Educational benefits of Showcase to the dental team
Some people have the wrong idea about Showcase. They see it merely as a chance to meet up with old friends over a pint, look at the latest gizmos and pick up as many free samples as possible. That may have been the case some years ago and there is an element of sociability about any gathering of dental professionals, but Showcase is more than a good day out.
Increasingly first and foremost it is an educational event – and not just for dentists but for the whole dental team. By this year’s Showcase at Excel London in October, dental care professionals, hygienists, nurses, technicians and therapists will have to be registered and will be required to undertake Continuing Professional Development (CPD). A day, or more, at spent at Showcase can be a valuable part of anyone’s CPD programme.
Showcase has a large range of stands covering every aspect of professional life, ranging from the traditional equipment, instruments and materials to financial advice, practice management, IT and postgraduate education. Exhibitors at Showcase realise that it is no longer enough just to sell their products or services, but must be able to explain what they do and give the results of research they have carried out or commissioned.
Visiting Showcase can be truly a educational experience. Two examples of the core subjects needed for CPD are disinfection and decontamination (at least 5 hours per CPD cycle) as well as radiography and radiation protection (at least 5 hours per CPD cycle). These are subjects that involve not only dentists but all other members of the dental team.
They are also subjects where there have been considerable developments in recent years, with new guidance due on cross infection control on the one hand and digital radiography on the other. Showcase gives the dental team an opportunity to learn about such developments, as well as looking into whether their equipment and procedures need updating.A recent letter from the General Dental Council (GDC) to all registrants cast some doubt on whether it was appropriate to class attendance at tradeshows, including Showcase, as verifiable CPD. There appears to be no doubt in their minds that it can be recorded as general CPD. Verifiable CPD activities must have concise educational aims and objectives, clear anticipated outcomes, quality controls (with the opportunity to give feedback) and documentary proof of an individual’s participation.
A structured visit to Showcase could well satisfy all four of these requirements, in much the same way as attendance at a postgraduate meeting; but there is no automatic assumption that it does. There is a wealth of expertise into which to tap to gain the educational benefits of attendance. Dentistry is developing constantly with new products, new techniques and, it has to be said, new government regulations.
All the exhibitors at Showcase want to keep you up to date with these developments. But what must not be forgotten is that the educational benefits of attending Showcase are not just for the dental team members’ benefit, important though that is, but to help you to improve the service you give to your patients.
Register now for your ticket to this year’s BDTA Dental Showcase. Click here, telephone: 01494 729959 or text your name, address, occupation and GDC number to 07786 206276. Advance registration closes 26 September 2008, on the day registration £10 per person.Return to News menu