Prioritising CPD

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A committed approach to continuing professional education is a sure-fire way to ensure your practice stays at the top of its game in 2025 and beyond. By Tracey Porter

Stagnation is the enemy of any oral health professional serious about getting their practice into winning shape for the year ahead. Making a strong commitment to continuing professional development (CPD) throughout the coming year will help those in the dental sector overcome new challenges as well as improve and broaden their expertise and competence. Exploring continuing education opportunities should be prioritised as part of a business strategy plan for the year ahead.

UWA Dental School Emeritus Professor, endodontist and CPD lecturer Paul Abbott, believes ongoing professional development is important for everyone in the workforce.

“A practice or an individual who does not participate in CPD will languish,” he says. “They may still be able to provide a good service to their patients, but they will not necessarily be able to provide a comprehensive and modern service. 

“They must [also] have a thorough understanding of the theory behind them. CPD is really the only way to achieve this apart from undertaking further formal courses such as specialisation which is not practical or necessary for most people.”

Claire Schifter, CPD manager for the ADA NSW Centre for Professional Development, oversees the running of more than 200 lectures and hands-on CPD courses each year on everything from oral surgery and endodontics to business management. 

“Ensuring that, as a provider, one is prepared and educated with up-to-date clinical knowledge is paramount to ensuring patients receive the best possible care,” she says. 

When it comes to determining a plan for CPD, both individually and as a practice team, the best place to start is by looking holistically at your goals, Schifter states.

Practitioners should assess their practice and decide where they wish to improve their competencies and what areas of dentistry they are interested in. They can then consider how proficiency in a particular discipline or skill will place them in the local dental landscape.

The CPD requirements of each practice will vary from practice to practice so it’s important to understand that there is no magic ‘formula’ to determine what type of continuing education offers best bang for buck, Professor Abbott adds.

He claims successful practice leaders are usually aware of areas where they need to undertake CPD and will usually seek out appropriate training in that area, but they also recognise that individual needs will change over time.

“It’s best to be open to all areas of dental practice and undertake a wide range of CPD to suit your practice’s circumstances along with your particular areas of interest,” he says.

Some specialists only do CPD in their own specialty and therefore fail to keep up with the general trends within the profession. Professor Abbott says even if they are not providing treatment in other areas, it’s important that oral health specialists still have a good general knowledge of dentistry so they can advise their patients. 

“This is also extremely important when it comes to managing complex inter-disciplinary cases where they need to discuss treatment plans with referring dentists and specialists in other disciplines.”

Many experts claim CPD is often the gift that keeps on giving. While meeting personal and professional goals is an important part of engaging in further education, there are many other benefits along the way.

Keeping current with medical emergency training or infection control and displaying a certificate of attainment in the reception area can be a reassuring sight to patients. Likewise, team building and upskilling can be a positive way to increase staff engagement, and leading from the front can empower the whole business to face any challenge with aplomb, Schifter says.

Many different entities offer CPD courses including professional bodies, private enterprises and universities. While some are free, many are not.

Professor Abbott advises those seeking to upskill through CPD courses t0 first do their homework, investigating who the organiser is, including what their motives are for running a course or lecture.

“Is it to promote products, promote their own practice or seek referrals? Who are the speakers and what are their qualifications for presenting the course? What is the experience of the presenter? Is the speaker paid by a manufacturer or supplier to promote their products? Does the speaker have any conflicts of interest, especially commercial conflicts? Remember, there are many courses, but not all courses will be valuable to you.”

There is often a significant level of altruism on the part of those who run CPD courses, with many in the sector electing to give back as an act of gratitude and to add meaning to the work they do in their field of expertise. Schifter says many in the sector have much to offer when it comes to passing on what they know and it’s that through sharing their knowledge, the whole profession is empowered.

Under standards regulated by APHRA and the Dental Board of Australia, dentists, dental specialists, dental hygienists, dental therapists, oral health therapists and dental prosthetists across all states and territories must complete at least 60 hours of CPD activities over a three-year CPD cycle—or risk their registration being declined. The standards dictate that 80 percent of this content must relate to scientific education, while the rest can be made up of non-scientific content such as strengthening communication skills, building rapport and developing strong connections.