Dental Amalgam
Historically, dental amalgam is the world’s most commonly used restorative material. Its use is declining due to patient and professional demand for tooth-coloured restorations that are adhesive and promote minimally invasive tooth preparation techniques.
Significant reduction has also resulted from environmental concerns relating to dental amalgam’s ~50% mercury content. This course provides a comprehensive review of the status of dental amalgam including its advantages and disadvantages, amalgam safety, regulations and legislation and a comparison with alternative restorative materials.
Amalgam remains an excellent restorative material for long-lasting restorations in large/complex cavities and where moisture control presents challenges.
Participant Feedback Review: "Dental Amalgam" CPD Course by Dentaljuce
Overview
Participants provided strongly positive feedback for the "Dental Amalgam" CPD module from Dentaljuce, appreciating its concise delivery, practical insights, and comprehensive coverage. The course was praised for effectively enhancing both clinical knowledge and practical skills related to dental amalgam.
Key Strengths
Participants particularly highlighted:
Clear and Concise Content: Learners valued the course's clear, structured presentation, describing it as "concise and informative," "excellent concise module," and "well-structured."
Practical and Relevant Insights: Feedback emphasised the practical relevance of the module to daily dental practice, noting the importance of evidence-based treatment approaches and practical application tips. One participant remarked on the "excellent academic and clinical revision of dental amalgam."
Balanced and Comprehensive Approach: Participants commended the balanced and comprehensive coverage of the topic, particularly appreciating the detailed exploration of indications for and against amalgam use. Comments highlighted it as providing "valuable information" and "a balanced view of the current state of play in the UK."
Specific Positive Comments
- "Excellent reminder of the benefits of dental amalgam as a restorative material."
- "Great course, after many years a refresher in amalgam and its place in dentistry was much needed."
- "Very interesting and useful information."
- "Very helpful—learnt so many updated things from these activities."
- "Well thought out and valuable information presented engagingly."
Areas for Improvement
A minor suggestion from feedback indicated:
- The inclusion of additional practical scenario-based questions to help reinforce clinical decision-making and knowledge retention.
Closed-Question Feedback Summary
- Met Learning Objectives: 96.8% strongly agree/agree
- Good Quality: 96.8% strongly agree/agree
- Useful & Relevant: 96.8% strongly agree/agree
- Engaging: 96.7% strongly agree/agree
- Appropriately Pitched Level: 96.7% strongly agree/agree
Conclusion
The "Dental Amalgam" course from Dentaljuce is highly recommended by participants, valued particularly for its clear, concise, and practically applicable content. It successfully updates dental professionals on current best practices related to dental amalgam, significantly improving their clinical competence and confidence.
Aim
The aim of the learning and teaching materials in this Dentaljuce module is to allow learners to develop their professional knowledge, understanding and competence in direct restorative dentistry using dental amalgam, in line with their identified personal learning requirements.
Course objective
- to demonstrate the indications for and against, and use of, dental amalgam.
Anticipated learning outcomes:
The learner will, with respect to the components that he or she has elected to study as listed below:- learn the indications for and against operatively treating carious and non-carious lesions with dental amalgam.
- appreciate and apply the minimal intervention philosophy regarding the management of dental disease with amalgam.
- learn the best techniques for placing and shaping amalgam restorations.
- through achieving these outcomes, provide an improved level of service to their patients.
GDC Development Outcomes
This CPD will support the learner in meeting the following GDC Development Outcome(s): C.