When working as a dentist, orthodontist or as a professional in the dental field, it’s vital to keep your knowledge and techniques up to date with dentistry continuing education to give your patients the best treatments and diagnoses. By taking dental CE courses, attending seminars to studying through online workshops, you’ll be able to uncover the latest advances in the field and keep your business thriving.

In order to obtain the latest dental continuing education, you’ll have to find reliable sources of industry news and trends. By studying reliable sources or networking at industry events, you’ll be able to discover applicable training throughout the year. Find resources for dental continuing ed by:

1. Joining industry organizations and associations that provide information on continuing education in dentistry or offer training seminars and educational addresses at their own meetings and conventions.
2. Subscribing to numerous dentistry publications or follow informative websites that feature articles or listings describing helpful continuing classes in dentistry that discuss new techniques, products, tools or dental conditions.
3. Attending dental conventions or trade shows to discover dentist continuing education opportunities through vendors, association representatives or other dental professionals.
   

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Discover continuing classes in dentistry through industry organizations

As a member of a dental organization, you'll not only have dentistry continuing education opportunities available to you through seminars and literature, but you'll also be able to network at meetings and events to pick up the latest news and trends about new training classes and online workshops.

I recommend: Members of the American Dental Association can access publications and resources, find training through meetings and events and discover trends in dentistry continuing education courses through the association’s website. Find an industry organization, including groups dedicated to dental learning opportunities that interest you through Dentistry 2000. Even if you aren’t close enough to join the groups that interest you, you can still obtain information through news stories posted on their websites. The American Dental Education Association is a clearinghouse for trends in dental education.

Read industry publications that discuss new techniques and related dentistry continuing education

Trade magazines and other dental publications can cover such topics as tools and techniques and dental breakthroughs that will let you know where you need to seek continuing classes in dentistry. Study publications, websites and blogs regularly to find these industry trends.

I recommend: The Dental Advisor not only provides news stories about new materials and techniques, but also provides continuing education in dentistry news and trends, as well as the dental continuing education seminars and training workshops themselves. Find scientific information, events of interest and continuing education opportunities through the New York State Dental Journal.

Ask about current dentist continuing education while attending industry shows and conventions

While attending dental conventions with other industry professionals, you'll discover new products, dental tools and materials that you'll want to learn how to use to keep your practice current. Discuss continuing education in dentistry news and trends with manufacturers and other dental professionals touting new techniques or breakthroughs.

I recommend: Discover new subjects for continuing classes in dentistry through the Florida National Dental Convention. The convention also offers informative seminars throughout the event. Find informative dental conventions and meetings near you through the directory offered by Henry Schein Dental.

As a dentist, you need continuing education in dentistry in order to stay current with new laws and techniques. Researchers frequently make advances in the dentistry field and you need to learn these changes. Furthermore, all the state boards require that all dentists take continuing classes in dentistry.

It's important for you to understand your state's regulations regarding dentistry continuing education. If you do not comply, the board may revoke your license.

Some other great reasons to take dental continuing education classes:

1. You can learn new skills. Continuing education for dentistry will teach you about new techniques that may attract more customers, especially if you are one of the only dentists in your area that specializes in the procedure.

2. You can keep current with the latest laws. When you take continuing education seminars for dentists, you can learn about the laws that affect your business practice.

3. You can network with other dentists when you take dental CE courses. Try to find another dentist that compliments your service. For example, if you refer your patients to an orthodontist, he or she may refer their patients to you for regular cleanings.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Know your state's dentist continuing education requirements

While all states require dental professionals to obtain continuing education credits, the amount of credits needed and the time frame varies per state. It's up to you to understand your state's regulations and follow them.

I recommend: Dental Watch lists the websites for each state's dental licensing board. Visit your state to learn about the requirements. Alternatively, you can download a PDF file from the American Dental Association that lists the requirements for all states (Scroll down to find the link for the PDF file.).

Attend continuing education seminars for dentists in order to meet the requirements

Whatever your state's requirements are, you can easily meet them by attending continuing education training seminars. Classes are available on several different topics, so choose one that is consistent with your practice or that is something in which you feel you need a refresher course.

I recommend: Take your dental continuing education courses through the American Seminar Institute. You may also be interested in DDS-Online, which offers online CE classes in dentistry.

Purchase dental CE courses on DVD

A convenient option for busy dentists is to purchase a DVD that satisfies course requirements. You can easily watch the DVD in your own spare time.

I recommend: LeeMark Dental offers a complete continuing education package that includes several DVDs. The American Dental Hygienists Association also produces a DVD that you can use for continuing education credits.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  You shouldn't wait until the last minute to take your continuing education in dentistry classes. You may not be able to get into the dentistry continuing education courses that interest you or find a class that is convenient.

