The Faculty of General Dental Practice (FGDP) has launched a series of aesthetic dentistry ‘masterclasses’ for dental professionals in the UK .
Five short courses have been developed in a bid to provide general dental practitioners and registered dental care professionals with an opportunity to improve the level of aesthetic care delivered to patients.
The aesthetic dentistry masterclasses will cover a range of topics, including anterior aesthetic direct restorations, tooth whitening, porcelain veneers, soft tissue management in the aesthetic zone and facial aesthetics.
According to programme director Professor Mike Mulcahy, the courses have been designed to bring together the fundamental elements of modern aesthetic dental practice, combining theoretical and clinical teaching .
Classes are being held at The Royal College of Surgeons of England, in London, and consist of two days of teaching and hands-on sessions, followed some eight weeks later by a further study day where students will reflect on what they have learned and how these techniques have impacted on their practice .
Commenting on the launch, Professor Mulcahy said: "There exists a strong commercial imperative for robust educational programmes in the area of aesthetic dentistry, with patient demand having fuelled a proliferation of dentists, and also non-dental professionals, offering ‘cosmetic' procedures."
"These masterclasses aim to improve the level of aesthetic care delivered to patients and will set the standards that all dentists should aspire to in the field."
He added: "The option of assessment may also provide the public with a means of identifying dentists who have undertaken independent, acknowledged training in the field, enabling the patient to be reassured of the standard of treatment offered."
