Irina Beleva explains how she was able to achieve an MSc with simplyendo®
Jon Hope works in three practices across Plymouth in the South West of England, two of which are focused on endodontics with the third being general practice.
He also teaches undergraduate endodontics at the Peninsula Dental School and here he tells us more about how simplyendo® has helped his career.
Why did I choose simplyendo®?
Most of my colleagues don’t enjoy endodontics and I understand why; it’s time consuming, fiddly and the outcome is never guaranteed but it’s something that I have come to really enjoy and wanted to explore further.
I never rush into things so carried out extensive research into various Endodontic MSc courses across the UK and simplyendo® really stood out from the others.
Having a good balance of work and study was essential for me and simplyendo® had the best by far which is what made me enquire to begin with.
The team answered all of my questions and it quickly became obvious that they have a true passion for their course and their method of teaching.
Training that transfers into the real world.
As I mentioned, finding a course that allowed me to study without losing many working hours was imperative for me. I was able to work almost full time in practice whilst studying for my MSc, which was a huge advantage.
There is plenty of hands-on experience as well as theory on the programme and the tutors all have a wealth of knowledge and experience. They’re also extremely approachable and even now, 4 years on, I can still rely on them for guidance if I have a particularly tricky case.
It’s safe to say that without simplyendo® my job would be completely different to how it actually is. I spend most of my week either teaching or working on a variety of different endodontic cases on referral.
The skills gained from the course really do transfer to real world scenarios and gave me the confidence and ability to carry out the more complicated side of root canal treatment.
Jaswinder Bardha shares how his experience with simplyendo® allowed him to achieve the results he wanted.
"I found simplyendo during an internet search in which I wanted to improve my root canal skills with the aim of achieving more predictable results.
Although I initially chose simplyendo for the ease of travel and cost, I found that they really did make things simple!
The whole process of the enrolment procedure and administration side of things was great without any hiccups from start to finish.
The course itself, I found was particularly well planned – we had morning theory sessions, followed by afternoon practical sessions which I found both complimented each other well and allowed you to enjoy both sessions.
My journey from start to finish with simplyendo® was perfect. The course offered everything I wanted to achieve. It allowed me to get more in terms of theoretical knowledge and practical exercises. The tutors were great as they made a complicated subject easier to understand and broke procedures into bite sized chunks which allowed difficult concepts to be easily understood.
Upon completion of my MSc at simplyendo®, I went on to become a Level 2 Performer of Complex Care (Endodontics). The application process is very detailed and requires lots of various types of evidence to show that I have completed 9-10 cases of various complexities. In addition to this, Mike Horrocks also wrote a very detailed reference that outlined my journey form the 10 day programme to the dissertation module.
The Level 2 programme has increased the level of referrals that I see both from both within my own practice and from neighbouring practices. It has provided me with a lot of confidence knowing that my application was peer reviewed and approved, also knowing that I have attained a certain level of competence. It allows me to develop my experience and knowledge, which I can share with others whilst providing a good level of care that is consistent.
I continue to recommend the simplyendo® course to others with my overall experience being very high and allowed me to achieve the results I was hoping for."
I can’t say why I’ve always been drawn to endodontics, apart from the fact that I do love a challenge and studying with simplyendo® has given me the knowledge I need to deliver an outstanding service to more patients than I thought possible.
It doesn’t matter how much you plan, there’ll always be something that occurs which will derail your journey and it’s safe to say that’s been the case over the last couple of years.
I was working in general dentistry and was busy making plans to move from my home in York down to London to study for an MClinDent in endodontics at King’s College…and then the pandemic hit.
No-one could have predicted the chaos we would be thrown into and all my plans came to a halt. I had various other things going on at the time and they all came to a head and resulted in me needing to find an alternative route to study this specialist practice.
As we all do, I jumped onto Google and during my research I discovered simplyendo®. Looking through their website, I discovered this was exactly what I was looking for and the travel down to Formby wouldn’t be too bad (once we were allowed to travel).
They have some amazing testimonials from dentists across the country.
I was really impressed with the whole structure of simplyendo® and right from the beginning I was made to feel welcome. The booking and onboarding processes were highly organised and the people really friendly and knowledgeable…and this has continued through my time studying with them.
One of the best things about simplyendo® is that you get plenty of hands-on experience. Endo work is complicated, fiddly and time consuming and there’s no better way of learning than rolling up your sleeves and getting stuck in.
Sadly many courses across the UK don’t offer such a great mix of study days and hands-on training which was another reason I chose simplyendo®.
I signed up for the programme during the pandemic so my training was restricted to online at the beginning, but the tutors managed to deliver their sessions in an engaging way which I was really impressed with.
They all have their own, unique way of teaching but every single one is personable, highly skilled and experienced and I was delighted to get to their college in Formby as soon as restrictions were lifted.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s hard work and you have to commit a lot of time to get the assignments done, but it’s 100% worth it to get the qualification at the end.
