Education
The changing face of dental education
For many dental professionals, fitting in CPD courses and events around working hours can be problematic. Dental education company RED SQUARE is aiming to make things a little easier
T
he issue of dental education has taken on a new dimen- sion due to the increased demands upon dentists and their teams to meet contin-
uing professional development (CPD) demands while managing their contracts to provide treatment. Dental academia are required to respond with inno- vative and exciting ways to improve learning but to also modify methods to fit in with current work patterns and lifestyles. With the current increase in GDC fitness
to practice cases for “lack of competence” (covers lack of knowledge) it is imperative that we keep abreast of and practice evidence-based dentistry. There has been a significant shift in
dental education in the last ı0 years, with dentists increasingly wanting to acquire further skills to benefit both their patients and their own career aspirations. However, there are a number of barriers, including work patterns and university time sched- ules, and it is essential that universities respond to this. There has been a change in how universi-
ties ensure quality assurance in education is adhered to, by ensuring their educational facilitators have formal qualifications in educational expertise. The past experience of clinically-trained dentists will still hold weight, but understanding how to deliver their expertise through effective educa- tional methodologies delivers a standard of both clinical and educational excellence. There is a recognition that the need
for educational research to optimise methodologies of teaching, learning and assessment underpin contemporary educational practice. But an area where universities have struggled to improve has been modifying academic schedules to fit in with dentists’ work patterns. That is until
now. RED (Restorative Education for the Dental team) SQUARE in partnership with University of Chester (awarding body), has developed an MSc in restorative dentistry delivered outside the recognised working pattern.
The changing face of dental practice The times are changing. Technological developments in areas such as dental materials, pharmacology and treatment modalities have resulted in a much wider range of treatment options. The approach to care is now aimed more towards preven- tion than mere repair and is increasingly patient-driven, rather than entirely dentist- directed. There is a greater emphasis on elective dentistry in the form of whitening, tooth-coloured restorations, porcelain laminates and short-term orthodontics. New corporate players, with a more
retail-oriented outlook, have sensed an opportunity and entered the market with considerable financial backing from a variety of financial sources. The concur- rence of these trends has created an environment in which an ever-increasing
number of ‘savvy’ dentists are able to run extremely successful practices while at the same time providing the sort of care and work environment that could only have been dreamt of even a short while back. With this new-look horizon, dentists are
required to continually develop and improve their understanding and this can only be achieved by increasing their dental knowledge, which builds confidence. The barrier to this is dental academia which provides its training on a Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm week pattern. This results in dentists taking time off from work to achieve their goals of improving their skills, which in turn improves the quality of work they can provide their patients.
How has RED SQUARE education made academia accessible? a) Saturday course In year one, this programme runs on ı2 Saturdays (one each month) at Dundee Education Centre and Mandec at Manchester. With well-recognised
Continued » Scottish Dental magazine 41
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