For clinicians looking to constantly elevate the standard of dentistry they provide to patients, on-going education and skill development is crucial. This involves being exposed to new concepts, trying new techniques and remaining abreast of the latest materials in the field designed to enhance the function, longevity and aesthetics of a treatment.
The British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (BACD) makes this a reality for the entire profession, providing access to exceptional training opportunities in a broad range of topics related to ethical cosmetic dentistry. Most recently, the organisation supported the BACD Aesthetic & Digital Dentist Theatre at the British Dental Conference and Dentistry Show in Birmingham.
A dynamic two-day lecture programme was delivered by an array of well-known names. Up first was BACD President Elect, Dr Carol Sommerville, who discussed the foundations of business success in today’s world. She encouraged attendees to put themselves in their patients’ shoes in order to assess every aspect of their practice for an optimised patient experience. Carol also explored the importance of good communication and urged colleagues not to make assumptions about the people who sit in their chairs because they would never really know what their background, motivation or financial means are without asking.
The spotlight was later put on career development with Dr Jenni Rawes sharing her experience with the first five years of her career and offering practical advice for others moving into cosmetic dentistry.
There was also a session by Chief Dental Officer for England, Dr Jason Wong, who provided an update about current policy changes. He was also keen to advocate for prevention and suggest how the future landscape could better facilitate this approach to dentistry.
Among the clinical subjects discussed throughout the programme were composite bonding with Dr Pete Niesiolowski and managing dark anterior teeth with Dr Chris Orr. The latter session demonstrated an array of real-life case examples where the dark tooth was treated first and the remaining teeth whitening occurred afterwards to ensure a predictable result. Chris also talked about the strength and opacity of modern veneer materials and how these properties should guide the clinical decision-making.
Dr Gina Vega followed on from this to look at composite edge bonding after aligner therapy. She encouraged GDPs present to ensure that alignment was properly completed before moving onto any cosmetic finishing procedures for longer-lasting results. The importance of managing patient expectations was another key feature of the session, which came with a warning that not all you see on social media is as it seems.
Dr Ajay Ghunna took the audience further into the decision-making process when it comes to direct versus indirect restorations. He discussed the various patient, tooth and clinical factors that needed consideration, from patient age and existing restorations to operator skills and confidence, access and moisture control. Ajay also explored the advantages and limitations of direct solutions, citing some of the key factors as shorter treatment time, reduced cost and optimised tissue conservation versus being technique-sensitive with reduced longevity for large defects.
This was complemented perfectly by another session in the programme by Professor Andrew keeling all about direct versus indirect impressions. No matter what type of restorative, cosmetic or other dentistry being provided, an accurate impression is the basis of precise treatment planning and ideal outcomes. Andrew provided an evidence-based overview of the topic, suggesting that digital impressions using intraoral scanners are still less accurate than conventional stone cast models. He questioned whether the difference was clinically significant and encouraged attendees to consider the type of impression taken with regards to the treatment being provided for the best results.
Offering a truly comprehensive programme, the BACD Aesthetic & Digital Dentist Theatre welcomed back Dr Rupert Monkhouse and Dean Ward, who delivered another popular session with both clinician and dental technician perspectives on offer. Discussing how they utilised the digital workflow and how this impacts communication between them, they provided a wealth of advice and useful insights to help peers maximise on the advantages that digital brings.
Of course, this is but a snapshot of everything that the BACD Aesthetic & Digital Dentist programme delivered, but it goes some way to demonstrate the diversity of topics explored. This is representative of the spectrum of education that the BACD offers its members, who have access to a myriad of events from study clubs to the BACD Annual Conference and more – all designed specifically to help individuals develop their knowledge and skill sin ethical cosmetic dentistry.
To find out more and to join the BACD community, please visit the website today.
For further information and enquiries about the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry visit www.bacd.com