I have my exams next month which I’m nervous about, but I know I’ve been trained by the best and I’ve already put my application in to complete my final year.
Before I joined simplyendo®, I was only carrying out general dentistry but since I began this next stage of my career I have found myself working across 3 practices, only doing 1 day of general dentistry with the rest being purely endodontic.
I’m looking forward to completing my studies and excelling in the field of endodontics and, if it’s something that you have a passion for, then I can, do, and will continue to recommend the simplyendo® programmes.
Irina Beleva explains how she was able to achieve an MSc with simplyendo®
Five years ago, I was working as a DwSI Aesthetic and Restorative dentistry in one dental practice, based in West Midlands. The idea of doing endodontic treatments is something I hated. Thankfully I had a reliable colleague to whom I referred patients constantly. However, it really bothered me why I couldn’t treat root canals with such ease! I was also in the predicament where some patients just didn’t want to see another dentist, once they had put their trust in me. I thought, having a special interest in restorative dentistry, I was expected to be able to do root canal treatments too. It may sound basic, not too complex, and yet this caused a headache for me! Therefore, I decided that this endo-anxiety should stop. And I started looking for the right course for me. The first person I asked for an opinion and help from was the endodontist we used to refer our patients to - he recommended simplyendo’s 10-day course as a good basis.
I was actually excited about undertaking the course, despite having one concern undertaking the course, and that was that I was afraid to see how much I may not actually know about endodontics! But that’s a common thing about every new endeavour.
“You don’t know how much you don’t know, until you know it.”
I believe that making sure you are not staying still, and that you keep learning during your career, actually makes you better in your profession.
I knew that simplyendo offered part-time courses, which made it much easier to adjust my schedule. I was able to attend all of the face-to-face lectures and practical sessions, and I enjoyed every single bit of it.
The practical sessions were fantastic, I got my hands on more or less every single endodontic file available on the UK dental market. This was an eye-opening experience for me, to see which file system works best in my hands, how it is working, which ones I enjoy, and which I just don’t like the feel of …which file gives me safety in curved canals, which is a good all-rounder and which, for example, is the fastest and simplest system.
There were a few things made me chose simplyendo. Firstly, it was the recommendation from my colleague. And secondly, it was the friendly simplyendo admin team - Julie and Louise, they were both great, patient, friendly and super helpful. They went through all of the course options- available days, payment options, opportunities for progression into PG Certificate, PG Diploma and even MSc. I laughed at the time when they told me about the MSc, thinking to myself “yeah, right! I don’t love root canals that much to write a dissertation about them”. Well, look at me now – with an MSc!
Initially, I did the 10-day program. I met so many nice people, intelligent and respectful colleagues from all parts of the UK (even from Ireland, later on), so I decided that I would continue with the PG Certificate. I was thinking at the time that at least I would add a few letters behind my name, and I would spend few more days with those lovely people. Then I finished the PG Certificate, and I was amazed how many more things I’ve learned, and how much more there is to be embraced. So, I went for the PG Diploma, and finally for the MSc.
At the moment I am working in 4 practices. In 3 of which I am seeing only endodontic referrals, the 4th practice is my main practice, where I also see endo referrals, along with my day-to-day dentistry.
Overall, the general dentistry takes about 25% of my week. The rest of the time I am doing endodontic treatments, consultations and restorative dentistry, can you believe it? Most importantly, I am happy about it!
I love my days at work, and I enjoy them, simply because I’ve found my Zen state- Endodontics.
I truly believe the investment with simplyendo has paid off! I have invested much more in equipment, such as microscope, 3D obturation system, Endo motor, you name it. But without the knowledge, all of it would be pointless. So, yes, I’d say it is worth every penny!
I cannot describe the unbelievable satisfaction when you finish a difficult case, especially the referred ones, when you managed to take out a broken file, or to go beyond a ledge and smooth it.
There were a number of benefits received from the course and I have already mentioned the practical sessions, and the chance to work with so many different file systems. I also had the chance to work on a different microscope each time (so, I chose the one which I liked the most). I had the chance to use two of the main 3d obturation systems on the UK market (so I picked the one which worked best in my hands). I had the chance to work with MTA a few times during the course, but enough to know which consistency I need in order to work with it easily. All of the above mentioned developed better dexterity, built-up my confidence and grew my experience, which made me more knowledgeable.
Another great benefit of the course is that you can always ask a friend for an opinion.
My peers from the course and I keep in touch, and have done for the last year or so. I’ve seen and learnt about so many interesting cases, and when worst comes to worst (when there is something really complex), you can always call Mike. He and the other tutors are our 24/7 support. Is there another course which can offer that?! I can’t think of any other. That’s why, in my opinion, simplyendo is just the best.
