Product Evaluation

DENTAL LEARNING

Single-Patient-Use vs. Multiple-Patient-Use Dental Burs Course Evaluation

Convenient online CE course discusses the pros and cons of single-patient-use versus multiple-patient-use dental burs

Due to limitations from the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, in-person continuing education (CE) courses are not always readily available. And even when they are, dental professionals may not feel comfortable traveling, being surrounded by a large group, or abandoning their clinical duties for a day or two. So, how do you meet your yearly CE requirements if you are unable to attend CE courses? The solution is simple: online CE course offerings, which many clinicians are turning to as a safe, convenient, and efficient method of learning.

Recognized by the ADA and AGD, Dental Learning is a CE provider that offers myriad courses and articles in several different formats on a variety of hot topics in dentistry. From digital imaging to restorative dentistry to ethics and law, Dental Learning’s database is loaded with dental articles, videos, courses, and webinars.

One of Dental Learning’s course offerings, Single-Patient-Use vs. Multiple-Patient-Use Dental Burs, is especially timely given the pandemic and the renewed focus on infection control and preventing cross-contamination in dental practices. DPS reached out to dental professionals who took this CE course looking for feedback on the convenience of the online course format, the quality of the content, and the overall experience of taking a Dental Learning course.

Convenience of Online Course Format

Dental Learning offers Single-Patient-Use vs. Multiple-Patient-Use Dental Burs as a web-based CE course that consists of a 9-page article with images and a 30-question quiz that each participant must pass with a score of 70% in order to obtain 2 CE credits. After registering for the course on Dental Learning’s website, participants read the course content on their own time, on their favorite electronic device, and at a location that’s convenient for them.

“While offsite CE courses are difficult to attend, this online CE course was easy to access and was very informative,” stated Mark Herzog, DDS, one of several participants who rated the course’s online convenience as excellent. Dr. Joseph Bailey said it was an “easy read with a quick CE quiz,” and another dentist commented, “It was free, quick, and efficient.” Dr. Sam Chui said he appreciated receiving an email and an access code promoting the course, as he would not have known about it otherwise.

Course Content

As noted in the course title, Single-Patient-Use vs. Multiple-Patient-Use Dental Burs, this article discusses the pros and cons of using single-use and multi-use burs in a dental practice. Readers also learn the history of dental burs and handpieces and how to analyze the cost, efficiency, and infection control of dental burs. Authored by New York dentist Keith Cyrus Keller, DMD, the course gives clinicians the knowledge and tools to make informed decisions about which dental burs should be used in their own practices.

Hoping to learn more about the efficiency and efficacy of bur usage, Dr. Chui said the course met his expectations and confirmed his existing belief that single-patient-use burs are preferred or recommended. He liked the depth of content and said he would recommend this course to others because “it’s good content with no bias and a good broad range of topics.” Calling the course “simple and non-complicated,” Dr. Herzog said the content discussed the value of single-use burs and supported what he has seen clinically. Another participant concluded, “I will be using single-use burs more often.”

“I enjoyed the course and the ease of the material,” said Dr. David Harris, adding, “I got what I needed out of the course, and my head was not pounding. I like courses I can relate to and feel like I could speak to the instructor easily if I were there. Thank you for offering the course.”

Knowledge Applied to Clinical Practice

Hoping to gain enough knowledge to decide if her practice should adopt single-patient-use or multiple-patient-use burs, Alison Sweeney, a practice manager from Pennsylvania, took the course and determined, “It gave me the information I needed to decide if single-use makes sense for our practice.” Dr. Harris said the content confirmed his belief that single-use burs are best for the patient, and several participants confirmed that they will be switching to single-patient-use burs after learning the pros and cons of both options.

"The course gave me the information I needed to decide if single-use makes sense for our practice."
-Alison Sweeney, Practice Manager
Media, PA

Overall Satisfaction

Most of the dental professionals who participated in this Dental Learning activity said they would recommend the CE course to others and would take another Dental Learning course in the future. Noting that the content was useful and refreshed his ideas on burs, Dr. Bailey, who rated his overall satisfaction as excellent, concluded that the course was an easy way to get 2 free CE credits.

Takeaways

• Online CE course offerings are a safe, convenient, and efficient method of learning
• Article discusses pros and cons of single-use versus multiple-use dental burs
• Content was unbiased and covered a broad range of topics
• Participants earn 2 CE credits after reading the content and passing a quiz with a score of 70% or better
• Dental Learning is an ADA CERP Recognized Provider of dental CE courses and articles