Mitigate burnout with continuing education in orthodontics.

We’ve all heard about the Great Resignation… and as dentists, we’re not immune from career burnout. A 2021 study by the American Dental Association showed that 32.2% of dental offices were struggling to recruit new dentists. It was even harder to find suitable hygienists, dental assistants, and administrative staff.

If you’ve started to feel you’ve lost your “mojo” when it comes to dentistry, continuing education could be the key. Taking orthodontics courses for a general dentist can do more than just add value to your practice. It could also get you out of a rut and spark your interest in dentistry anew.

Why the Threat of Burnout Is Real

Dentists feeling burnt out is nothing new. A 2016 study found that dentists are more prone to professional burnout. Some reasons include:

• Emotional exhaustion
• Tiring work
• Reduced energy and time for family

A 2022 study looking at burnout syndrome in Spanish dentists found that 9.8% of dentists experienced a high level of burnout. It affects male and female dentists, those in rural and city settings, owners and non-owners alike. No one is exempt.

The pandemic has greatly increased stress on both the public and dentists. Your patients are likely to have delayed dental checkups and treatment, so you may find that you have more complex issues to deal with. 

Plus, some dentists can struggle with the monotony of the job. Sure, every mouth is different and there are a wide variety of treatments to carry out. And there’s the satisfaction of knowing that you’re making a real difference to people’s health and happiness.

But it can be tough to get excited about the fiftieth root canal you’ve performed this month.

Avoid burnout by taking your skills to the next level.

If you’re starting to feel this way, you can combat it through continuing education.

It may have been years since there’s been any real challenge to your work. Remember how much effort, study, practice, and concentration it took to perform the simplest procedures early in your training? While it was nerve-wracking at the time, it was probably a bit exhilarating too!

Now you can likely perform those routine procedures in your sleep and to a much higher standard. But the excitement may have gone as these procedures have become more commonplace for your practice. Continuing education in orthodontics lets you experience that challenge and sense of achievement again.

A comprehensive orthodontics course for dentists involves both lectures and hands-on practice. That means you’ll be handling real cases, rather than typodonts. You’ll have the benefit of an instructor with decades of experience in teaching orthodontics to general dentists.

Once you’ve completed the training, you’ll have the skills and confidence to become an orthodontics practice in addition to offering general dentistry. You’ll be able to handle the majority of routine orthodontics yourself and will only need to refer more complex cases to an orthodontist.

Re-energize your team.

If you feel stuck in a rut, no doubt your team does too. Part of your role as a dentist is to lead your clinical and administrative teams. When you’re enthusiastic, it’s infectious.

That also carries through when your team interacts with your customers. They can feel the passion and it tells them they’re in safe hands.

Starting an orthodontic practice can help get your team fired up again. There’ll be new treatments for your reception staff to learn to talk about. There’ll be new skills for dental assistants to learn and there are excellent training courses available to bring them up to speed with orthodontic practices. 

Reevaluate the priorities of your dental office.

According to Fortune Business Insights, the orthodontics market in the US is expected to grow tremendously over the next seven years. It was valued at $3.76 billion in 2022 and is projected to be worth $9.6 billion by 2029. 

The last decade has seen a huge increase in demand for aesthetic dentistry among adults. There continues to be high demand among teens for orthodontic treatments, including clear aligners. With a huge target audience, starting an orthodontic practice has never looked like such a good idea!

Improve patient experience and open up new revenue streams.

As an established dental practice, you have an advantage. You already have thousands of patients who know and trust your practice. If you begin to practice orthodontics as well, you only increase the value of your offering.

Patients appreciate convenience. Even families who only have one child will find it far more convenient to visit your office for all of their oral care, rather than going to an orthodontist in addition. Your patients will also value the fact that you have an in-depth understanding of their dental issues and care preferences, having treated them for years already.

Boost your income and practice profitability.

To become a fast growing orthodontics practice that brings extra income into your business, you’ll also need to get creative about marketing.

Of course, many people seek orthodontic treatments for functional reasons. But there is also a large demographic who are interested in the cosmetic benefits.

Interacting with social media is a great way to reach this audience. You can invite your existing patients to follow you on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. If you’re looking to target younger people, why not create some fun reels that allow your personality to shine?

Social media is also a great way to advertise promotions that can boost your revenue. You can use social media to introduce the public to new technology as it becomes available.

Choose Synergy Orthodontic Seminars for continuing education. 

If you want to wake up looking forward to treating patients and boost your practice’s earning potential, adding orthodontics is a winning choice.

Continuing education in orthodontics will stretch and challenge you again. You’ll learn new techniques and gain the confidence to use them in your practice. Plus, your staff and patients will appreciate the new services you have to offer.

At Synergy Orthodontic Seminars, we offer a variety of hands-on orthodontic training courses for dentists. Check out our wide range of upcoming courses and sign up today!