I also can’t fail to mention the amazing dental assistants at simplyendo. The girls are just fantastic! You can learn a lot from them too and try to train your dental assistant the same way. In fact, I think that there was an idea for a course for endodontist’s dental assistants, and you bet I’ll be recommending it!
I was struggling with endodontics in my daily practice, getting suboptimal results and I really needed to find a way to achieve better outcomes for my patients. I mentioned this to some dental friends and the simplyendo® teaching programmes came highly recommended, so I decided to investigate their offering a little further.
In addition to the trusted recommendation, the locality and price associated with the simplyendo® courses were also an attractive draw for me and make it a good, cost-effective option. I found that many endo courses were based in London, which would have meant I needed to factor in travel and inflated hotel costs. However, simply® being situated near Liverpool suited my needs far better and really helped to reduce the overall cost of the training I needed.
I’m glad I found simplyendo® and took the plunge to carry out my learning with them. One of the best aspects was the ability to speak to other clinicians, not just about endo but all aspects of dentistry – I don’t get that in my day-to-day practice. The relaxed environment that the team have created make it a really nice way to learn – we would chat about dentistry and have a little grumble and moan together while learning a new skill!
A different mindset
My enhanced endodontics skills have really benefitted me in numerous ways. I have now got myself into the mindset of keeping up to date with evidence-based work, so my learning hasn’t stopped in the classroom. The biggest change must be my confidence in my restorative work, it’s at another level now. I have less self-doubt now because I have the knowledge and skill set to overcome problems that I may encounter. This has made me far less stressed when I go to work as I know I can save most teeth, which is a great feeling.
In addition, I have noticed a new level of respect from my peers now that I have my post graduate education. Not all dentists go on to undertake this level of learning, so it shows a commitment to improving both yourself and the patient experience. This helps to boost referrals and, of course, this all leads to an increase in earnings.
No sacrifices
If endo is an area you struggle with you will absolutely benefit from a course with simplyendo®. There are other courses out there that are perhaps more patient-based, but this is brilliant for those who have a family and a job as you can fit your learning around everything else. It doesn’t feel like you need to make a big sacrifice to achieve your post-graduate training, there is less impact on real life, which was key for me. Formby itself is lovely and it always felt like a nice break away. The hotels in the area aren’t expensive so I would go the night before from York and make the most of it.
Overall, I feel that my training with simplyendo® has provided me with a good return on investment. The courses are accredited and delivered in a relaxed environment by friendly teachers who are always quick to help with questions. The staff are approachable and efficient, I can’t fault anything. If you are considering taking a course with simplyendo®, just do it!
I have always had a special interest in endodontics and have been planning to do an Endodontics Masters course for around 10 years. I’m based in Dublin, Ireland, and unfortunately there are no such courses available here, so I started to check out training opportunities in the UK. However, I found only full- or part-time courses and as a working dentist with a small child it was not an option for me to move to the UK or to travel a lot.
I almost gave up on my plans to study, but one of my colleagues knew an endodontist who had done the simplyendo® course and he said that it is available online as well. I got in touch with the endodontist, who was very happy with his experience with simplyendo® and encouraged me to get in touch with them.
A reassuring environment
I emailed Julie at simplyendo®, who replied immediately. She was - and has always been - very nice and helpful. In fact, the entire team are extremely supportive, from the sales to all the tutors, it is very easy to deal with them.
I was so pleased to have found a course that I can do online. I only have to travel once or twice a year for 1-2 days, so I can continue working and looking after my child without any major interruptions.
The course itself is very interactive and formal. I find it great that I can ask any kind of question, whether its theoretical or about an exact case, and there is always an answer and help available. The simplyendo® Forum (on the website and on the app) is really useful, as I can discuss cases with the tutors and colleagues and I receive feedback that directly helps my work. If I don’t want to share a case with everybody, I can ask for support via private email. It is very helpful to have both options available and I always receive an answer very quickly.
Enhanced confidence
I now feel much more confident in case selection and diagnosis, which is an essential starting point for a successful outcome. I also learnt a few tips and tricks for approaching canals with difficult anatomy and I find this extremely useful in my daily practice. I am much more confident in talking to patients about root canal treatment, explaining the possible difficulties and the chances of a good long-term result.
I would highly recommend the simplyendo® course to anyone who wants to improve their endo skills. It is great for those who want to become familiar with different types of rotary instruments, root canal preparation techniques and root canal filling techniques, that can make root canal treatments much more relaxed and predictable for general dentists. There is also an opportunity to learn the latest ESE guidelines and up-to-date endodontic and post-endodontic restorative treatment methods, including trauma management. The 10-day course is a very good introduction to the masters programme.
Whatever your goals are, whether you want to improve your endo skills as a general dentist or you want to continue on to further studies, the simplyendo® offering it is great as they offer a certificate, diploma and MSc in Endodontology.
