Patients want quality dentistry; education will enable to you to deliver
Featured Products Promotional FeaturesPosted by: Dental Design 17th June 2021
With spring nearly here, the hope is that the rest of 2021 will be a time for optimism. Family, friends, our health and wellbeing – never again will we underestimate their value. One thing we’ve all learned is to pay attention to how we are feeling, physically and emotionally. Being in good physical and mental health is a precious commodity and making even small changes can lead to huge, long-term benefits.
Many of your patients will now be motivated to improve their oral health related quality life, to feel better about themselves. They are being proactive, doing their own research and finding out about the treatments that will give them the result they want. Maybe they wish to enhance function, boost aesthetics or both – a beautiful smile to be proud of is always desirable and, thanks to the latest techniques and materials, achievable with minimal intervention. We are a visual society and have spent more time observing ourselves on screens than ever before, but this is about more than vanity. If a patient has spent years feeling unhappy about a defect, knowing that they can invest in dental treatment to fix it is extremely empowering.
Of course, this is something you will have seen more of in your practice long before Covid. The modern patient knows that there are options to transform their smile, sometimes in just one or two appointments, and they are making enquiries. Their expectations are high, and they are shopping around too. The modern patient wants to access to quality dental treatment – they also want value, convenience and a result that endures, delivered by a team that is kind, professional and knowledgeable. In short, they want a gold-standard experience from start to finish.
The reward of the patient journey
For dentists, this means there are exciting times ahead and you must be ready to deliver. Seeing the journey from initial enquiry to happy, satisfied patient, with a smile they want to keep beautifully maintained, is one of the most rewarding parts of the job. After such a tough year, it is important to appreciate the brilliant parts about being a dentist. In fact, you may now feel more committed than ever to being the very best clinician you can be, seeking out ways to enrich your career and help more patients.
Education is the key to raising your game; it will give you the tools you need to deliver treatment of the highest quality and ultimately improve levels of oral health. Education will keep you up-to-date and one step ahead. Education isn’t just about acquiring skills as, no matter how long you’ve been practising, it will encourage you to always have an open mind, constantly asking yourself, is there a better way to do this?
When you choose education, you will be connecting with fellow professionals who are on the same page and also have the mind-set that an exceptional dentist will never rest on their laurels, no matter how full their schedules are. These connections will allow you to share best practice and experiences, and find new ways to improve clinical outcomes, as well as grow your network.
On-going education, as the foundation to keep learning
The highest quality education is when you gain core skills, but the learning is ongoing. So, even when you’ve learned how to confidently deliver the latest restorative procedures, for example, you’ll be open to exploring a new technique, or trying a new material later on, that will allow you to take things to a whole new level.
One way to access quality education is to join a professional academy. An academy is the meeting point between exceptional learning and a vibrant community that will enrich your dentistry. The British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (BACD) offers an education programme that will allow you to master the key areas required to be an exceptional cosmetic dentist, from photography to specific treatments like orthodontics and implants. But you will continue to learn, develop and thrive as part of its inclusive forward-thinking membership, which includes some of the leading clinicians in the field, as well as students and technicians, for true diversity of opinion and outlooks. You will also gain valuable support for your career. As we move forward post Covid, the new era will certainly be full of opportunity, but it will be full of challenges too.
What patients want, patients’ expectations and how to meet them… these have long been talking points. In 2021, it’s not just about keeping standards high, but offering people the kind of quality dentistry that sets you apart from the competition. When you’re committed to excellence, this will motivate the rest of the practice team, and word of mouth will quickly spread. Education is the key to delivering quality, as well as finding professional and personal fulfilment, meaning you’re ready for a brighter future.
For further enquiries about the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry visit www.bacd.com
Author: Paul Abrahams, President BACD
