This year was the second year that 3M ESPE and The Dawson Academy awarded these scholarships. Additionally, the number of received applicants grew from 2011.

“It was extremely difficult to select just 10 winners from the pool of applicants received this year,” said Joan Forrest, President & CEO of the Dawson Academy.

Each scholarship winner was nominated by their University for demonstrating excellence and interest in restorative dentistry, had a minimum grade point average of 3.5 in dental school, and obtained written recommendations from two faculty members.

“3M ESPE is proud to provide educational funding that will aid the advancing graduate student in discovering contemporary practice,” said Mr. Peter Golden, Professional Relations Manager at 3M ESPE.

Forrest and instructors, Drs. Dawson and Cranham welcomed the young, committed professionals to the course and spent time with them throughout the weekend, including dinner the first evening of the course.

“3M ESPE has spent many years working closely with some of the leading post graduate institutions to provide quality continuing dental education. The Dawson Academy has consistently developed course curriculums that provide insight into the constantly changing array of new materials and systems, while coupling the timeless wisdom of Dr. Peter Dawson’s approach to occlusion and treatment planning,” shared Golden.

Residents came from 10 different dental schools around the country and Puerto Rico. These schools included University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey, University of Washington, University of Puerto Rico, University of Texas, Marquette University, The Ohio State University, University of Pittsburgh, West Virginia University, University of California, Los Angeles, and The University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Golden explained, “The faculty at the Dawson Academy have the experience to help students tackle the most difficult cases they may face, while guiding them through a program that will meet that students’ individual needs.”

“We appreciate 3M ESPE’s commitment to education and the support to make these scholarships possible,” said Forrest.

By Dr. Steve Hoard

It is such a great time to be a dentist. We are so lucky to have such wonderful specialists that are available to us, to be able to deliver complete dentistry to all of our patients. But, we should be a specialist in our own right, to have the ability to lead those around us, delivering complete predictable treatment plans and sequencing the proper treatment with all of our specialists.

Before engaging the Dawson curriculum, I would identify the patient’s problems, small or large, and refer to the specialist and ask them to “fix it” as they saw fit, very rarely interacting with the specialist until treatment was completed. Sometimes the results would be satisfactory, but I could not be sure of the longevity.

By completing the Dawson Academy’s  continuing dental education curriculum, Dr. Dawson taught me to be a physician of the masticatory system. As I learned the principles of Dawson Dentistry, which is looking at a patient completely, I was able to treatment plan predictably, therefore leading the treatment discussions with the specialist, rather that settling for what was given. Now, I lead the treatment planning discussions with my specialist, guiding them to predictable long lasting result.

The Dawson Academy totally changed the way I practice dentistry. I went from a tooth doctor, just fixing what breaks or missing to a true physician of the mastacatory system, being able to communicate predictable complete treatment plans, not only to the specialist, but delivering that predictability to the patients.

5 Necessary Skills for Interdisciplinary Treatment Planning

1. Ability to do a complete examination on each patient.

2. How to predictably treatment plan an interdisciplinary case; complex cases as well as esthetic cases.

3. Communicate with the specialist and laboratory about the treatment plan and exactly what I need for success.

4. Able to lead the interdisciplinary team throughout treatment.

5. Predictably maintain stability of the masticatory system for the patient.

Do you feel confident working with your specialists? Take our continuing dental education course, Mastering Interdisciplinary Treatment. Click here to learn more.

by Neeraj Khanna, DDS

As I speak to our professionals in my community, I often get asked the question, “why should I practice this way and what’s in it for me?”

The concept of complete dentistry involves treating every patient with a clear understanding of their respective joints, muscles, periodontium and occlusion.  Dr. Peter Dawson has spoken about this for decades, and refers this as becoming a physician of the mastacatory system.  Once you have a clear understanding of how the masticatory system works, then it becomes second nature to help our patients solve their problems.

This is what’s in it for you:

1. To be the expert in your community to handle patients with specific occlusal, joint or esthetic problems
2. Help educate your fellow specialists on how you can help their patients
3. Increase your referral base, from existing patient’s to other doctors in your community
4. Become known as a specialist who treats difficult restorative cases
5. Increase production, and profitability
6. Spend more doing other things outside your practice
7. Work smarter, not harder
8. Enjoy dentistry  with more predictable results
9. More patient satisfaction
10. More respect in your community

I once read that “life is like drawing without an eraser”. While we have the opportunity to do so, let’s be the best we can be and give the best to our patients. Practicing complete dentistry is creating drawings for our patients-we only get one chance to make a difference!

Question 1: Just because I see it (diagnosis it) doesn’t mean my patients will want to treat it (even acute, painful, or blatant problems they are aware of gets put on the back burner).

Question 2: How much of the first course can I use immediately to make me a better clinician?

Question 3: If I am not able to take all of the courses will I still be better than if I took none of the courses?

Scott Finlay, DDS, FAGD, FAACD

The philosophies that are the core of The Dawson Academy are not about practicing a different kind of dentistry, but practicing better, more predictable, complete care for your patients.  The understanding, skills and protocols that you will master as a student in the core curriculum will improve your efficiency, productivity and profitability as a dentist.

