Dental Continuing Education: Seminars Still Rule, But Online CE Is Catching Up

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Continuing dental education can happen in a lot of places, but local seminars are still dentists’ favorite educational resource.

However, online dental continuing education is picking up steam; about half of dentists say they use Internet CE.

So where do dentists get their dental continuing ed?

• 81% go to state or local dental CE seminars
• 47% use online continuing dental education
• 47% go to far-away seminars
• 47% enjoy vacation destination dental seminars
• 23% use print media such as magazines

"I go wherever I think that I can get good information," said a Tennessee dentist.

Save money – get local or online CE

• "I’m attending less and less far-away or vacation destination seminars and saving lots of money doing so. I’m finding that there a lot
  of excellent seminars within 50 miles of my practice here in Ohio. Why waste money on extensive and expensive travel for CE?" (Ohio
  prosthodontist)
• "There need to be more online, interactive classes that count the same as attending live classes." (Texas dentist)

Who’s sponsoring your education?

• "I don’t go to review-type courses or lectures who have interest or paid connections to sponsors."
• "So many current CE offerings are merely promotions of products sponsored by manufacturers. Where is the balanced, science-based,
  peer-reviewed education?" (Ohio dentist)

Favorite dental CE resources

• "By far the best value in clinical CE is LVI." (Texas dentist)
• "I get continuing dental education from Dental Schools and Dental Association or Society seminars." (California dentist)
• "Probably the best offerings are provided at ADA Annual Session." (Ohio dentist)

Note: Survey sample included 44 respondents.