A career pathway for all
Featured Products Promotional FeaturesPosted by: Dental Design 3rd March 2020
Career development is crucial for all dentists, regardless of current skill level, past experiences or area of interest. It’s important to plan your future education and training according to your goals and career ambitions for maximum success. To do this, you need to establish what you’re aiming for and how you might be able to achieve it. Knowing all our options will help you decide on the most appropriate career pathway for you and steer your learning in the right direction.
At the British Dental Conference and Dentistry Show 2020, there will be plenty of advice and information on career development for all members of the team. Whether you’re thinking about moving into a new dental discipline, or wish to consolidate and advance your existing clinical skills, there will be a wealth of guidance available from experts. Training providers will be on hand throughout the trade exhibition, each able to offer course details and recommendations for which training solutions might be best suited to you. There will also be a number of leading professionals from all fields of dentistry, who can discuss their own development and inspire others to find their own way.
Dr Andrew Wallace be sharing his professional journey into cosmetic dentistry and GDP orthodontics to provide an example of one of the pathways clinicians can take as they develop.
“There are many ways to develop your career in dentistry,” Andrew says. “Following some great advice from my VT trainer and first real mentor in dentistry, I realised that education was a key part of how I could plan to improve my career options.
“Unfortunately, at the beginning, I used the shotgun approach – travelling from Northern Ireland to London to take lots of courses on varying subjects from multiple educators. While I probably spent more money than I needed to, importantly, I started to find out how much I really didn’t know about dentistry, particularly about cosmetic dentistry. I therefore started to focus more on cosmetic dentistry education and specifically sought out educators in the field that had a more minimally invasive and systematic approach.
“Almost by accident in 2007/08, I found an article by Tif Qureshi on how he used the Inman Aligner for cosmetic dentistry and this was a turning point in my career. I continued to improve my education in prosthodontics and cosmetic dentistry, but I focused more on how orthodontics could make the restorative and cosmetic aspects of treatment much more straightforward and less invasive.
“I had started a Masters in Clinical Dentistry at Kings College in Prosthodontics. However, I couldn’t find a similar type of programme in orthodontics where general practitioners could improve their skills and knowledge with the help and support of practising clinicians, eventually gaining a high-level qualification. I therefore continued taking piecemeal courses in the UK and United States. I was on the verge of applying for a diploma-level course in orthodontics when it was withdrawn.
“It wasn’t until I found a mentor in orthodontics who was engaging and supportive that I was comfortable enough to get back into fixed orthodontics. With training and mentorship, I was able to better understand my limitations.
“Since then, within the IAS Academy I have continued to expand my services with the types of orthodontic appliances I provide and cases I can treat. This has all been done with the help of specialist orthodontists, including Professor Hobson.”
Andrew completed his MClinDent in Prosthodontics in 2014 and was the Vice President and a director of the European Society of Aesthetic Orthodontics. He is also an active member of the Irish Academy of Aesthetic Dentistry. In addition, Andrew currently teaches the Align, Bleach and Bond (ABB), ClearSmile aligner and IAS Fixed Brace training courses delivered for the IAS Academy, as well as running introductory talks and study clubs on the topic.
He will be speaking in the Speciality Interest Theatre at the British Dental Conference Conference and Dentistry Show in May in order to help colleagues find the right career pathway for them. Make sure you don’t miss this and various other sessions designed to support your development by registering online for free today!
The British Dental Conference and Dentistry Show 2020 – 15th and 16th May – Birmingham NEC, co-located with DTS.
For all the latest information or to register for free, please visit www.thedentistryshow.co.uk, call 020 7348 5270 or email dentistry@closerstillmedia.com
