Embracing educational opportunities
Featured Products Promotional FeaturesPosted by: Dental Design 15th June 2022
One of the most exciting parts of working as a dental therapist or dental hygienist is the sheer variety that this career path affords. Unlike other careers where day to day work can become limiting and stagnant, working in dental hygiene and therapy is full of opportunities.
However, finding high-quality educational opportunities and CPD to help support any career advancement within the profession is often easier said than done, especially if you want material that is tailored directly towards dental therapists and dental hygienists. So, let’s explore some of the options available and see what avenues are open for you to explore when you want to learn new skills, keep up to date and grow in your role:
CPD courses
With so many CPD courses now available across the country, professionals can easily find those that most appeal to their skills. Associations and societies for dental therapists and hygienists will often have their own courses available for members or offer discounted rates for external courses.
By becoming a member of these organisations, professionals can rest assured that the courses have been specifically chosen or supported by likeminded individuals, and are therefore likely to offer high-quality, pertinent educational content and advice. A huge benefit of visiting these courses is that you get to interact directly with whoever is hosting the session if you have any questions or want to find out more. These courses also often double up as wonderful networking opportunities – connecting you with other dental therapists and hygienists who share your interests and acting as a springboard to help forge meaningful connections with the wider industry.
Understandably, accessing in-person courses isn’t always viable. Travel distance, cost restrictions and other barriers come into play, which is why it’s a good idea to diversify how you learn as much as possible, utilising every opportunity to truly carve a bespoke educational experience.
Log in for online learning
If the pandemic taught us anything, it’s that remote, virtual methods of learning are just as viable as visiting courses in person. One of the core benefits of webinars, in particular, is that you can easily search online for those that appeal most to your interests and that directly address any topics you’re curious about. This way you can easily tailor your educational experience, selecting complimentary sessions to help you really get a broad overview of a topic or diversifying what you learn by choosing sessions that span a range of educational areas that pique your interest.
As online sessions tend to be accessible anytime, anywhere, these can easily slot into your daily schedules. Additionally, many in-person courses tend to be accessible online after they’ve taken place – perfect if you’ve missed out on an opportunity but still want to access the information shared.
Another benefit of online learning is that it also allows you to digest any information at your own pace. Videos can be paused and rewound, sessions can be accessed multiple times, and this means that you can process any educational content in your own way – pausing to make notes or brainstorm how to implement new ideas into your work life without missing any other information.
Don’t discount print!
While the world may be moving towards more of a paper-free approach when it comes to media, the benefits of a traditional journal that features articles, CPD opportunities and up-to-date information shouldn’t be ignored. These resources are often peer-reviewed and hold the latest findings that are relevant in the field, keeping you up to date with any significant research breakthroughs and new products from manufacturers that support the way you work.
Supplementing the educational material in journals are often opinion pieces, event coverage and other interesting happenings in the industry. These too are inspiring in their own way, as they not only show the scope of what people in the profession can achieve but also the myriad different options available to us utilising our skills.
These journals may include verifiable CPD as well, giving you another opportunity to hone your career path with similar advantages to online learning. Furthermore, most publications are now accessible online, meaning you don’t even need to purchase a physical copy unless you’d like to!
Supporting you in your career growth
The British Association of Dental Therapists (BADT) has a diverse array of educational resources available for its members. From exclusive webinars and discounted CPD courses with external providers, to subscription to both printed and e-journals (online access to Dental Update and Registered Dental Hygienist, printed copies of Dental Therapy Update and access to Irish Dental Hygiene Association Journals) , the association is dedicated to ensuring that members can easily access the educational material they need to develop in their roles and have the opportunity to branch out into whatever avenue suits them best.
Learn your way
There is no one way to learn, and with so many diverse opportunities available we’re living in an age where you can truly empower the way you learn. By joining an association that supports your educational development, you can have peace of mind that you can easily find and access the material that’s most relevant to your interests.
For more details, please visit www.badt.org.uk
Author:
Debbie Hemington- Chair.
Debbie qualified from New Cross in 1983, the year it closed, and is actually the last New Cross Therapist to graduate. She qualified as a Hygienist at Kings in 1987 and has worked continuously during this time in a variety of settings.
In 2003 she joined The Eastman as a tutor and combines that role with working in a mixed general practice where she has worked for 38 years!
Debbie has also worked the for the former London Deanery as part of the DCP tutor team commissioning post graduate education, and was the educational lead on “Wild Smile” project with Heart your Smile.
In 2012 she took part in a 2 year part time pilot scheme at Kings for Enhanced Skills in Periodontology.
She has been a BADT member for most of her career and was elected Chair in 2018 and is now President of the Association.