You are correct that every patient that has treatment needs, may not elect to pursue treatment: some due to financial reasons, some due to personal reasons, some due to value reasons.  In your practice you will initially experience a large percentage of patients that will be seeking general care, but there will be some that elect comprehensive care.  You need to be patient.  Over time you will find increasingly, more and more of your patients will begin to transition to comprehensive solutions.  It is their role to make those decisions and not ours.  It is our role however, to educate them and to be their advocate for the best care possible.  I think you will be surprised by your patient’s interest in seeking quality care.  That doesn’t mean a full mouth reconstruction with ceramics every time.  Whether treatment is provided with plastic or glass; with implants or removable dentures, the principles are the same in providing predictable care.

Predictable care at any level will improve your profitability and efficiency by reducing time wasted with remakes or fractured restorations that are never practice builders or make patients happy.  Your experiences with the Dawson Academy will help you make recommendations to your patients that are in their best interest.

You will find the information you learn from the very first program to be infectious and very useful to return to your practice.  The entire Senior Faculty of The Dawson Academy are wet fingered dentists that each have full time practices.  That is unique to our organization.  The knowledge is practical and allows you to return to the chair on Monday with a fresh vision.  I can tell you this from personal experience, because this changed my professional life and laid the ground for my success in dentistry.

The pace you pursue your education is up to you.  If you want to be efficient, I would recommend staying with a single teaching academy and focus on a continuum that is consistent.  Hopping around from day program to day program from varying academies, gives you very little opportunity to get down to the real nuts and bolts and actually make a difference in your practice.  The Dawson Academy offers this opportunity in our core curriculum that builds upon each successive program.

Doing nothing would be the only mistake.  You will become what you learn.  By failing to make the initiative to learn, you are losing a tremendous opportunity.

Interested in this blog post? You might also be interested in our first course, Functional Occlusion – From TMJ to Smile Design. Read more here…

Dentists who have developed proficiency in equilibration universally agree it is one of the most practical skills they use routinely in practice.  Deflective tooth inclines force displacement of the TMJs to achieve complete closure into maximal intercuspation.  This forced jaw displacement can lead to painful jaw muscle hyperactivity, excessive tooth wear, fractured cusps, and a myriad of other signs and symptoms from sore teeth to headaches.  Occlusal equilibration is often the most conservative, time effective, cost effective way to achieve an occlusion free of deflective interferences.  Dentists who have never experienced the predictable effects of equilibration, done correctly on properly selected patients may dismiss the importance of occlusal equilibration.  But learning the fundamentals and developing some necessary skills can be a significant eye opener to the value of a deflective free occlusion. It is a premise of The Dawson Academy that no dentist can practice intelligently and ethically to the highest level of patient care without the ability to achieve a perfected occlusion.  Occlusal equilibration is a “must learn” requirement for achieving that ability.

Peter E. Dawson, DDS, founder of The Dawson Academy and an expert in dental continuing education, emphasizes that dental professionals require the knowledge and skills necessary to differentiate masticatory system disorders in order to fully understand the potential of, and incorporate–when appropriate, occlusal equilibration. He notes that currently available research fails to address this. For this reason, The Dawson Academy divides masticatory disorders into four categories: masticatory muscle, intracapsular (by structures), neurological, and dental. In particular, Dawson Academy students develop a greater understanding of how successful and predictable occlusal equilibration cases can be achieved in the safest and most efficient manner based on an understanding of what constitutes a healthy and stable jaw position. Based on this knowledge, they are then instructed in the proper analysis of the TMJs, taking and mounting casts in centric relation, reshaping tooth structures, and achieving harmony between the dentition and TMJs.

According to Dr. Dawson, successful treatment when occlusal equilibration is indicated requires proper case selection, diagnostics, and treatment planning, skills that are taught comprehensively in courses at The Dawson Academy.  By emphasizing the fundamental principles for successful dental treatments, as well as effective yet controversial approaches such as occlusal equilibration, The Dawson Academy ensures that its graduates are “Complete Dentists” capable of providing comprehensive dental care for more consistent, predictable, and healthy outcomes.

Principles and procedures for addressing the masticatory system that are necessary for treating every indication often become gray areas in some continuing education programs. As a result, dentists may have difficulty  developing a comprehensive understanding of proper function–a necessity for long-term esthetic and clinical success of any restorative treatment–as it relates to specific materials or techniques.  A diluted approach to basic fundamental principles overshadowed by the introduction of new products can cause dental professionals to lose sight of the importance of the masticatory system during treatment and, ultimately, compromise the care they provide patients.

Peter E. Dawson, DDS, founder of The Dawson Academy and a leading expert in Complete Dentistry and dental continuing education, observes  that although materials and techniques have undergone significant evolutions, underlying and basic principles of the masticatory system remain consistent.  While dentists can now perform restorations that once were thought impossible, function and esthetics tend to suffer when the principles that make dentistry work are not understood and incorporated into treatment planning.

