How Aspen Dental is leveraging virtual learning to improve patient care: 5 things to know

By this point, virtual learning has secured a firm position in future education, but how does it fit into the world of dentistry?

Kim Kavala, M.Ed, senior vice president of learning and development at Aspen Dental Management, spoke with Becker's about how she moved thousands of hands-on dental courses online. Aspen and Ms. Kavala will soon launch a virtual training program for new dentists and hygienists. The program will teach new dentists how to fix a broken tooth or fit someone for dentures over Zoom, and enable the company to hire 500 new dentists and 500 new hygienists by the end of 2020.

What Aspen Dental's online training program entails
Learning development is a nonnegotiable part of dental culture, Ms. Kavala said. There are three core components to Aspen's programs: acclimating to Aspen (professional onboarding), mastering your role (continuing education) and propelling your career (business leadership).

How the pandemic accelerated virtual learning
Before the pandemic, Aspen relied heavily on in-person learning, with hands-on sessions at its Chicago-based practice support center, Ms. Kavala explained. Virtual learning has always been a component of education at Aspen, but now it's the sole learning method, at least until it is safe to learn in person again. One of the company's first learning pivots focused on continuing education for dental implants. Before the pandemic, Aspen launched an initiative to provide all its dentists the opportunity to receive implant dentistry training. The in-person portion of the program was launched in combination with online modules and virtual reality. Now, Aspen pivoted to a live virtual program, one of the first to be scaled across a national dental network of its size. The program offers all in-person interactions virtually, with procedures and hand demonstrations available live and for review.

How online learning can create more patient care time for dentists
Ms. Kavala has always been a proponent of virtual learning, citing multiple benefits. When learning virtually, dental professionals can review content on their own schedule. Short bursts of learning allow participants time to process the information, instead of trying to absorb huge volumes of work at once. Virtual learning also allows earlier engagement in dental careers, removes travel constraints and provides the opportunity for more frequent engagement, which is ultimately conducive to learning more.

The disadvantages of virtual learning
Learners have less patience in a virtual environment, according to Ms. Kavala. To combat this, Aspen Dental started offering basic lessons about how to be a virtual learner, such as walking learners through virtual features in the beginning of sessions. Participants want robust dialogue, so Aspen includes frequent interactions online.

A few tips for providers looking to establish online learning platforms
Providers need an integrated learning platform, Ms. Kavala explained. Providers must also ensure the content is relevant and can make sure the time spent online is meaningful by asking participants ahead of time what they want to learn. A fast pace is necessary when teaching online, and interaction should be built into courses. Aspen courses attempt to have interaction every five minutes or less, whether that be via questions, polls or breakout groups.

The future and virtual dental training
Virtual learning is here to stay, Ms. Kavala said. In-person learning will continue to be an important part of education in dentistry, but as people realize how advantageous virtual environments can be, they will leverage online learning to improve their practices and care.

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