As a dental professional, you’ve got some skills under your belt. But maybe you’re feeling shaky when it comes to performing endo and want to polish up some of those skills you learned. Or maybe you’re a recent grad and you’re considering a specialization and endodontics is a top contender. Or maybe you’re a super compassionate provider and you want to make sure you can get patients out of pain ASAP. Regardless of the scenario, you may be asking yourself: “Am I a good candidate for some extra endodontic training?” Let’s talk through what it takes and if you might be ready to step up.
Endodontist Training Basics: E-School and Beyond
Training to become an endodontist can take several different forms.
For example, when I graduated from dental school, my journey didn’t end there. I worked for a little while as a general dentist, then I went on to complete an endodontic residency of two years to complete my endo specialty. And to be honest, I’ve never stopped learning. I regularly improve my skills with specialized training on new technologies and techniques. Being a healthcare provider means that my education never ends—which is something I love about being an endodontist.
If you’re a general dentist who isn’t looking to become an endodontist, but you want to be more effective with endo, there are other options for additional training including my own course, E-School: Everyday Endo Made Easy. I designed this course specifically for practicing dentists who want to up their endo confidence and keep more procedures in-office, reduce chair time, and increase that bottom line while providing more comprehensive care to their patients. E-School Independent is online and self-guided, but I also developed an E-School with Coaching option after many requests to get my personal eyes on dentists’ cases. I’ve even created E-School LIVE, where dentists come to my practice in North Carolina for 4 days of hands-on, small group instruction and practice.
None of these CE courses require you to be an endodontist, or even an aspiring one. They just require you to have a DDS and want to be more confident in endo. After all, you never know when you’re going to get that late Friday afternoon emergency case when your specialist is already closed for the weekend!
Who Makes for a Great Prospective Endodontist?
After more than a decade in the game, I can attest that there are some qualities and skills that go hand-in-hand with doing great root canals.
While it’s important to have a steady hand and a good eye, there are other, just as important traits that make for a good endodontist, and mark a dentist as a great candidate for additional endodontic training.
I believe that, in order to succeed at anything, you have to have a passion for it. I certainly consider doing endo and saving teeth to be one of my life’s great passions. And you need passion to sustain you through the period it takes to learn.
But in order to truly excel in endodontics it’s about more than endo skills. It’s about soft skills, too. You should be able to put your patients at ease during a root canal. You should possess an ability to clearly communicate your diagnosis to your patient and walk them through their options. Plus, you need to have an eye for detail, an ability to problem solve, and be a beast at getting people numb!
(Feel like you don’t have all those skills just yet? I can help you in E-School, just saying!)
The Power of Education
If you’ve got the passion and the dental background, some extra endodontic training is a great option if you want to expand your knowledge, as well as the possibilities of your practice.
Naturally, there are re-certifications and licensing that play a crucial role throughout most of our careers, as well as required CE credits. But apart from the mandatory learning, I find that ongoing education helps me provide better healthcare for my patients, and continue to stay inspired as a practitioner.
When we are engaged, well-educated clinicians, we are able to more accurately diagnose the patients that trust us with their care. When we ensure better outcomes for them, we ensure their ongoing dental health—as well as earn great reviews, referrals, and lots of return patients.
Through additional endodontic training, you can learn both the basics of root canal therapy, as well as new advances in technology and other relevant information. Plus, trainings like E-School provide a chance to connect with your peers—folks who understand where you’re coming from, can commiserate, and celebrate your victories. That’s huge.
Learn with Me in E-School
E-School is my life’s work.
I love learning, but I love teaching just as much. In this course, I’ve distilled more than a decade of knowledge into a course that helps dentists do the life-changing work of expanding their practical skills, earning more cash, reducing chair time, improving their clinical outcomes, and becoming confident when it comes to root canals.
Interested in finding out more and learning the skills you need to become a confident, more effective, and better-paid clinician? Check out E-School: Everyday Endo Made Easy here.
– Sonia