The 25 year long dental check up!
How long does it take to do a dental check up?
30 seconds?
2 minutes?
10 minutes?
An hour?
What if I told you that your check up is going to take 25 years?
25 years! Well that’s how long I’ve been practicing and training in dentistry and so every time I see a patient I apply the knowledge and skills I have developed over that time.
Ask yourself, what do you know now that you didn’t 25 years ago? What knowledge do you have about your career now that you didn’t 25 years ago? How much have you changed the style of work you do over the last 25 years because of things that you have learned?
I accept that I will never know everything there is to know about dentistry. There are so many different aspects to dentistry, so much research done in dentistry and then there is the constantly changing world of technology and materials that are used in dentistry. I will never know everything, but it won’t stop me trying to know everything!
That’s why I go on so many courses, to stay up to date with modern techniques, developments and research. On average I spend about 150 hours each year on courses, and then at least another 250 hours reading articles, journals and research on dental procedures.
That’s 400 hours a year, or over 10 weeks spent improving my knowledge so that I can produce the best dentistry possible, whether it’s a simple filling or a complex case involving braces, dental implants and crowns. It takes a lot of time for me to stay up to date but for me it is essential so that I can give my patients the best care possible.
So when you come and see us for “just a check up” try and remember that it’s not just about the time you spend in the chair, it’s about everything that has been done in the last 25 years that allows us to give you the best care and advice possible. And it’s only going to get better!
