3 Things to Look for in a Hands-On Clinical Orthodontics Program

Choose the right hands-on clinical orthodontics program for you.
A hands-on clinical orthodontics program is a great way for general dentists to expand treatment options at their offices. The practical experience these orthodontic courses include lets general dentists provide care confidently, knowing they have the necessary skills. Look for these three things to ensure you’ve found the right course.
1. The Right Instructors
When choosing the right hands-on clinical orthodontics program, one of the most important things to consider is the instructor. Like any other continuing education opportunity, your experience and results depend on the instructors involved.
The first consideration when evaluating any potential orthodontic courses is ensuring that the instructor has solid practical experience and has been an instructor before. The best courses are headed by doctors with decades of experience.
They should be active within their field and having been published in relevant journals certainly bodes well. A solid foundation as an accomplished instructor is another key characteristic, as instruction takes unique skills.
You also want to make sure there is good communication during any course in orthodontics for general dentists. Find a course that has a responsive instructor who is ready to answer any questions you might have and who will work closely with you.
A hands-on clinical orthodontics program will feature both hands-on exercises and various lectures and tutorials. They can often feature guest speakers for lectures, which can be a great opportunity to hear from some leaders in the field.
Synergy Orthodontic Seminars offers a 10-session Hands-On Orthodontic Course Using Self-Ligating Brackets for general dentists looking to add orthodontic treatment to their practice.
The course is delivered by Dr. Jeffery Gerhardt, an accomplished dentist with a practice in Cedar Park, TX. He has multiple published articles in orthodontic journals and has provided orthodontic instruction since 2000.
With Synergy Orthodontic Seminars, general dentists can be assured they’re receiving the highest quality instruction from qualified instructors who are experts in their fields.
2. Clinical Experience with Real Patients
The primary benefit of a hands-on clinical orthodontics program over purely lecture-based programs is the practical experience you receive. This leaves dentists more confident in their ability to provide quality orthodontic care for their patients.
Courses should focus on providing real treatment for real patients, as this is the best way to ensure practical experience. Dentists will go through the actual process of diagnosis, treatment planning, treatment, and follow-ups so they have the necessary skills to provide care at their own practices.
For orthodontic clinical programs, in particular, students benefit from treating the same patients over the full course of their care. Unlike many other dental treatments, orthodontic treatment is an ongoing process that requires attention over a longer course of treatment—rather than simply having a follow-up appointment to verify results.
A program that works with real patients over the course of their treatment lets dentists experience the reality of monitoring and carrying out orthodontic treatment. They learn the proper steps and things to look for at every stage of the treatments they’ll later offer through their practice.
The hands-on clinical orthodontics program at Synergy Orthodontic Seminars follows these principles, keeping the same patients with dentists as they move through the course. Besides working personally with designated patients, dentists also review photos and case documentation from all patient cases involved in the course.
3. An Extensive Curriculum
Orthodontic courses for general dentists vary widely when it comes to their content. You should choose a course that covers everything you need to know so you can begin providing orthodontic treatment at your practice.
Courses should focus on a wide range of topics, such as diagnosis of the different classes of malocclusion, cephalometric analysis, and determining when extractions are necessary. These are all vital parts of treatment planning.
Of course, the practical skills involved in banding and bracketing teeth are essential in any hands-on program. However, courses should also include knowledge of a wide range of treatment options and when they are appropriate, even those that you would refer to a specialist.
Case finishing and retention are also important topics essential to offering orthodontic treatment at your practice. A good course will also include details regarding practice management, such as the specific documentation required to handle orthodontic cases.
Synergy Orthodontic Seminars provides comprehensive courses that cover these topics and more. Dentists who choose our courses leave with the necessary knowledge and skills to start providing orthodontic treatment at their practice.
Take advantage of Synergy’s hands-on clinical orthodontics program.
Synergy Orthodontic Seminars provides a wide range of course options for orthodontics for general dentists. You can develop the knowledge, skills, and experience you need to provide more comprehensive care through your practice. Browse our complete course list to find the perfect one to support your goals.