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How to Stay Current with Your Orthodontic Education and Latest Advances in Dentistry

Posted On : Jul-21-2009 | seen (1084) times | Article Word Count : 463 |

Dentistry is a unique area of health care. Delivering dental treatment typically includes very close “in your face” contact with a patient while invading their body cavity (inside their mouth).
Dentistry is a unique area of health care. Delivering dental treatment typically includes very close “in your face” contact with a patient while invading their body cavity (inside their mouth). In addition to that the patient is typically awake, gazing into the dentist’s eyes and face – very close contact. And, many people are apprehensive and nervous making the entire process daunting for both patient and dentist.

Dentistry is a type of “microsurgery” and by necessity dentists must be skilled with their hands. This includes the ability to transfer what they see needs to be done into actual manual dexterity. In order to apply to an American Dental Association (ADA) accredited school or college, students must first complete a four-year undergraduate college degree, which satisfies admission requirements to dental school. As well, it’s necessary to have better than average scores on the Dental Aptitude Test (DAT). These days competition for admission to dental school is fierce, requiring very good grades. Most, but not all dental schools require four-year curricula. Next, dental students may apply for additional training in general dental practice residencies (GPR). These programs offer various training time frames, may be hospital based and typically involve rotating through the various dental specialties.

Orthodontics is one of those specialty dental areas. Defined, “Ortho” means “straight” and “dontics” refers to teeth. After completing dental school an additional 3 years of specialty education is required. Orthodontic residency class sizes are small and exclusive with only 4 – 6 students admitted each year. In addition to treating patients, orthodontic residents study human facial growth, facial type analysis, orthodontic history, craniofacial anatomy, jaw function and dysfunction (TMJ/TMD), management of complex dental and surgical cases, craniofacial anomalies, dentofacial aging, as well as the complex area of orthodontic mechanics.

After graduating it’s essential that orthodontists keep current with the latest advances in the specialty. As well, each State has specific and mandatory continuing education requirements. In that regard, the individual person knows their best learning environment. Some prefer the classroom or study group with live feedback and camaraderie. Others are more solitary preferring journals and textbooks. Now, we have the option for “24/7” education on the Internet. Here, I’ve discovered that the on-line consumer of education prefers face-to-face contact with the presenter. Of less appeal is the “fly on the wall” internet experience where the person logging in feels more like just another face amidst the great unwashed. With that in mind I developed gnathosCE.com, a format that offers a more engaging, personalized experience where I’m speaking one-on-one to the viewer. The site is available to all interested health care providers including the “exceptional employee”.

Article Source : http://www.articleseen.com/Article_How to Stay Current with Your Orthodontic Education and Latest Advances in Dentistry_1913.aspx

Author Resource :
Gerald S. Samson, DDS is the founder of (g)nathos, Inc, which since 1982 has provided continuing orthodontic education to health professionals who are seeking an increased level of sophistication in the delivery of orthodontic care for their patients. You can learn more by visiting his website at http://www.gnathosCE.com.

Keywords : Dentistry, continuing dental education, orthodontic education, orthodontics, pediatric dentistry, orthodontic courses, dental,

Category : Reference and Education : Adult

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