In recent years, the orthodontic sector has been growing rapidly due to success in B2C marketing and companies like Invisalign reaching the consumer, but there has also been a lack of knowledge sharing among general dental practitioners and specialists.
General dentists require mentorship and guidance from orthodontists to feel confident in providing orthodontic treatment to their patients, ultimately improving the quality of care in the community.
Dr Geoffrey Hall’s passion for orthodontics has led him to become an international lecturer and form the OrthoED Institute to educate others. Dr. Geoffrey Hall emphasises the importance of continuous learning in the field of orthodontics, highlighting his own journey of pursuing orthodontic training at the University of Pennsylvania and ongoing commitment to staying updated in the field.
Dr Halls says, “Specialists should mentor their colleagues in Orthodontics, including general dentists, to help them gain confidence and provide better orthodontic care to their patients, especially in areas where specialists are not readily available.”
Dr Hall sees general dentists being able to perform up to 70% of orthodontic treatments, highlighting the need for them to have the knowledge and skills to meet patient demand. This is a significant opportunity when considering the majority of the consumer public trust their dental professional.
In this interview with Australian Health Journal, Dr Hall talks about his passion for teaching having started various study clubs to improve knowledge in orthodontics and general dentistry.
Dr Hall talks about imparting knowledge and educating peers. He sees the value of continuous learning and sharing information within the orthodontic community.
Based on this philosophy and having commenced 5 years ago, the OrthoED Institute offers both face-to-face and live-streamed orthodontic training programs, providing mentoring, support, and hands-on experience to participants regardless of their location or circumstances.
The OrthoED Institute aims to teach general dentists sound orthodontic principles to give them the knowledge and confidence to treat patients with conventional orthodontics, including fixed appliances, early treatment, and aligner therapy.
To illustrate the success in the sector, the OrthoED Institute received the Australian Dental Industry Award, or ADIA, for the best emerging manufacturer or service provider in the dental industry. The recognition continues to motivate Dr Hall to improve the Institute’s courses and services for dentists in Australia and New Zealand.
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Enriching experiences in nursing mentorship
Mentoring in nursing is crucial for the development of nurses and the advancement of the nursing profession. It provides a supportive environment for personal and professional growth, knowledge transfer, and leadership development.
Australian Health Journal met with two nurses both working in Queensland, one the mentor, the other, the mentee. Both get to appreciate the experiences mentorship gives them.
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FULL FEATURE Consumers and communities as agents of health care change and improvement
Policymakers, health administrators and clinicians must learn and embrace new ways to harness the transformative role consumers, community members and carers can play. Conversely, consumers and communities need support, capability and capacity to engage as equals in policy, research, program and service design. This is necessary if are to be less technocratic and realise the vision where all members of society can live the best life possible.
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Enhancing occupational therapy service provision with military veterans
Almost half a million Australians have served with the Australian Defence Force. Given the high prevalence of physical and mental health conditions and complexity of civilian life adjustment after military service, high-quality occupational therapy services are critical. However, there is limited description of occupational therapy service provision to individuals funded by the Australian Department of Veterans’ Affairs to inform government policy.
A cross-sectional study, led by Professor Carol McKinstry, Professor of Occupational Therapy and Deputy Dean with La Trobe University’s Rural Health School at the Bendigo campus has used an online survey to collect information from occupational therapists providing services to Department of Veterans’ Affairs clients.
