Dentsply Sirona’s Clinical Education Program results in strong attendance worldwide – three times higher than pre-pandemic
NewsPosted by: Dental Design 8th July 2020
Dentsply Sirona is recognised as one of the largest providers of comprehensive clinical education programs in the dental industry. Education and training are core to the mission of Dentsply Sirona’s Academy, with the goal of providing dentists, team members and dental technicians with training on dental procedures, latest dental technology as well as inspiration to develop themselves and their practices. In 2019, more than 470,000 dental professionals participated in nearly 15,000 courses organised by the Dentsply Sirona Academy and supported by leading clinical experts and organisations. In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Dentsply Sirona Academy team quickly transitioned from in-person courses to webinars and on-demand learning and provided timely education and support during this global health crisis.
The statistics prove it: Dentsply Sirona has its finger on the pulse of important educational topics in dentistry. In 2019, more than 470,000 dental professionals in 97 countries participated in one or more courses. More than three-fourths of participants were dentists, four percent were hygienists, and nearly 20,000 were dental technicians. Also, the number of participating students grew to more than 41,000. Altogether, they took part in almost 15,000 courses, including live lectures, product trainings, train-the-trainer sessions, self-instructional courses, webinars and hands-on workshops.
Covid-19: A catalyst for digital dentistry and education
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, many traditional workflows and procedures in dental practices are currently being evaluated, largely due to the enhanced hygiene requirements brought by the pandemic. The digital workflow and single visit dentistry are becoming increasingly important as it enables more contactless work processes and communication and can limit the number of office visits needed for dental treatment. While dentists may have been hesitant to go digital in the past, they can see the value of adopting digital solutions in their offices.
Thanks to its many years of leadership and innovation in digital dentistry, Dentsply Sirona offers the state-of-the art digital solutions for a wide range of dental procedures, perfectly adapted to the current needs of dentists and dental technicians. And since the introduction of the Primescan intraoral scanner, the interest in digital dentistry has increased noticeably in the market. Dentsply Sirona has organised comprehensive Clinical Education programs and resources specifically designed to support customers during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Like many other aspects of the dental industry, in-person clinical education and workshops were no longer possible during the Covid-19 outbreaks throughout the world, so many dental professionals have been using the time to improve their knowledge about various dental fields including infection prevention, endodontics, and implant dentistry using the Dentsply Sirona online courses. Since the start of the corona pandemic, more than 377,000 people around the globe registered for 636 Dentsply Sirona Academy live webinars over a ten-week period. Enrollment and completion of the on-demand courses are also rising – with almost 10,764 new program enrollees in the last couple of months. Attendance peaked in late April and has steadily declined since then, as dental professionals turned their attention back to resuming dental services. Even so, Dentsply Sirona’s pace of educational offerings remains strong. Webinars are settling in at a “new normal” of up to 48 webinars/week, three times higher than pre-pandemic. And the On-Demand library now contains 154 courses.
The program’s three key course topics remain the same: endodontics, implant dentistry and restorative dentistry, and there is still steady interest in CAD/CAM, preventive dentistry and ultrasonic instrumentation and imaging. However, there is a noticeable spike in program participants for classes on hygiene, infection prevention, risk minimization, and practical implementation during the Covid-19 crisis.
“The past few months have not been easy. Dealing with the pandemic, the massive reduction in the number of treatments in the practice has been an enormous challenge,” summarises Dr Lori Trost, dentist from Red Bud, Illinois, USA. “I was able to make good use of the time for further training and was particularly grateful for the very early information on infection prevention when establishing new practice protocols in the webinars and on-demand courses offered by Dentsply Sirona”.
“The dental profession is globally respected for its commitment to the prevention of oral diseases and to patient safety. Similarly, the profession is recognised for its willingness to adapt to challenging situations, including disease outbreaks, in order to support the public’s health and well-being. I am glad that we have faced the current pandemic together with our customers. We have focused our attention on providing them with helpful clinical resources, including a comprehensive webinar offering and on-demand courses,” explains Dr Terri Dolan, Chief Clinical Officer of Dentsply Sirona. “Supporting the dental profession and the safe delivery of dental services remains a primary focus of these seminars. We see the use of educational technologies as a great way to support our customers, introduce new clinical concepts, and explain procedures and solutions. Providing these educational opportunities, paired with our leading materials and technologies, is key to empowering dental professionals and improving dental care and oral health.”
In developing and providing courses, Dentsply Sirona actively collaborates with clinical and technical experts in all aspects of dentistry. Curricula are developed in collaboration with universities and dental schools, as well as professional dental organisations, to support dental professionals around the world.
More information about webinars and on-demand courses is available on Dentsply Sirona Website: https://www.dentsplysirona.com/education.
