It’s all in the planning – The British Dental Conference and Dentistry Show 2018

Featured Products Promotional Features

  Posted by: Dental Design      29th November 2017

Dental professionals are very good at planning ahead. It is a necessary part of daily life – how many patients will you see tomorrow? Which products do you need to ensure are stocked for the next couple of weeks? How will you arrange your appointment slots to create time for your implant surgery? What will that surgery entail and how will treatment be performed? When do you next need to see your orthodontic patient to review progress?

All these things will be second nature to modern dentists, but the planning is still important to avoid any unexpected problems. Getting organised and knowing what needs to be done when, how and why will also help to improve efficiency and encourages a smoother day-to-day workflow. Ultimately, this is what enables you to deliver outstanding care to every patient, while also keeping your own stress levels to a minimum.

But do you apply the same meticulous planning to your professional development?

Plan to learn
As in many other professions, continuous learning and self-improvement are both key for clinicians dedicated to delivering the best care for their patients. Particularly as new weird and wonderful innovations currently reach the market at an unprecedented rate, reviewing the latest news, products and techniques on a regular basis is essential if you are to remain abreast of the leading recommendations and ideas of the time.

As such, by planning ahead, you can not only better identify which areas would be most beneficial for you to learn, but you can also better organise your time so that you don’t have to make any compromises in either your practice or home life.

Changes afoot
This aligns perfectly with some of the thinking behind the GDC’s recently announced changes to CPD as of 2018. There has been a general shift away from quantity and towards quality, with the overall hours of required CPD reduced but the amount of verifiable CPD slightly increased. As such, dentists are now required to complete 100 hours of verifiable CPD over a five-year cycle; dental therapists, dental hygienists, orthodontic therapists and clinical dental technicians must do 75 hours; and dental nurses and dental technicians must meet their 50-hour requirement.

In the interests of encouraging continuous learning throughout the CPD cycle, the GDC also now obligates professionals to gain at least 10 hours for every two consecutive years. This still allows for any particularly busy years where CPD is not achievable, but it does mean that you cannot log zero hours of CPD in consecutive years. The merits of planning ahead and booking courses or events are therefore greater than in previous years on the old system.

A complementary addition
Another new feature introduced by the GDC is the personal development plan (PDP). This provides the perfect opportunity to tailor your learning to your specific needs and interests, while also giving you confidence that you’ll meet GDC requirements without a last minute panic.

Your PDP must include:

• The CPD you plan to undertake during your cycle, ensuring it is relevant to your field
• The expected development outcomes of completing said CPD
• The anticipated timeframe for completing your CPD throughout your cycle

This plan demonstrates to the GDC that the CPD you gain is relevant for you and that it supports your work as a dental professional. While the governing body may request a copy of your PDP, it is ultimately for your own use and benefit. (More information and a template can be found on the GDC website – www.gdc-uk.org/professionals/cpd/enhanced-cpd.)

Looking ahead
So, what CPD do you plan to complete in 2018? Regardless of your speciality, interests or career so far, the British Dental Conference and Dentistry Show will provide a great platform for developing your knowledge and skills in all the right ways. The two-day event offers educational programmes dedicated to each member of the team, ensuring relevant and informative lectures and discussion sessions for all to make the most of. On-stand learning and live demonstrations throughout the extensive trade exhibition add to the education on offer, plus you can discover all the very latest products, materials and technologies on the UK market. Top up your verifiable CPD while networking with like-minded people and enjoying the prestigious Dental Awards on the Friday night!

Plan to succeed in 2018
You plan ahead in so many aspects of your professional life, including treatment planning, stock ordering, surgery time and patient recalls – why not apply the same sound logic to your learning for the very best results?

The British Dental Conference and Dentistry Show 2018 will be held on Friday 18th and Saturday 19th May at the NEC in Birmingham, co-located with DTS.
For further details visit www.thedentistryshow.co.uk, call 020 7348 5270
or email dentistry@closerstillmedia.com


No Comments


No comments yet.


Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.