Orthodontics courses offer an excellent opportunity to further your career and expand your practice. They are a valuable investment that provides the knowledge and skills to offer orthodontic services, but you have to approach them the right way. Here are some tips to ensure that your preparation, participation, and follow-through yield real results.
1. Choose the Right Course for Your Skill Level
Successful continuing education starts with choosing the right course. There are many orthodontics courses for GDPs, with options available at any skill level.
If you’re new to orthodontics, choose a course that covers the fundamentals and basic treatment methods. Once you’ve built a foundation, you can progress to more complex courses that allow you to tackle complicated cases and learn specialized techniques.
2. Set Clear Learning Goals
As with any other investment in your practice, you should have a clear idea of what you want to get out of orthodontics courses. Are you looking to add orthodontics to your practice, or are you just checking the boxes for your licensing credits?
Match your goals with a course that can meet them. Courses with hands-on training are ideal. You’ll also want to make sure that the course you choose equips you with the knowledge and skills to implement orthodontics in an actual clinical environment.
3. Review Course Materials in Advance
Many general dentist orthodontics courses will provide you with course materials in advance. It’s best to review these thoroughly before the course starts. Depending on the amount of material, that might not be possible, but you should familiarize yourself with the concepts as much as possible.
This provides a solid foundation for more meaningful learning during the course itself. You’ll have the knowledge you need to fully understand lectures and instructions. You can spend class time focused on the most important areas instead of beginning with the basics.
4. Stay Engaged and Ask Questions
Your own engagement will have a huge impact on what you get out of continuing education. Active participation provides a more fulfilling experience and better instills the knowledge and skills you need to provide orthodontic care.
Asking questions is a key part of active participation. If you reviewed the course materials beforehand, then you may already have some questions ready to go. Take every opportunity you can to learn from the experienced and skilled instructors.
5. Take Detailed Notes With Application in Mind
Taking notes is essential for enjoying a successful continuing education experience. However, it’s also important to take notes deliberately. Writing down lectures verbatim isn’t strictly the best approach. Instead, focus on highlights, and especially on any areas you want to explore or ask questions about later.
When taking notes, think about how the information you’re receiving will support your actual practice. Write down how any concepts may apply to cases you’re handling or have handled in the past. This will make your notes a valuable resource that you can reference in the future.
6. Network With Instructors and Peers
Networking is also a core benefit of orthodontic courses. You can take this opportunity to build connections for future case consultations or collaboration. The peers you meet are on journeys similar to yours, so there’s a lot you can learn from each other. Getting to know instructors and building connections there will be invaluable.
7. Bring Real Case Questions
One of the best ways you can develop a strong understanding of orthodontics is to ask questions about actual cases. Using examples from your practice to connect to the course material will help you apply what you’re learning in real-world scenarios. It encourages high-quality discussions that focus on practical challenges.
8. Debrief With Your Team After the Course
After taking a course, provide your team with any useful insights you’ve developed. Share key takeaways and any information that will support your team in their roles. Make sure that your team understands the new techniques or tools you’re implementing.
9. Follow Up With Additional Resources
Effective learning continues well after the course has finished. Take advantage of course recordings, manuals, and recommended readings to continue developing your knowledge and skills and to reinforce what you’ve learned.
10. Apply What You’ve Learned as Soon as Possible
The best way to ensure that what you’ve learned is put to good use is to start using it as soon as possible. Don’t hesitate to put new orthodontic skills into action at your practice. You’ll ingrain them more deeply by applying them early and often, instead of hesitating and potentially losing your edge over time.
Make the Most of Your Orthodontics Courses
With the right approach, orthodontic courses for general dentists can be the perfect choice for the future of your practice. Follow these tips, and you’ll have a great experience that delivers lasting benefits. American Orthodontic Society courses provide an opportunity to do just that. Browse our courses today to find the right choice for you.
To learn more about our popular orthodontics courses for pediatric and general dentists, check out one of the upcoming events below.
