An orthodontic study club is one of the most underused professional development tools available to UK orthodontists and orthodontic-interested dentists. Unlike formal CPD conferences — which are expensive, geographically concentrated, and scheduled by others — a well-run study club is designed around the learning needs of its members, is typically run quarterly or monthly, and builds genuine peer relationships between clinicians who see each other regularly enough to have meaningful ongoing discussions about shared cases and challenges. This guide is for anyone considering starting or revitalising an orthodontic study club — whether that is a specialist who wants to bring a group of referring GDPs along on a learning journey, a group of associates who want structured peer support, or a regional BOS section coordinator looking to improve engagement. It covers the practical details of how to set up, structure, and sustain an orthodontic study club that members actually want to attend. Key takeaway The most successful orthodontic study clubs share three characteristics: they have a clear focus (not just “orthodontics” in general, but a specific clinical or practice management thread the group cares about), they involve active participation rather than passive lectures (case discussion, debate, and peer challenge are more valuable than PowerPoints), and they generate GDC-verifiable CPD that members can log. A club that is well-organised, clinically stimulating, and administratively light enough not to become a burden will retain members and grow by referral. One that is run inconsistently or becomes a sales event will lose attendance quickly. The formal case for an orthodontic study club is CPD: GDC-registered dentists and specialists need 100 hours of Enhanced CPD per five-year cycle, with specific topic requirements. A well-run study club that generates verifiable CPD is a practical and cost-effective way for members to meet a proportion of that requirement, particularly for topics where specialist input is most valuable — clinical decision-making, treatment planning, management of complications. But the informal case is stronger: the best study clubs become trusted peer communities where clinicians can bring genuinely difficult cases, admit what they are uncertain about, and receive thoughtful feedback from colleagues who know them well enough to be honest. That kind of peer support is not available at a conference where you are surrounded by strangers, and it is not available in solo practice. A well-run study club is one of the few professional settings where a UK orthodontist can get regular, high-quality peer review of their own clinical work. For a specialist running a referral-based practice, a study club also has a commercial dimension: GDP attendees who engage regularly with a specialist at a CPD level develop a different relationship with that specialist than those who only ever interact transactionally. Referral relationships that are grounded in shared learning tend to be more durable and generate more complex referrals over time. 100 hours GDC Enhanced CPD requirement per 5-year cycle — a quarterly study club generating 2–3 CPD hours per session contributes meaningfully to this 8–12 Optimal membership size for case discussion formats — large enough for diverse clinical input, small enough for everyone to contribute Quarterly The minimum viable frequency — monthly builds momentum faster but quarterly is sustainable for busy practitioners Build stronger referral relationships with the GDPs in your study club Virtual Consultant Online’s virtual assessment and referral portal gives GDP members of your study club a direct digital channel into your practice — supporting the referral relationship you are building in the meeting room. See how it works → Before inviting anyone, decide what the study club is actually about. Clubs that try to cover all of orthodontics for a mixed audience of specialists and generalists rarely have the clinical depth that keeps specialist members engaged. Consider: For case discussion formats, eight to twelve members is optimal. Fewer than six and a single absence noticeably reduces the quality of discussion; more than fifteen and the format needs to shift towards presentation-style delivery because interactive discussion at scale does not work well. A two-hour session is the most sustainable format for a regular club. The structure below works well for case discussion formats: Opening (15 min) Case presentations (90 min) For the CPD generated by study club attendance to be verifiable under the GDC’s Enhanced CPD framework, each session requires: Important If your study club invites external speakers or involves any commercial sponsorship — from aligner companies, equipment suppliers, or any other organisation — you have an obligation to disclose this to attendees. The GDC’s Standards require that commercial involvement in CPD events is transparent, and the GDC has made clear that CPD which is primarily promotional rather than educational does not meet the Standards. If a company is co-sponsoring or providing speakers, make this clear on all communications and ensure the content is independently educational and not primarily a sales presentation. Attendees should leave with better clinical knowledge, not just promotional materials. Build the Referral Relationships Your Study Club Creates The GDPs in your study club are your warmest potential referrers. Virtual Consultant Online gives them a direct, professional digital pathway to refer to your practice — so the relationships you build in the meeting room translate into patients in your chairs.Why Start an Orthodontic Study Club?
Getting Started: Structure and Membership
Define the focus
Membership size and composition
Running the Sessions: Format and Content
Session structure
CPD verification and record-keeping
Logistics: Where, When, and How
How to Run an Orthodontic Study Club
Published · 8 min read · by Virtual Consultant Online
Specialist-only peer review: a small group of specialists who meet to discuss complex cases, share new techniques, and critique each other’s work. Very high clinical value, but requires trust between members and a willingness to show unresolved or difficult cases.
