Nine of the best platforms for online dentistry courses

Continuously updating your skills and knowledge is non-negotiable as a dental professional, and it can be an arduous process to find courses that will most benefit you, your practice and your patients. And in addition to finding the best quality content, making learning sustainable means being able to fit it around the demands of life and work – not to mention finding an option that suits your budget.

With all this in mind, online learning is an option that can be a valuable addition to attending other traditional in-person courses.

In this article we will take a look at some of the best online dentistry learning platforms available to help you explore your options and decide which one might be right for your current goals and needs.

Online dentistry course providers: which dentistry learning platforms are we comparing?

Though there are a huge variety of dental e-learning platforms available, we have chosen to look at nine great platforms that are comparable in terms of the type of teaching, course speakers and learner goals.

The following comparison table sets out the most important features of each platform:

Criteria to take into account when choosing an online dentistry course platform

How do you start when it comes to knowing which dental learning platform is the right fit for you? We’ve taken a few criteria into consideration when comparing the nine platforms listed here.

Ease of use
Do you need to go through a long sign-in process every time you want to watch a video? Is there an app so you can easily pick up where you left off while you’re out, or between patients?

An-easy-to-use platform maximizes learning time while minimizing the effort required.

Content types
Are you looking to up-skill clinically, improve your patient communication or implement new business know-how? Before choosing a platform, it’s worth looking at their catalog of online dental courses to ensure that it meets your current needs and goals. And if it’s not just you who will be learning, check whether there is content that’s right for your team members - whether that’s your front desk staff, your dental assistant or your hygienists.

Checking how often new content is added will also give you an idea of how long an online dentistry learning platform might be useful to you. Will there be new courses and certifications to choose from on a regular basis?

Finally, think about the speakers who feature in the videos. One of the advantages of attending courses is being able to benefit from the expertise of renowned speakers and trainers. Will you get this same benefit from the videos on your chosen platform?

Price

Does the cost of the platform fit in with your current budget and will it be sustainable for the foreseeable future? Depending on how much time you want to dedicate to learning, it’s helpful to consider whether it would suit you to pay individually for each course you complete or opt for a monthly subscription that offers unlimited access to an entire content library.

CE credits

Are you looking for online dentistry courses to meet your yearly CPD needs or is there training you want to pursue outside of this quota? While the absence of CE credits doesn’t mean that learning will not be highly beneficial to you, your dental office and your patients, it’s an important consideration if completing these credits is your goal.

A closer look at the online dental course providers

DSD Online

DSD Online is DSD’s dedicated online dentistry learning platform which aims to help dental professionals address three common pain points: achieving more consistent results from your dental lab, making treatment planning easier and attracting more of your ideal patients.

The courses currently available include topics such as smile design, guided dentistry, the treatment planning process and running a highly successful first patient appointment.

There are also courses that will introduce you to the DSD workflows and how successful implementation can significantly benefit your dental office and your patients.

Read more about everything you can expect from DSD Online here.

Good for

Low-cost entry point to learn the DSD workflows and start driving real change in your dental office. Access to DSD Founder Christian Coachman’s best thinking on smile design and DSD implementation without needing to commit to a course right now. Huge video library available in addition to core courses.

Pros

• Only platform that teaches full DSD implementation

• Content developed by DSD Founder, Christian Coachman

• Top DSD trainers

• New courses added monthly

• Huge content library of masterclasses, lectures and webinars organized by topics

• Option to purchase standalone courses

• Access to entire platform for one subscription price

• Low-cost rolling monthly subscription of $35

• Quick assessments within courses

Cons

• Courses do not offer CE credits

• No access via an app

• Access available only for as long as your subscription is active

Explore DSD Online here.

Spear Online

Spear Online offers an extensive library of video lessons and other materials on topics ranging from clinical skills to managing your dental office. There are a huge variety of courses for your whole practice team. Spear Online membership also gives you access to the patient education video platform.

Good for

There is a huge amount of content for different team members and following curriculums keeps the learning process organized. The platform allows you to meet your CPD requirements with CE credits. Access to patient education resources is also highly valuable for a dental office.

Pros

• Extensive content catalog of over 1,500 resources

• Organized learning - choose individual courses, defined pathways or an entire curriculum

• Content available for different team member roles

• Access to Patient Education platform, Speak Talk Forum clinician forum and other discounts as a Spear Education Member

• Earn CE credits

• Mobile app for on-the-go learning

Cons

• Requires the purchase of an annual Spear Online Membership

Explore Spear Education here.

iDD

The institute of Digital Dentistry’s online learning platform offers a range of digital dental courses in a variety of topics: from smile design to digital implantology to radiography interpretation. There is a small free library which provides access to webinars and PDFs and then the option to purchase course bundles focused on different areas of digital dentistry.

