Next month’s British Women’s Society of Implant Dentistry conference is set to inspire, empower and support female clinicians in the field of restorative implant dentistry
The BWSID Conference 2019 – Embracing Implant Dentistry: Making it part of your everyday practice – takes place on 8 June at The Academy, 45 Wimpole Street, London.
For more information, visit www.bwsid.co.uk
Encouragement and engagement
Dental implants are an integral part of modern dentistry. However, despite the General Dental Council reporting that 49% of dentists registered are female, research shows female dentists are currently far less likely to place or restore dental implants than their male colleagues.
With the aim of increasing the number of women placing and restoring implants, the British Women’s Society of Implant Dentistry (BWSID) has announced its theme for next month’s conference.
Taking place at The Academy at 45 Wimpole Street in London on Saturday 8 June, Embracing Implant Dentistry: Making it part of your everyday practice is a conference for anyone wishing to learn more and enhance the scope of their practice.
Dr Susan Tanner, founder of the BWSID, said: ‘As a regular lecturer in implant dentistry, I was sad to see the dearth of women on the lecture circuit as role models, and also the small proportion of women attending implant conferences.
‘There is also such an emphasis on surgery and complications, and the implant companies concentrate on implant sales to surgeons. There has been little opportunity for those without surgical experience, or who don’t want to take on surgical responsibilities, to engage with implant dentistry.
‘We saw an opening to encourage female clinicians to learn to restore dental implants in their practices, working together with a surgeon for the benefit of the patient.’
And so, the conference was born.
This year’s conference will bring together renowned speakers, including Catherine Drysdale, Jacqueline Brown, Linda Greenwall and Verena Toedtling, to discuss topics such as surgical fundamentals prior to implant placement, limitations of conventional treatments and colour considerations.
A trade exhibition will also be available, along with hands-on workshops, networking opportunities and six hours of ECPD.
Inspire and support
The BWSID aims to bring women at the start of their implant journey together to create tight-knit, inspiring support groups that allow women to flourish and encourage them to use their skills in everyday practice.
‘With the BWSID, we hope to make changes to the mindset of female clinicians, presenting many ways one can be involved with implant dentistry – from the simple, well-planned single posterior restoration to the complex case,’ said Dr Tanner.
‘Most importantly, we want to find those experienced female clinicians and help them lead local BWSID groups. By putting female dentists on teaching platforms provides role models, which is a crucial step in encouraging the younger generation to follow in their footsteps.’
