The Dental Council of Thailand (DCT) has urged dentists to take the dental continuing education (CE) programme to improve their knowledge, for the sake of patients.
Thongchai Wachirarojpaisarn, the DCT's second vice-president, said yesterday the council wants both dentists who have years of experience under their belt, as well as new students of dentistry, to take the CE programme.
Dentistry is ever-changing, driven by new technologies and consumer behaviour, he noted.
By taking the CE course, dentists can review and enhance their basic dental knowledge and keep abreast of the latest developments in dentistry, Mr Thongchai said.
The knowledge they gain from the CE programme will help them provide quality dental care and services, he added.
The DCT will hold a seminar on Thursday at Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Dentistry to discuss how the council can help dentists expand their knowledge and competence in dentistry, he said.
Earlier, six similar seminars were held in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Songkhla, Phitsanulok, Chon Buri and Khon Kaen in which participants including specialists and dental students shared their ideas on what the CE programme should be like, Mr Thongchai said.
Ideas and comments from participants in seminars will be used as a reference in establishing requirements for the dental CE course, he added.
Many participants preferred online self-taught learning. Some wanted to learn by attending academic forums, while others wanted to learn by writing academic journals for publication, he said.
The DCT plans to issue regulations requiring dentists to take the CE course and renew their permits every five years. But the requirements have been opposed by some dentists.
Mr Thongchai said the regulations which the DCT plans to issue would be similar to the Pharmacy Council of Thailand (PCT)'s requirements.
The PCT issued regulations on Jan 12 requiring pharmacists to take a CE course, he said.
Pharmacists who fail to meet the course's requirements must take a break from their work, Mr Thongchai said, adding they would not have their permits revoked.