services you offer. Orthodontics training programs can allow your practice to provide treatment options for 70% to 80% of orthodontic cases.

This is something that patients value highly. They want to receive comprehensive care from one practitioner as much as possible. Being referred to a specialist can be inconvenient at best and a negative experience for some patients at worst.

4. Specialty care is necessary in order to compete.

If you aren’t already providing some form of specialty care, then you’re likely already falling behind other dentists.?

As of 2015, 98% of dentists offered at least one type of specialty care to patients. This means that providing general dentistry treatments alone isn’t enough, and you need to branch out to other treatment options to compete.

To do so, you need to build on your education from dental school. Additional prosthodontic, periodontic, or orthodontics education can open the door to providing specialized care. In the past, this might have been an optional path, but today, the vast majority of dentists already have at least some capacity for specialty care.

5. Broad knowledge is needed to answer patient questions.

Orthodontic continuing education courses for general dentists and other continuing education options aren’t only about adding new treatment options.?

They also provide a foundation of practical knowledge that allows you to better answer patient questions about a wide range of treatment options. If you do need to refer your patient to a specialist, you’ll be able to provide an appropriate recommendation and help the patient understand the necessity of the referral.?

Your patients likely do an internet search for potential issues before their visit. This means that they may bring up orthodontic or other speciality issues or treatments. Ortho courses for general dentists equip you to discuss these topics confidently with your patients, helping preserve the trust they have in you and your care.

6. Continuing education lets you provide better care.

Developing your knowledge and capacity to provide specialty treatments provides clear benefits for your practice. However, it’s just as important to note that these continuing education opportunities give you the skills to provide better care for your patients, improving their experience and outcomes.

Having a solid foundation in orthodontics means you can more accurately identify and diagnose issues. This lets you refer cases earlier in their development, which leads to better results. If you are offering orthodontic treatment yourself, you’ll be able to identify which cases you can handle and which are more complex and warrant referral.

7. Orthodontics training programs are more accessible than ever.

The need for continuing education has increased dramatically over the past years, but so has its availability. Today, the American Orthodontic Society provides a wide range of seminars and orthodontic CE courses for general dentists.

You can take advantage of high-quality courses with hands-on experiences to make the most of your continuing education. Browse our upcoming courses to find one that’s right for you.