Specialist-GDP referral development: a specialist running CPD sessions for a group of referring or potentially referring GDPs. The specialist’s focus is on helping GDPs identify suitable cases, manage patient expectations, and understand what happens after they refer. This format has a clear commercial benefit for the specialist alongside the clinical education value.
Clear aligner focused: a group of clinicians who are all working with a specific aligner system and want to improve their case selection, treatment planning, and troubleshooting. Aligner companies sometimes co-sponsor these clubs — if so, be transparent with members about commercial involvement.
Practice management focused: sessions on patient communication, team training, consent, marketing, and business development for orthodontic practices rather than primarily on clinical technique. Less common but valuable for principals at earlier stages of building their practice.
Set clear membership criteria from the start — what types of clinician are you aiming to include? Specialists only? GDP principals? Any GDC registrant interested in orthodontics?
Consider whether you want a closed or open membership — closed clubs with stable membership build better peer relationships; open clubs are more accessible and grow the referral network faster
Decide whether membership is by invitation or application — invitation-only clubs maintain quality control but can feel exclusionary; open applications with a simple form are more accessible
Administrative items, minutes from last session
A brief clinical update or literature item (one member, five minutes)
Confirm the evening’s agenda
Two or three pre-prepared case presentations (30 min each)
Open discussion after each — questions, alternative approaches, what the presenter would do differently
One session per year can be a “problem case” evening where members bring difficult or unresolved cases for group discussion
A written learning outcome for each session, specified in advance — what will attendees be able to do or understand better as a result of attending?
An attendance register (signed) for each session
A verifiable record of completion that members can upload to their GDC Enhanced CPD records — typically a certificate issued after each session confirming the learning outcomes, the hours, and the clinician’s attendance
A reflective note from each member confirming what they learned and how they intend to apply it — the GDC recommends this as part of good CPD practice
Location: rotating between members’ practices works well for small closed clubs — it allows members to see each other’s facilities and equipment, and distributes the hosting burden. For larger open clubs, a consistent neutral venue (dental school seminar room, hotel meeting room, practice with a large meeting space) reduces administrative friction.
Timing: early evening (6:30 to 8:30 pm) on a weekday is the most common format — after clinical sessions end but not so late that it conflicts with family commitments. A midweek evening (Tuesday to Thursday) typically gets the best attendance. Avoid Friday evenings and Monday evenings — they have the lowest attendance rates for professional development events.
Food and refreshments: providing dinner (even a simple one) substantially improves attendance and creates a more relaxed atmosphere for case discussion. The cost per head for a regular club dinner is modest and should be factored into the budget.
Administration: assign a secretary role — rotating or fixed — who sends reminders two weeks and two days before each session, manages the attendance register, and issues CPD certificates after each meeting. Whoever is secretary should not also be presenting that evening.
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References
GDC Enhanced CPD framework guidance covering the requirements for verifiable CPD including the need for written learning outcomes, attendance records, and reflective notes, and explaining how peer discussion and case review formats qualify as verifiable CPD when properly documented.
GDC — Enhanced CPD guidance: requirements for verifiable CPD and learning outcomesBOS guidance on regional sections and study groups for orthodontic specialists and orthodontic-interested GDPs, covering how BOS-affiliated study groups are structured, what support the BOS provides to local sections, and how case discussion and peer review groups contribute to the BOS clinical governance framework.
British Orthodontic Society — BOS sections and study groups: resources for local peer learningPractice management guidance on using orthodontic study clubs as a vehicle for building and deepening GDP referral relationships, covering the business case for specialist-led GDP CPD programmes, the commercial outcomes of regular peer engagement, and how study clubs differentiate a specialist practice from competitors in the same catchment area.
Dental Economics — Building a referral network through study club relationshipsGDC Enhanced CPD framework guidance covering the requirements for verifiable CPD including the need for written learning outcomes, attendance records, and reflective notes, and explaining how peer discussion and case review formats qualify as verifiable CPD when properly documented.
GDC — Enhanced CPD guidance: requirements for verifiable CPD and learning outcomesBOS guidance on regional sections and study groups for orthodontic specialists and orthodontic-interested GDPs, covering how BOS-affiliated study groups are structured, what support the BOS provides to local sections, and how case discussion and peer review groups contribute to the BOS clinical governance framework.
British Orthodontic Society — BOS sections and study groups: resources for local peer learningPractice management guidance on using orthodontic study clubs as a vehicle for building and deepening GDP referral relationships, covering the business case for specialist-led GDP CPD programmes, the commercial outcomes of regular peer engagement, and how study clubs differentiate a specialist practice from competitors in the same catchment area.
Dental Economics — Building a referral network through study club relationships