Product Evaluation

If thinking about continuing education courses conjures up memories of sitting in a crowded room and watching the clock as you listen to dull lectures, you clearly haven’t attended Spear Education’s Core Workshops.

“I had never been to anything like it,” said Dr. Jaclyn Schuler, who was “blown away by the quality of instruction” after her very first workshop. “These courses have 100% made me a better dentist,” she told DPS. “There are things I know that other dentists in my area have never heard of before, and I can treat patients with more predictable long-term success than I ever would have been able to achieve before these courses.”

The true rewards of the hands-on Core Workshops are far greater than any CE credits that are earned, as Dr. Chad Carpenter can attest. “I transformed myself into a confident, competent clinician over an 8-year period of learning with Spear. I use what I’ve learned every day, and I’m now a top dentist in my geographic area.”

Content and Knowledge of Instructors

When clinicians choose the Spear Core Workshop curriculum, internationally renowned experts in all fields of dentistry guide attendees through 6 to 8 intensive 3-day workshops that combine comprehensive classroom education with practical hands-on application.

Each dentist who contributed to this product review has taken at least 6 of the 8 core workshops, which focus on a variety of topics like treatment planning, advanced treatment planning, occlusion, airway prosthodontics and sleep dentistry, restorative design, anterior restorative dentistry, worn dentition, and phasing/sequencing complex treatment.

“I describe this as dental school for dentists,” said Dr. Schuler. “The workshops are designed as building blocks of information that, when taken in order, make sense of so many problems dentists encounter day to day, and the continuum of topics is unparalleled.” Appreciating that “instructors’ egos are put away, and everyone is willing to share information to help a colleague,” Dr. Elizabeth Beard shared, “The hands-on and 1-on-1 instructor guidance was like going back to dental school and getting answers to questions I didn’t know I had. Every workshop has expanded my path in dentistry.”

“The hands-on facilities are top-notch, and the instruction is clear, well referenced, and taught in easy-to-learn segments,” noted Dr. Charles Wahl. “Even with about 30 attendees, it felt like 1:1, and the instructors are the best!” reported Dr. Derrick Ziemba. Noting that he “loves immersing himself in a topic while on campus,” Dr. Douglas Klein appreciates the “fantastic educators, excellent research-based information, and top-notch campus facilities.”

Implementing Learning into Practice

“I use the principles I learned in Treatment Planning with Confidence, Occlusion in Clinical Practice, Worn Dentition, and Airway Prosthodontics and Sleep Dentistry every day in my practice,” said Dr. Klein. “I have grown tremendously” after participating in the Core Workshops, shared Dr. Julia Burchett, who has “a much broader scope and understanding of dentistry and the tools to work through complex treatment problems.” Dr. Carpenter said the knowledge he gained allows him to “handle complex cases with supreme confidence.”

“This curriculum helped me transition from a single-tooth to a whole-mouth dentist; I can now see the big picture and break it down into manageable pieces,” said Dr. Russell Jensen. For Dr. Ziemba, “Spear taught me to look at the whole picture, how to present options, and to prep more conservatively and quickly.”

Practice and Professional Benefits

“I took most of the workshops within a year and our revenue grew 60%,” shared Dr. Jensen. “The curriculum helped bridge the gap between dental school and becoming a well-rounded, seasoned dentist. I finished with tools that helped me offer better dentistry and the skills to deliver it,” he added.

For Dr. Alexander Gerskowitz, the workshops “absolutely gave me more confidence, deeper knowledge, and the ability to see solutions to difficult cases.” Dr. Beard said, “The information added to my confidence significantly. This affected my staff and had a trickle-down effect on patients. We now have very little difficulty with case acceptance.” Similarly, Dr. Ziemba has “become a better dentist who’s able to communicate and present better options to my patients.” Dr. Klein stated, “I have seen the positive impact Spear Education has had on me, my patients, and my practice. They gave me knowledge, confidence, and guidance.”

Overall Satisfaction

“For anyone wanting to take their dentistry to the next level, Spear is the place,” said Dr. Jensen. “They are the highest quality workshops that exist and definitely exceed my expectations every time I attend,” said Dr. Schuler. Noting that he “will forever be grateful to Spear for what I’ve learned and implemented into my practice,” Dr. Carpenter declared, “I would 100% do it all over again. Lifetime learning with the world’s best mentors will trans-form a dentist’s life, team, and practice.”