Staying Competitive In Australia’s Dental Market

By Author: Karen McDonagh
Total Articles: 75
Comment this article

There has been what some people have described as an overproduction of oral health care workers in Australia. In January of 2013, there was news about the growing number of dental practitioners based on a survey that had been conducted over previous years. The results of that study had shown that there was an increase in dental practitioners especially in the rural areas of the nation. This may well coincide with the report that since the opening of additional dental schools in Australia, more persons have taken the opportunity to pursue such course of study and career. However, in fact, the main reason for opening additional dental schools was that in the past, there had been a significant lack of oral health care providers to accommodate the nation’s population. Therefore, what some people describe as an overproduction is actually a positive result in the nation’s attempt to provide oral health services to all.

Now, what can this mean for dental practitioners?

Mostly one thing: competition.

The growing number of dental practitioners that can provide oral health care increases ...
... the competition of maintaining patients in one’s dental practice and getting new patients. Additionally, patients these days are more well-informed and concerned regarding health in general. With information on almost everything easily available through the internet, patients are made aware of issues and data regarding health care, including matters of oral health care. For dental practitioners in Australia, one way to stay on top of the game and stay competitive is to participate in Dental CPD (Continuing Professional Development).

The government of Australia, through the Dental Board, has made taking Dental CPD a requirement for every dental professional to be able to renew his or her license to practice. There is a minimum number of hours that has to be credited within a certain time frame to guarantee that the practitioner is receiving further education or training with regards to his profession. The intentions for implementing such a requirement on dental practitioners are good because they are based on ensuring the provision of quality oral health care by such persons.

With the growing number of oral health care workers entering the market, there is a need to stay competitive for existing and potential patients. The participation of a practitioner in the required Dental CPD may ensure that such person remains updated with new information, trends, methods, machines and other concerns of the practice. This may put the practitioner in a good standing with patients, especially those patients who expect their chosen oral health care provider to be able to answer all their questions – questions that they may have gotten after encountering an article or news about oral health through the internet.

Through Dental CPD, a dental practitioner may prove that he or she has not lagged behind in knowledge of the profession. This may be especially helpful for those who have graduated from university years ago. Taking such further studies refreshes a person’s knowledge and skills, thereby allowing them to be equally competitive in their field of work even as more persons enter it.

In Australia, participating in Dental CPD allows a practitioner to stay current and fresh with knowledge regarding the practice of dentistry. Whether the subject matter studied is part of the basics needed or is about the newest discovery pertaining to the profession, this may give the dental practitioner a greater confidence in his or her ability to provide quality oral health care, and thereby stay competitive in this chosen profession.

Karen McDonagh is a proud contributing author and write articles on several subjects including Online Dental Courses. To get more information please go to CPD for Australian Dentists .