It’s true that we all learn something new every day, but we often underestimate how much we can learn from ourselves. By evaluating your own clinical work, you can not only review situations in which you have excelled, but also identify aspects that you could do differently in the future. This type of self-reflection is also integrated within the enhanced CPD framework from the GDC. As such, it is important that clinicians are able to demonstrate how they assess their work, what they learn and how they apply this to their practice moving forward.

For anyone wanting to streamline or improve their own self-assessment, there will be opportunities at the British Dental Conference & Dentistry Show (BDCDS) 2023 this May to hear colleagues explore these topics and more. The two-day educational programme will include content for all members of the team, with presentations and demonstrations delivered by an array of world-class speakers and teachers.

Among them will be Dr Shriaz Khan, an award-winning dentist and renowned teacher in the fields of cosmetic and restorative dentistry. He graduated from the University of Birmingham Dental School in 2013 and now practises on Wimpole Street, London, as well as running various training courses for colleagues.

Shiraz will be speaking in the BAPD Private Dentistry Theatre at BDCDS, sharing his own experiences with self-assessment. He says:

“I will be covering aspects of self-improvement and optimisation of treatment outcomes within clinical practice. I will use a selection of cases to demonstrate where treatment has gone well, but also where treatment has been more of a learning experience with regards to improving outcomes for the future.

“This kind of thinking is relevant for all clinicians because we are always able to audit, evaluate and refine our own techniques throughout our careers. The long-term goal is to provide our patients with better care and we can only achieve this by constant professional learning.

“Some of the specific challenges that delegates may incur relate to documentation of their work. It’s important that clinicians have a framework that enables them to re-evaluate work, adequately improve themselves and then reassess how well any interventions or courses have improved their clinical practice.

“As part of the session, I will also discuss minimally invasive dentistry and how this is an important cornerstone for all restorative treatments. Though valuable to protect the natural tissue and help patients keep their teeth for longer, it does not mean that we can under-prepare or under-treat a patient. Finding the right balance is key.

“In this session, I will outline certain frameworks and investments that I have made during my career to be able to optimise my treatment outcomes with all this in mind. Furthermore, there will be a discussion about specific restorative problems that we may encounter on a day-to-day basis and how to get around these issues.”

In addition to 12 hours of enhanced CPD and various opportunities to engage with experts in their fields, BDCDS will also host an extensive trade exhibition with more than 400 dental manufacturers, suppliers and training providers on hand. Delegates can find out more about the different technologies and products mentioned in sessions, or simply research the latest materials on the market designed to enhance their dentistry. This will also be an excellent place to catch up with friends, make new connections and strengthen existing professional relationships with individuals and organisations across the sector.

Having attended the event in the past, Shiraz adds:

“My past experiences with BDCDS have always been good. I feel there is a wonderful array of speakers and industry support from the trade of dentistry, which always allows for a great combination of education and deals on the acquisition of instruments, materials or infrastructure for a dental practice. BDCDS has always been kind to me and was the place of my first national scale lecture back in 2016, so it holds a very high place in my heart.”

Delegate passes are completely free for dental professionals, making it ideal for the entire dental team to attend together. If you haven’t already, secure your place today!