Good for

Access to a free library of varied content. Being able to follow a structured bundle of courses on a specific topic that you want to master.

Pros

• Small library of free webinars and PDFs on a range of digital dentistry topics

• Free content added every month

• Paid course bundles to focus your learning on key topics

• Lifetime access to course bundles you purchase

• Earn CE credits

• Affordable pricing plus discounts for emerging markets

Cons

• Purchase bundles of courses rather than standalone courses

• No access to a large additional content library

• No monthly subscription option

• No access via an app

Explore iDD here.

Kois Center Virtual Courses

Kois Center is viewed as a gold-standard institution when it comes to dental training. In addition to their internationally renowned in-person courses, they also offer a library of virtual courses in a variety of topics: from building a profitable practice, to how to implement Kois Center systems, to clinical topics.

Good for

On-demand training from an internationally renowned institution. Pay for the training of your choice and get a year’s access to it.

Pros

• Internationally renowned institution
• Earn CE credits
• Variety of topics from clinical to retirement planning
• One-off payment gives you a year’s access to the training you purchase
• Prices ranging from $25 to $750

Cons

• Smaller library than other platforms
• No monthly subscription option
• No access via an app

Explore Kois Center virtual courses here.

OHI-S

OHI-S offers access to online courses, webinars, workshops and congresses, with free videos and online courses covering a variety of fields.

There is also the option to purchase standalone courses or you can select from four levels of Premium access to gain access to over 750 lessons in the Premium library, and choose from additional premium lessons.

Good for

Huge library of free content. Choose from four levels of Premium access to suit your budget. 30-day free trial available.

Pros

• Large free library

• Over 750 lessons in the Premium library

• New content added each month

• Unlimited access during your subscription

• Premium subscriptions give discounts on courses and other benefits

• Earn CE credits

• Different Premium pricing options

Cons

• Premium access requires an annual subscription

• No access via an app

Explore OHI-S here.

ADA

ADA’s online learning options include live webinars and online courses, and you can choose to purchase standalone courses or subscribe for full access to over 300 courses covering clinical topics and practice management.

Good for

Choose an individual or group subscription. Purchase standalone courses or subscribe for full access. CE credits recorded in a transcript.

Pros

• Large library of courses

• Purchase standalone courses or subscribe for full access

• Low-cost annual subscription

• Unlimited access during your subscription

• Browse by topic, year and content type

• Earn CE credits

Cons

• No monthly subscription option

• Access available only as long as your subscription is active

• No access via an app

Explore ADA here.

The Dawson Academy

The Dawson Academy is a postgraduate educational and clinical research facility. Its online learning offering includes live virtual dental CE sessions as well as on-demand online content.

Good for

Access to livestream sessions (with Q and A) as well as on-demand online learning.

Pros

• Option to purchase standalone courses

• All Access subscription gives unlimited access to online learning

• Additional resources such as case studies, videos and webinars

• All Access+ subscription gives access to livestream sessions in addition to online learning catalog

• Option to sign up for free webinars

• Option to access a free career pathway tailored to you

• Earn CE credits

Cons

• Subscription is for a minimum of one year

• No access via an app

Explore the Dawson Academy here.

Ripe Global

RipeGlobal tailors courses to suit your career journey with 250 hours of content covering all clinical disciplines as well as team and practice management.

Good for

Different access options which suit different career stages such as ‘starter’ or ‘student’. Support from career advisors. Keep track of CE credits.

Pros

• Over 10 hours of content added per month

• Four subscription options depending on career stage

• Watch free webinar and masterclass replays

• Earn CE credits

• Keep track of all CE credits you have earned on other platforms

Cons

• Payment made annually or quarterly with only student membership offering a monthly payment option

• No access via an app

Explore Ripe Global here.

Dentalxp

Dentalxp is an online dental community which provides over 1000 videos in addition to CE courses and a dental forum. There are three membership levels to choose from according to your budget and how much you would like to use the platform.

Good for

A Basic subscription offers access to a library of free online dentistry courses, videos and articles, as well as the forum. Content in a variety of dental disciplines.

Pros

• Choose Basic, Basic Plus or Premium access depending on your budget

• Library of free content

• Content covers a huge range of dental disciplines

• Earn CE credits

• Access to dental forum

Cons

• No monthly subscription option

• No access via an app

Explore dentalxp here.

Which online dental course platform is right for you?

Choosing the ideal dental e-learning platform depends on your personal and professional goals, needs and budget– and is likely to change over time.

When it comes to the variety of topics and online dental courses, platform features and subscription options, taking some time to consider what would be essential versus a ‘nice to have’ can be helpful when it comes to narrowing down your choices to the platforms that will really work for you.

If you are interested in learning the DSD workflows, and how implementing them in your office can help you to address some of the main challenges facing dental practices today, DSD Online is your starting point. Get started for just $35 a month.