We’ve adapted, now what?
Featured Products Promotional FeaturesPosted by: Dental Design 6th October 2022
Dentistry really has seen it all these past few years. The profession has faced seismic changes that have affected almost every aspect of the field. The extent of these changes certainly wasn’t anticipated, with one crisis triggering another, and so on.
But, if the most recent events have demonstrated anything, it’s that dentistry is incredibly resilient. It has felt the strain of a pandemic, recruitment issues and a cost-of-living crisis, but many dental professionals across the country have continued to prioritise the health of the nation and strived to deliver outstanding dental care, in spite of all that has occurred and the adjustments that have had to be made.
For many dental practices, the thought of growing the business and enhancing clinical skills may have seemed temporarily out of the question. Society certainly isn’t out of the woods yet, but dental professionals can still start thinking about their growth while being mindful of the winding and shifting road ahead.
Education – the big come back
While there were concerns for the number of professionals who chose to leave the field, the numbers still remain strong. In fact, according to the General Dental Council (GDC) registration reports, the total number of registrants in August 2022 was higher than the total number in August 2020, 113216 up from 111391 respectively. [i] [ii] This demonstrates that, despite the challenges, dentistry is still an admired and aspirational vocation.
One of the great things about a career in dentistry is the sheer number of training and educational opportunities afforded to all professionals. Throughout the pandemic, continuous professional development (CPD) was largely conducted digitally, through webinars or online courses. Now that professionals are able to attend training and educational programmes in person, this is an opportunity to delegate time to delving into something new, that could help to diversify the dental practice’s treatment offerings and expand clinical skillsets.
New trends
Interestingly, there have been numerous trends evolving in recent years, including a boom in patients seeking restorative and/or aesthetic treatments. Indeed, links have been established between the widespread adoption of video calls during the pandemic and a growth in aesthetic surgery demands.[iii] Fortunately, this has prompted many patients to recognise the importance of good oral health and they are seeking solutions to not only improve the visual aspect of their smiles, but the health of it, too. Thus, dental professionals have attempted to tackle this demand by training the dental team in areas such as orthodontics, cosmetic dentistry and dental implantology – all growing industries that will undoubtedly give dental practices an edge over competitors.
One immense advancement in the field is that of digital dentistry, with many professionals reaping the benefits that digitalised tools, equipment and software offer. A major benefit of these solutions and systems is that they’re proven to streamline workflows, simplify treatments/procedures and often satisfy patients even more so than traditional methods. If feasible, dental practices will be able to boost their revenue when the entire patient journey is made more comfortable, and treatment outcomes more predictable, with digitalised modalities.
Support when you need it most
When looking to grow the business and your professional skills and confidence, you need a stable foundation of support. Every member of the dental team needs a strong network of peers that’ll help not just with skill-building, but will also lend an ear when the going gets tough.
Live dental events provide a fantastic opportunity to keep abreast of the current conversations in the field, but to also just socialise with fellow dentists, dental nurses, practice managers and more! The British Dentistry Conference and Dentistry Show Birmingham (BDCDS) 2022 was a stellar event, the first in two years since the lockdown. Delegates were treated to a unique mix of world-class speakers, exciting exhibitors and the chance to network. Next year, BDCDS will be even bigger, with so many stimulating educational and social opportunities yet to be announced. For professionals looking to grow their skills and their dental practice, be sure to register your interest today and watch this space for further information!
Continue as you mean to go on
Only time will tell what the next several years will look like for dentistry. There may be plenty more obstacles and challenges to come, but it’s important that clinical skills, confidence and the growth of the dental practice is nourished and encouraged. This ensures that, even in the face of difficulties, patient care that is nothing short of exceptional continues to be delivered.
The next British Dental Conference and Dentistry Show Birmingham will be held on Friday 12th and Saturday 13th 2023, Birmingham NEC, co-located with DTS.
For more information, visit www.thedentistryshow.co.uk, call 020 7348 5270 or email dentistry@closerstillmedia.com
[i] Registration report -August 2020. (2020). [online] GDC. Available at: https://www.gdc-uk.org/docs/default-source/registration-reports/reg-report-august-2020704f1baa9e7a4a45b9be7eb9f1bf02c2.pdf?sfvrsn=2748c5b3_7 [Accessed 15 Aug. 2022].
[ii] Registration report -August 2022. (n.d.). [online] GDC. Available at: https://www.gdc-uk.org/docs/default-source/registration-reports/registration-report_august-2022.pdf?sfvrsn=29e27f5e_3/Registration-report_August-2022.pdf [Accessed 15 Aug. 2022].
[iii] Chen, J., Chow, A., Fadavi, D., Long, C., Sun, A.H., Cooney, C.M. and Broderick, K.P. (2021b). The Zoom Boom: How Video Calling Impacts Attitudes Towards Aesthetic Surgery in the COVID-19 Era. Aesthetic Surgery Journal. [online] Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34245237/ [Accessed 15 Aug. 2022].
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