When Baltimore Dental College opened in 1837 as the world’s first dental school, students spent three years in training. More than 180 years later — despite enormous advances in treatments, case complexity, and technology — earning a dental degree still takes just four years.
Yet the demands of modern dentistry are evolving faster than traditional training and continuing education models can keep pace. Simply put, it’s just too expensive to train procedural skills for dentists, and they graduate dental school having very little experience and, as a direct result, confidence.
Lack of effective training deepens America’s dental skills crisis, where many dentists feel underprepared both technically and in patient communication – essential skills needed to build trust and deliver an effective standard of care.
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Patients expect precision, as they should, and the techniques and resources used in dental education need to evolve. This includes implementing real-world examples of repetition and hands-on simulation teaching methods in early education, offering dentists the ability to practice clinical skills in a safe, risk-free environment. Giving dentists more hands-on training provides a platform for repeated practice, real-time feedback, and continuous improvement, helping prepare students with the confidence and consistency they need to succeed in patient care.
A massive learning curve
As a result of this skills gap, most dental school graduates have mastered only a small percentage of procedures when they enter the workforce – such as fillings, basic gum disease, and some crowns, and check-ups. However, general dentists need to expand their procedural capabilities to enhance patient care while also increasing the value they bring to their practice and business.
Not only should a dentist be able to confidently perform cases such as ceramic crowns, inlays, onlays, and a full restorative scope, but also more advanced procedures like soft tissue grafts, sinus lifts, and aligner orthodontics. Dental practices and groups can’t properly treat their patients and be profitable if they don’t have a supply of dentists who can do these advanced procedures well.
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Upskilling dentists into more complex work, such as implants and crowns, can increase their production for a practice.
Dentists need both the skills and the confidence to provide a high standard of care and also put patients at ease. If patients don’t have complete confidence in their dentist, they may not be willing to undergo a procedure.
Building confidence through repetition
Flying dentists to a conference or putting them in a classroom setting only provides limited value and knowledge, most of which they won’t retain long-term. We need to put students in an interactive learning environment where they can practice the same tricky maneuvers repeatedly, so that they develop the muscle memory needed for the real thing.
Simulated training offers dentists an environment to accurately replicate realistic clinical scenarios with remarkable accuracy. Using the same tools and ergonomics they would encounter in practice, they can more accurately mimic the tactile feel, resistance, and precision required in actual procedures. Beyond the technical skill-building, simulation also gives dentists the ability to refine a procedure until they are comfortable enough for a real clinical setting.
Through the technology offered by simulations, including on-demand, digital technology combined with a realistic mannequin, dentists can receive instant, objective feedback. Students learn through a more data-driven process, allowing them to refine treatment options, prioritize the best approach, and communicate effectively with the patient.
The pressures during a procedure can be daunting. Even experienced dentists face high expectations for precision, patient communication, and complex case management, making ongoing skill development critical. Patient expectations have drastically increased in modern dentistry, but with the use of simulation technology, dentists can further build their confidence before they treat patients.
Potential for the future of dental training
As dental procedures become more complex, we need to evolve our thinking about our dental skills crisis. With an aging population and far too many Americans living with oral health diseases, training and continuing education methods must make a leap forward.
The growing interest in Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a driver for change, pushing clinics to begin incorporating new technology and preparing dentists for the future. By using AI-based tools, dental practices can better understand and identify knowledge and skills gaps of associates and therefore, opportunities to upskill. As an example, a dental practice struggling financially may use an AI tool to analyze the competencies of their dentists and identify a lack of skills in orthodontics or implant surgery. They could invest in continuing education resources to upskill their team and increase the amount of advanced care they provide, not only driving better health outcomes for their patients, but securing more revenue.
AI developments have provided incredible momentum and positive impacts in diagnosis and practice optimization tools, however, it still comes down to a simple question: Can the dentist deliver the treatment that they, or even AI, know is needed? With advancements and a forward-thinking approach to training and education, the answer will soon be a resounding “yes.”
Looking ahead, through the collaboration of technologists and practitioners, dentistry can lead the way in the use of advanced, simulation-based training methods for the rest of healthcare to follow. We know change is coming; the more dental practices modernize their approaches to continuing education, the better equipped they will be to tackle complex challenges, adapt to emerging treatments, and deliver high-quality, patient-centered care in an increasingly technology-driven field.
Picture: Nastasic, Getty Images
Dr. Lincoln Harris, BDS, is a globally recognized general dentist and the CEO of RipeGlobal, with nearly 25 years of clinical experience in private practice, earning an international reputation for his multidisciplinary expertise and engaging teaching style. A highly sought-after speaker, Dr. Harris has shared his insights at conference stages worldwide for over two decades. In 2020, he co-founded RipeGlobal to accelerate dentist careers and elevate practice performance; he now leads the platform while managing a thriving practice and a team of over 80 dedicated professionals.
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