What I wish I'd learned as an orthodontic trainee: an online survey of British Orthodontic Society members concerning postgraduate training experiences.

Graham R Oliver,Padhraig S Fleming,Christopher D Lynch

doi:10.1177/1465312520904367

Abstract

Objective:To survey the opinion of recently qualified and established orthodontists on the perceived value of their training and to identify specific areas which which were considered to be deficient, adequately covered or focussed on excessively.Design:Descriptive cross-sectional surveySetting:Online electronic questionnaire.Participants:Members of the British Orthodontic Society (BOS).Methods:An electronic questionnaire was circulated to members of the BOS focusing on dental education history, and opinions concerning orthodontic teaching generally and specific clinical and non-clinical subjects. Information was also obtained in terms of possible need for improvement, modification or removal of teaching on focused academic and clinical aspects.Results:A total of 217 responses were received from 1080 emailed invitations resulting in a response rate of 20.1%. Respondents were generally satisfied with their training both in relation to theoretical, academic and practical aspects. However, training was regarded as deficient by some respondents in respect of temporary anchorage devices (38%), bonded retainers (6%), experience with lingual appliances (47%), removable aligners (44%), inter-proximal reduction (24%) and adult orthodontics (16%), working with therapists (32%), and NHS contracts (47%) and commissioning (47%).Conclusion:The overall satisfaction of BOS members with postgraduate orthodontic training is generally high, although both recently qualified and established practitioners emphasised the need for better exposure to training in specific practical aspects and practice management within the NHS.

Highlights

Training in orthodontics dates from the infancy of the specialty led by Edward H Angle who founded the Angle School of Orthodontia in St Louis, Missouri
Respondents were generally satisfied with their training both in relation to theoretical, academic and practical aspects
The overall satisfaction of British Orthodontic Society (BOS) members with postgraduate orthodontic training is generally high, both recently qualified and established practitioners emphasised the need for better exposure to training in specific practical aspects and practice management within the NHS

Summary

Introduction

Training in orthodontics dates from the infancy of the specialty led by Edward H Angle who founded the Angle School of Orthodontia in St Louis, Missouri. Orthodontic training involves a three-year university-based training programme requiring completion of a level 7 or 8 degree (Master’s degree or Professional Doctorate, respectively). The latest curriculum was published in 2010 being geared at providing trainees with ‘the appropriate knowledge, attitudes and skills of a Specialist Orthodontist’ (The Joint Committee for Postgraduate Training in Dentistry and The Specialty Advisory Committee in Orthodontics, 2010). Orthodontic training programmes are designed to reflect patterns of care with most training programmes focusing on treatment with fixed appliances (O’Brien and Spencer, 2015). Orthodontic systems continue to develop with a range of variants including removable aligner and lingual systems taking an increasing market share; these treatments are not typically offered within the NHS

Methods

Results

Conclusion