Maybe you can't teach an old dog new tricks, but that may not apply when it comes to continuing education in dentistry. Whether you're learning new procedures or brushing up on old ones, dentistry continuing education can be crucial to your career. From dentistry continuing education courses to dental hygiene continuing education, there are several ways you can approach continuing education in dentistry.

The good news is, continuing education for dentistry does not have to break your budget. You can find affordable online continuing classes in dentistry, as well as magazines and other publications devoted to dental continuing ed for under $100. Dental continuing education seminars are available for prices as low as $200. The following will give you some idea about continuing education in dentistry pricing and costs:

1. Price dental continuing education seminars.
2. See the range of pricing and costs relating to online dental CE courses.
3. Keep continuing education in dentistry pricing and costs reasonable by learning through dental publications.
   

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Attend dental continuing education seminars for less than you might think

You're likely to find an abundance of continuing education seminars for dentists offered at local colleges or through professional dental associations. These seminars provide information about timely topics in the dental field and generally cost in the range of $150 to $250.

I recommend: The Baylor College of Dentistry at Texas A&M offers continuing education presentations and seminars for dentists for under $200. International Dental Seminars has several continuing education seminars for both dentists and hygienists, including presentations for dentists that start at $250 for one-day classes.

Enroll in online continuing classes in dentistry for reasonable prices and costs

Online continuing education courses for dentists are a viable option for those who are too busy in their practices to attend live seminars or classes. Online dentistry continuing education offers a wide range of courses, some for less than $10.

I recommend: The Academy of Dental Learning offers dentistry continuing education courses on a variety of topics, in prices ranging from $30 to $95, and the opportunity to take all offered online courses for around $150. Pay as little as $8 for single-unit courses through Continuing Education Studies on topics such as Dental Radiology and effects of oral piercing. Take online education courses through the American Dental Association (ADA), on topics ranging from periodontics to prosthodontics, for $28 per credit for ADA members.

Subscribe to publications for dentist continuing education information

A very affordable way to pursue continuing education in dentistry is to do so through magazines and journals that offer home-study courses. You typically can take advantage of these types of continuing education opportunities for less than $160 per year. If you're working under a strict budget, this route to dentist continuing education may be for you.

I recommend: Subscribe to the Compendium of Continuing Education in Dentistry, a magazine that offers continuing education courses you can study at home, for just over $150 for one year at Magazine Express. Take advantage of the Journal Continuing Education Program offered by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) for $60 per year, which involves reading articles and submitting answer sheets for continuing education credits.

Many dentists pursue continuing education in dentistry to keep up with the latest in technology and procedures. If you're considering attending continuing education courses or seminars, it's a good idea to get acquainted with continuing education in dentistry key terms. Most of these terms reference organizations where you can find continuing education opportunities, such as AGD (Academy of General Dentistry) and ADHA (American Dental Hygienists' Association), as well as continuing education evaluation programs as provided by the American Dental Association.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

CERP

CERP stands for Continuing Education Recognition Program. This program was established by the American Dental Association (ADA) as a way to review and evaluate continuing education in dentistry providers. Acceptable courses and seminars are recognizable by carrying the ADA CERP designation.

I recommend: The American Dental Association gives a detailed description of what CERP is and provides the standards and procedures under which it operates.

C.A.R.D.

C.A.R.D. is the Center for Aesthetic Restorative Dentistry. This organization provides hands-on continuing education classes for dentists. From dental procedures to management skills, C.A.R.D. provides a wide variety of continuing education classes.

I recommend: The Center for Aesthetic Restorative Dentistry (C.A.R.D.) provides a thorough description of its continuing education in dentistry classes.

DenTrek

DenTrek is a continuing education network. It provides Web-based continuing education courses for dentists. DenTrek helps to create many of these programs and hosts them on its site.

I recommend: Visit DenTrek to find out what this network can do in providing continuing education courses for dentists.

AGD

The Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) is a great source for continuing education in dentistry. This organization provides continuing education opportunities for dentists in a number of ways, from meetings to study guides.

I recommend: Discover the various ways the Academy of General Dentistry provides continuing education for dentists at its website.

ADHA

Continuing education courses and seminars are also available to dental hygienists. From online courses to journal publications, the American Dental Hygienists' Association (ADHA) offers a variety of continuing education credits for dental hygienists.

I recommend: Find a complete description of continuing education opportunities offered by The American Dental Hygienists' Association.

AAPD

From live seminars to audiotapes, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) offers many continuing education in dentistry programs. AAPD is a recognized provider of continuing education courses by the ADA CERP.

I recommend: Find detailed descriptions of how the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry offers continuing education programs.