If you’ve never heard about Dentaltown, it is a great resource for dentists. Dentaltown is an online dental community that includes articles and message boards. Essentially, it is SDN for dental practitioners. Even as a dental student you can register and take part in the message board discussions. I think this is important as you progress through dental school to see what general dentists, as well as specialists, are doing in their practice. Not only can you pick up the great tips about practicing dentistry, whether that includes basic extractions or restoring implants, but you can also learn about many different subjects related to oral surgery. An example of current oral surgery threads include discussions about taking call in private practice, dental pathology, and extraction techniques. There is a ton of private practice information in these threads. You can gain insight into picking up more referrals as there are many discussions general dentists have about who they refer to and why.
Overall, I think it is important to be aware of as you progress through your oral surgery journey that you just keep a level head and understand what’s going on in the field of dentistry. I think one of the worst things that happen to surgeons, even if it’s just a perception, is that oral surgeons are out of touch with the dental community. We should always remember that we are dental surgeons, not just surgeons. I think by at least watching message boards or even taking part, it can help keep you grounded. Additionally, you want to know the current pulse of the dental community. Many times, I’ve learned about things happening that I would not learned about until way down the road. All in all, this resource is a great way to stay informed.
As mentioned earlier, as a dental student you can register on Dentaltown. All it requires is your current school and the typical registration information. The forums are geared towards healthcare providers, but there still are some businesses that take part in the discussion. The forums are moderated fairly well to keep it from being too ad-oriented or self-promoting. The best thing is that it’s free, so at least it’s worth trying it out to see if you like it. You can also subscribe to threads just like any other forum. A great place to start would be to follow “toofache32.” He is an oral surgeon in Texas, and he has great insight into many different oral surgery topics. If you really want to get fired up about insurance companies, check out his thread on the subject.
One of the other great perks about Dentaltown is the magazine. This also comes free in an either printed or online version. Although you may not be interested in the latest composite or curing light, they will cover some things such as the newest equipment including those that are implant or surgery related. The information is also generalizable with topics concerning practice management strategies and conversations regarding personal finance. Other important topics covered include politics regarding dentistry.
One thing that is also prudent to be knowledgeable about what other practitioners are doing. As more and more “super” general dentists move into implants and 3rd molar extractions, it is important to be aware of how that can affect your future practice. If practice management information also intrigues you, Dental Economics is another magazine to look into. It is free for dental students as well. With this information, I wanted to provide you with more resources as you think about your future and where you’re going. I think these resources are extremely valuable in their own right and wanted to give credit where is due. It is a great way to stay connected in the dental world and learn some tricks for yourself. If there are any other great resources such as these, please comment below!
Disclaimer: I have not received any form of compensation for the above article. The above resources are for your information only, and this article is not to be considered an endorsement of individual articles, comments, or media provided within the resources mentioned.