Why CE Shouldn’t Be a One-Size-Fits-All Decision

In today’s dental landscape, the options for continuing education are vast—and sometimes overwhelming. From slick Instagram promotions to world-renowned lectures, CE is everywhere. But the question remains: When is the right time to take the right CE? And perhaps even more important: What will you do with it when you get back?

The answer depends on self-awareness. CE shouldn’t be about chasing trends. It should align with your career stage, your team’s readiness, and the type of practice you’re trying to build. If you’re unsure what to take, start by identifying what excites you, what challenges you, and where you want to go. 

Many members of the Smile Source | Act Dental community will tell you: Don’t invest in clinical CE until your practice culture is strong. You can’t build something great on a shaky foundation. If there’s confusion, misalignment, or dysfunction in the office, culture comes first. Know your vision of practice and the culture you are intentionally building. This knowledge will guide you in the CE direction you primarily need to go.

Matching the CE to Your Season

Every dentist is on a journey, and every season requires different inputs. Early in your career? Focus on mentorship and continuing education (CE) that helps you develop your practice culture and team engagement within that culture. Team development is just as critical as doctor development. Assistants, hygienists, and front office staff all need to understand your philosophy and workflow. Otherwise, your practice will feel fragmented.

For early-career dentists, in particular, consider the immense value of Smile Source regional and national meetings, Smile Source networking, and local or regional study clubs. These provide a structured environment for foundational learning, peer mentorship, and a safe space to discuss challenges and integrate new concepts without the pressure of immediately implementing complex procedures.

Feeling stuck mid-career? Look for CE that helps you reconnect with what you love. And don’t let self-doubt hold you back. Instead of wondering whether your patients will accept a new service or whether you are ready to apply what you’ve learned, take a piece of paper and write down your real struggles. What’s stopping you? Is it the technique, or is it that you don’t have the support to implement it?

Being honest about what you need—skills, systems, or support—will help you choose “the right” CE that will move the needle.

Often, the support aspect of private practice is best found within a strong community, like Smile Source. Smile Source shines as a continuous forum for accountability, shared learning, peer-to-peer CE recommendations, and a network of peers who understand your struggles and celebrate your successes.

If You Can’t Implement It, It’s Just Entertainment

Dentists often forget that a CE course doesn’t just train you. It affects the entire practice. If your team isn’t on board, if your systems can’t support change, the CE experience becomes little more than expensive entertainment. 

The biggest mistake is speeding through a curriculum without giving your team time to adapt. You could end up burning out and implementing nothing at all. My friend, Dr. Christopher Mazzola, a faculty member at the Pankey Institute and a dentist at Traverse Dental Associates, advocates against scheduling patients the day after continuing education (CE). 

“I know the feeling of coming home from a great course, full of ideas—only to watch them fizzle out by Wednesday,” says Dr. Mazzola. “Why? Because the team wasn’t ready. The best thing you can do after CE is not to see patients on Monday morning. Have a team meeting instead. Build systems. Otherwise, nothing sticks.”

Remember CE is a team sport. When possible, bring team members to CE with you. Or at the very least, schedule time after the course to share what you’ve learned and how it will affect their roles.

In-Person vs. Online: Know the Difference

Online webinars are great for tips, like improving your Class II composites. However, for more profound transformations, there is no substitute for in-person learning. Immersive, live CE provides an opportunity to disconnect from daily demands and reconnect with your purpose. It also fosters relationships, and your CE community can become one of your most valuable support networks. 

[Dr. Straub can add examples of in-person CE that Smile Source is advocating for…for example, Pankey, Spear, Kois, the Smile Source National Exchange sessions…or decide it’s best to leave examples unnamed in this article.]

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re new in practice or 20 years into practice, the most important CE you’ll ever take is the one that meets you where you are. Write down your struggles. Evaluate your culture. And ask yourself whether you’re ready—not just to learn, but to lead change. You don’t need to implement everything at once. Just start with one change. Then another. Then another. That’s how you build momentum—and a practice you truly love.

ACT Dental Resource: 749: When is the Right Time to Take the Right CE? – Dr. Christopher Mazzola - The Best Practices Show with Kirk Behrendt.