I had been putting off pushing for that next level of knowledge… there’s always a reason not to follow what your head is telling you, whether it’s time, money, or simply questioning ‘why bother?’. However, I was training undergraduates and I didn’t want my time and practice-based knowledge to be outdated, or, worse still, proven poor practice in this ever-changing field.
I like saving teeth, which is why I’ve always found endodontics fascinating; it’s challenging but interesting. It’s something that I’ve always liked to take more time over, do well and try to develop my skills.
Fri, Oct 23, 2020
Please see below an email received from Paul Dummer, President of the European Society of Endodontology regarding an education patient video on the role of Vital Pulp Treatment.
Best wishes,
Mike
A new ESE video on Vital Pulp Treatment has just been launched on the ESE channel within YouTube. The video has English subtitles (text) and an English voice-over.
The video is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_W4F7AcsNZ0&t=29s
Please make use of the video – which is designed for patients to understand better the scope of vital pulp treatment. National endodontic societies have the opportunity of asking the ESE to customise the video into any language to include the subtitles as well as the voice-over. Please contact your society directly if you would like to have a customised version rather than the one in English.
Best wishes
Paul
PS The ESE is developing a range of other videos, each addressing a specific topic within Endodontics, and each will be able to be customised for national endodontic societies.
Professor Paul Dummer
President: European Society of Endodontology
[email protected]
Please see below for some feedback from a simplyendo member who attended our Formby teaching college on 14/15 October.
"I have thoroughly enjoyed the simplyendo programme. This endodontic course has improved my knowledge, technical skill level and day-to-day clinical problem solving. It is a great community to be a part of to discuss clinical cases and clinical challenges. The course is focused on improving each individual student and the hands-on sessions allow for great practice with excellent feedback. The course is extremely accommodating and has implemented excellent safety provisions during the challenging period of time of Covid-19. Remote online learning and reduced group sizes with clear safety protocols at Formby ensured a safe space to continue learning. I highly recommend the simplyendo
programme" D.C.
Formby and its famous red squirrels!
Gerald O’Connor shares how his experience at simplyendo has allowed him to reach his professional goals
In 2013, I was working as a GDP in the UK when I decided to return to Ireland with my family. I took a hiatus for two years before setting up my new practice and, once I did, I realised I wanted to make my clinical practice more niche.
Why endo?
By David Baker
I’m often asked by other dentists why I chose to do further studying in endodontics.
Louise Crompton shares how she helps students to navigate the challenges of an MSc
While embarking on an MSc is an exciting time, it can also be quite daunting, especially for those who have never undertaken a postgraduate certificate. Here at simplyendo we are dedicated to providing a high level of teaching to ensure you get the most out of your Masters degree in Endodontology, which is why we don’t just stop at the endo side of things.
I live and work on the Isle of Man at the Tracey Bell Dental and Aesthetic Clinic, and we have an excellent visiting endodontist who has been treating our patients. However, he recently decided to cut down his hours and, although we have five dentists working at our practice, we all cover quite specific areas of dentistry. The thing is, I hated endo but I realised that I needed to become better at it in order to fill the gap and provide our patients with the service they need.
Simplyendo is simply the best!
As a dental professional there are many areas that you will face on a day-to-day basis. From general dentistry such as check ups and fillings, to cosmetic treatments like whitening and bonding, through to perio and endo surgeries that are rather more involved. It is natural for each individual to enjoy carrying out some treatments more than others, and to feel less confident in some areas.
If you are considering furthering your dental skillset, knowing which direction to turn your attentions to can often feel overwhelming. Dental professionals are extremely lucky to have a wealth of options open to them – from dental implants to facial aesthetics and everything in between – but inevitably all courses will cost you both time and money, so it is essential to choose wisely.
Mike Turner, tutor at simplyendo, shares what endodontics has brought to his life...
I started studying dentistry at the University of Liverpool in 1995 and graduated with my BDS in 2000. From there, I worked as an associate in general dental practice for a few years across Birkenhead before moving to Newcastle, then Northumberland, and then Hartlepool. It was around this time that I decided to concentrate my career in a narrower field.
"The clarity of what needs to be done at each stage and the easy accessibility of information and resources really is amazing.
I'm just working on improving my utilisation of the simplyendo website to answer any questions I have and the support you offer really is second to none. I can't imagine the time and effort you have to invest!
The more I think about how I approached dental treatment after dental school and the way I am doing it now the more I realise it has all been a journey, a journey that continues.
My journey from simplyendo to Endo Reality.........
I signed up to do the 10 day course with simplyendo in 2012 on the recommendation of a good friend in the endodontic world. I only intended to do the 10 day course and now three years later here I am with an MSc in Endodontics and a company producing endodontic training teeth!