Dental Continuing Education: 9 Websites Where Dentists Can Earn Free CE

By: Jennifer Murphy, DDS, FAGD

Becoming a dentist means you will be a lifelong learner. Not only due to the ever-changing nature of dentistry, but every state dental board has continuing education requirements to renew your license each renewal period.

We each have many reasons for choosing dentistry as our profession, but one thing I believe we each share is a love of learning.

Continuing education is a wonderful way to learn new skills, keep up with technology, and connect with other dentists.

However, the cost of continuing education can add up quickly. Fortunately, there are many resources out there where you can obtain FREE DENTAL CE!

9 Free Dental CE Websites

Here are some amazing websites to find hundreds of free CE:

  1. Colgate Oral Health Network
  2. DentalCare.com
  3. Viva Learning
  4. Dental CE Academy
  5. Academy of General Dentistry
  6. Dentsply Sirona
  7. Glidewell
  8. HuFriedyGroup
  9. Weave

1. Colgate Oral Health Network

Colgate Oral Health network touts that they are your dental team’s one-stop source for FREE continuing education.

This site is hosted by Tribune Group GmbH and is an ADA CERP-recognized provider as well as an approved PACE program provider by the AGD.

There are over 200 free CE self-study credits on-demand as well as over 100 live and on-demand webinars.

And it doesn’t stop there, if you prefer to listen to podcasts, there are over 50 articles and podacts you have free access to anytime it works best for you.

Along with all that CE, they list features that include an extensive CE articles library, a personal profile dashboard to track your CE, and a monthly newsletter.


2. DentalCare.com

Procter & Gamble, makers of Crest and Oral-B products, has established the DentalCare.com CE program.

By going to DentalCare.com, clicking “Continuing Education”, and then View All Courses in the dropdown, you will have access to over 150 free dental continuing education courses. Procter & Gamble is an ADA CERP provider and an approved PACE program provider by the AGD.

Also, on this website, you can find out your state CE requirements and access courses you have completed through the program.


3. Viva Learning

Viva Learning is an industry-wide dental continuing education platform that delivers online free accredited CE.

You can earn live, interactive, and self-study dental continuing education on their online dental CE site. Viva Learning is an ADA CERP-recognized provider of CE and PACE approved for the AGD.

There is an abundance of other information on this website, including product training, product reviews, clinical tips, and podcasts. You can also sign up for a free e-newsletter to learn about upcoming free live webinars to earn CE as well as reserve your seat.


4. Dental CE Academy

Dental CE Academy provides evidence-based continuing education to improve patient outcomes. Many of their webinars are free. Dental CE Academy provides live and recorded CE, and virtual symposiums, and is an AGD PACE-recognized provider.

On the front page of their website, you can also sign up to be emailed when new courses are added.

There is an impressive number of live CE listed that are very timely topics such as e-cigarettes and vaping, the opioid crisis, and tooth bling.


5. Academy of General Dentistry

The Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) is the only professional association that is exclusive to general dentists. The Academy of General Dentistry states its mission is to;

“Advance general dentistry and oral health through quality continuing education and advocacy.”

The AGD does several webinars each month on a variety of topics, and at least a couple of them are free regardless if you are a member of the AGD or not.

If you are a member of the AGD, they have a free CE program where you can receive free webinars valued at $900+ and 14+ credit hours.

AGD continuing education is AGD PACE approved.


6. Dentsply Sirona

Dentsply Sirona is a dental equipment and supplies company. Their website features over 100 live and on-demand continuing education which is ADA CERP and AGD PACE approved.

They offer dental CE in endodontics, implants, preventive and restorative areas of dentistry, and have grown to add continuing education on anesthesia, digital dentistry, and practice management as well.

One interesting feature on the website is choosing the CE course based on your role in the office or profession, such as dentist, assistant, hygienist, office manager, student, or technician.


7. Glidewell

Glidewell is a dental lab that is one of the leaders in producing restorative services for dental offices.

Glidewell provides an innumerable amount of continuing education on an array of dental topics that are ADA-CERP-approved and PACE-approved for the AGD.

Go to glidewelldental.com, hover over education at the top, and, in the drop-down, you can find options such as live courses or online CE courses.


8. HuFriedyGroup

Hu-Friedy produces dental instruments and products. Hu-Friedy offers free continuing education courses to dentists through live hands-on programs and both live and on-demand webinars.

Courses is a PACE program provider. There is a search option for on-demand webinars as well as a listing by topics such as diagnostic, orthodontics, periodontal, restorative, and surgical, just to name a few they offer.


9. Weave

Weave is a remote business toolbox – an all-in-one communication platform for small businesses. They also provide free dental continuing education. There are videos and panel interviews you can watch to earn free CE.

Dental practice management and clinical continuing education are also available on their website. There are many videos covering relevant personal development topics as well such as leadership, resilience, and communication, along with dental marketing videos to help grow your practice.


Continuing Education Online

Now that you have these fantastic resources for free dental CE, you won’t run out of places to find continuing education … and even better for FREE!

There are so many dental topics covered throughout these 10 websites that there is something relevant for everyone no matter where you are on your dentistry journey.

So let’s get learning because, as Stephen Covey once said;

“The key to success is a dedication to life-long learning.”

NEXT READ: Tips From Top Dentists

Photo Credit

Jennifer Murphy

Jennifer Murphy

Dr. Jennifer Murphy graduated with a Doctorate of Dental Surgery in 2006 from The Ohio State University. She is a member in good standing of the American Dental Association, North Carolina Dental Association, and the Academy of General Dentistry. Dr. Murphy earned her Fellowship from the Academy of General Dentistry in 2021. In addition to practicing general dentistry, she is also a practice coach for Benco Dental.