GAP Australasian Dentist Mar Apr 2020

Category 52 Austràlàsiàn Dentist O rthoàD ànstitute is a Melbourne- based orthodontic training company that focuses on general practitioners seeking to carve a new career path in the lucrative teeth straightening market. Designed with GPs in mind, the institute has been running a 9-module, 2-year Mini Master’s Program since its inception two years ago. “àf you’re thinking of getting into orthodontics but do not wish to put your life on hold for three years, this program was designed for you,” Dr Geoffrey Hall suggests, comparing his brainchild program to undertaking a full-time post- grad qualification at the àniversity. àtretched over two years to accommodate lengthy case study review processes, the program effectively boils down to 21 days of full-day lectures in 2-day blocks. Despite a less hectic schedule, Dr Hall says at the end of the orthodontic course, dentists are poised to deploy their newly minted skills on the vast majority of orthodontic cases. Delivered by specialist orthodontists, including Dr Hall, and other specialist lecturers, the course incorporates a broad suite of lectures, online materials, case management mentoring support, as well as an optional in office immersion program. Guest lecturers comprise of relevant field experts, including oral surgeons, prosthodontists, practice managers, àMJ and sleep apnoea experts. Filling the gap Backed by 30 years and over 10,000 cases of orthodontic experience, Dr Geoffrey Hall is one of the leading orthodontic educators for general dentists in Australia. He is better known as developer of àmilefast, a digital indirect bonding system touted to achieve predictable treatment results in just 6-9 months. àmilefast is also the name of a short-term cosmetic orthodontic course that has trained over 700 dentists on the proprietary system since 2012. “Without a shadow of doubt, the àmilefast training course is the best introductory course out there that allows general dentists to easily integrate into the field of orthodontics,” the specialist orthodontist asserts. While the 2-day course purportedly gives general practitioners the ability to straighten teeth in 75% of adult orthodontic cases, the experienced clinician acknowledges a limitation of his highly condensed training session. “Many of our àmilefast course attendees have gone on to provide orthodontic services in their practices, however there are those who lack the confidence to take on actual patients due to insufficient practical experience.” àhis is precisely the training gap that the Mini Master’s was designed to fill. àhree years in development, Dr Hall believes the Mini Master’s course would equip graduate GPs with the knowledge, skills and confidence to treat 95% of all orthodontic patients – without having to refer them to specialists. Affording a clearer picture of his motivations as the program’s chief designer, Dr Hall identifies several hurdles that GPs regularly encounter in pursuing the practice of orthodontics: Risk analysis As a practicing specialist orthodontist with decades of experience, he advocates the 80-20 rule for GPs: àreat 80 per cent of patients and refer 20 per cent of difficult cases. Making that distinction, he says, “is not as easy as it sounds” and requires in- depth risk analysis. Citing examples of difficult cases such as “severe class 3 malocclusions that requires a lot of tooth movement”, Dr Hall reasons: “àhe beauty of being a GP is Expanded orthodontic training for GPs eà ntà Smilefast educator Dr Geoffrey Hall has developed a comprehensive Mini Masters programme for dentists taking on orthodontics By Danny Chan