This post is about the different options available to general dentists who wish to learn about orthodontics, undergo some orthodontic training.
One of the most common questions GDPs ask me is what they should do to develop their orthodontic knowledge and skills, having found that "certification courses" run by various orthodontic brands are not really filling their ortho knowledge gaps. Many dentists search for an aligners course or comprehensive course for different brands/systems, often without the understanding of the limitations of proprietary courses.
So learning about orthodontic for general dentists really comes down to stepping back from individual brands, and understanding the essence of orthodontics as a discipline. Whilst there are several options available when it comes to orthodontic courses for general dentists, they all have their pros and cons. Apart from the ortho course itself, we also have to consider the impact on our existing work, family, finances and any other commitments.
I thought it would be a good idea to summarise the different options available in a blog post.
What orthodontic courses for general dentists exist?
What are the options for you to develop more orthodontic clinical skills?
Shorter high impact courses
Long term diplomas
Orthodontic specialist training
1 - Shorter high-impact orthodontic courses
The final option, which appears to be the most popular, is a shorter course. Many of these delve into particular aspects of orthodontic treatment e.g. how to develop a ClinCheck, troubleshooting aligners, or retention. Many courses also align themselves with particular brands of orthodontic appliance, which I feel can be something which limits how much true learning can be gained from a single orthodontic course.
2 - Medium/long term orthodontic courses
There are some private courses which are run over the period of several months or a year. They aim to provide general dentists with a deeper knowledge of orthodontics and should therefore spend greater time on fundamental orthodontic concepts. There are various different orthodontic course provided in this section, some being better known than others. General dentists who choose these courses often work with an orthodontic mentor to help them continue their development and orthodontic learning.
3 - Orthodontic specialist training
This is 3 year full time specialist training, and is easily the most difficult pathway if you wish to be paid for your training. It generally involves doing a couple of DCT jobs and developing your CV with CPD, audits, publications and presentations at the same time, with the aim of getting an NHS funded specialty training post. These posts, being paid, are extremely competitive.
The benefit of such orthodontic training is that your education will be excellent and complete (it could be argued!), and you will be granted entry to the orthodontic specialist list.
The downside to this type of training is that it takes years to get through, and after a lot of hard work you may still not get a place. In this case, the alternative is to privately pay for a 3 year full time MSc Orthodontics run by various universities. The training, in most universities, is equivalent to the NHS funded pathway, but entry to the specialist list is a little more convoluted. The cost of these course is very high (several charging fees of circa £40,000 per annum).
So what should you do?
Only you can answer that question! Think about the stage of your career, your family commitments, your finances and, of course, what you want your working life to look like. The answer will generally find you at that point.
A shorter course can be good as way of beginning your orthodontic learning. Many general dentists then go on to do full blown specialist training, whilst others pursue other private courses whilst continuing to provide general dentistry.
If you are considering an orthodontic course for general dentists to help develop your knowledge or skill, or perhaps just to see if this is an area you wish to expand into, then head over to our course page to see what's on offer.
Orthodontic Learning Points
Embark on orthodontic courses which are not linked to specific brands
Identify what your orthodontic knowledge gaps are
Build your knowledge in a staged way, starting from core orthodontic planning principles.
Comments