For example, it is not enough to prescribe innovative or durable esthetic materials, such as porcelain laminates and CAD/CAM restorations, to correct worn or decayed teeth in a more conservative manner. Because the condition of the temporomandibular joint—which affects the health and stability of the teeth and oral environment—depends on complete harmony within the masticatory system, long-term durability and function of any restorations will suffer if the requirements of total occlusion are not met. If these restorations fail and subsequently require re-treatment, the goal for a conservative approach is lost when basic principles are not incorporated. By merely utilizing new materials and techniques without consideration of how they will respond in the context of a properly developed occlusion, dentists fall short of the results that could be achieved.

Dental continuing education courses at The Dawson Academy provide a complete educational experience. Through a focus on the knowledge required for simple to more advanced treatments, programs at The Dawson Academy emphasize a patient’s masticatory system, including jaw joints, facial and temporal muscles, and teeth and gingival structures. Only by becoming masticatory physicians can dentists properly utilize modern techniques and materials to prevent, detect, and treat tooth diseases, tooth wear, and functional problems in a more individualized and conservative manner. Mastership of the Concept of Complete Dentistry provides the foundation for skills in sequencing and segmenting treatment plans, thereby ensuring the best oral health for patients. Demonstrating a broad and all-encompassing understanding on the importance of principle over procedure and of complete-care, graduates of The Dawson Academy’s comprehensive curricula demonstrate skills beyond merely choosing advanced materials and applying innovative techniques.

For example, experts in comprehensive esthetic restorative dentistry, including Harald Heymann, DDS, MEd, who has been cited in the literature, feel that what is best for patients are procedures resulting in the least removal of tooth structure and involve an interdisciplinary approach. By including orthodontic and periodontal therapies, dentists can achieve the best in function and esthetics in the restorative treatments they provide. Unfortunately, although dental schools emphasize thorough evaluations and individualized treatments, strict time constraints and oversaturated curricula mean esthetic restorative care is taught in its simplest form. Advanced continuing dental education courses, however, combine the application of today’s most proven esthetic materials and beneficial technologies with comprehensive knowledge of oral function, which are key to treatment success and longevity.  In particular, dental continuing education courses refine the dentist’s skills for accurately diagnosing and treating a patient’s entire oral condition, which is essential for providing only the best in function and esthetics.

At The Dawson Academy, graduates of the program demonstrate skills beyond merely choosing the most appropriate advanced materials and innovative techniques for their patient’s comprehensive esthetic restorative treatment.  By pursuing mastership of “The Concept of Complete Dentistry”,  they become master diagnosticians who thoroughly resolve dental problems in the most esthetic, functional, and conservative fashion. Incorporating this training into their practice ultimately saves their patients from years of pain, suffering, and extensive costs for repeated dental work, and it provides the dentists themselves with years of personal and professional satisfaction. Taking a comprehensive approach to esthetic restorative dentistry requires thorough diagnosis, individualized assessments, and candid discussion with patients. Experts such as James Dunn, DDS, who was cited in the May 2006 issue of Inside Dentistry, suggest that in smile make-over cases, dentists must remember that they are still biologists and physicians of the mouth. If wear or periodontal problems are discovered, they need to inform patients of the risks of non-treatment.

For this reason, dental continuing education centers like The Dawson Academy teach a systematic approach to treatment planning and the many treatment options available. To achieve the best results, factors including case specifics, patient finances, patient desires, and restoration longevity are taken into consideration.  By taking a hands-on and interdisciplinary approach, The Dawson Academy emphasizes that comprehensive esthetic restorative dentistry is about more than making teeth look esthetic, but corrects functional issues, also.
Low Volume and Greater Satisfaction: Key Concepts at  The Dawson Academy

Dentists typically struggle to master the business and marketing aspects of their practice and rely on professional seminars, doctor study clubs and associations, and the internet for information.  Because of oversaturated curricula, dental schools find it difficult to quantify successful practice building, despite the fact that it is essential for a dentist’s personal and professional growth. Therefore, it is not enough for dental students and practitioners to understand dental medicine.  They must become small business owners capable of balancing treatment planning, patient scheduling, and the concept of complete dentistry – a combination gaining prominence among better continuing dental education programs.

For this reason, the continuing dental education programs at The Dawson Academy go beyond teaching clinical skills and focus on helping dentists enhance their practice to best satisfy overall patient expectations. As a result, graduates of The Dawson Academy return to the daily practice of dentistry experiencing less stress, less frustration, and a sense of satisfaction in their chosen profession. According to Roger Levin, DDS, Chairman and Founder of Levin Group who is cited in the November/December 2008 issue of Inside Dentistry, emphasizing the value of dentistry versus the cost of dentistry is key to enhancing a patient’s experience.  Additionally, educating patients about oral care issues encourages them to come back regularly to the practice.

Such an approach is akin to the comprehensive, complete dentistry taught at The Dawson Academy, where dentists become master diagnosticians capable of completely diagnosing and solving dental problems. These masticatory physicians receive quality referrals not only from current patients, but also from colleagues. In addition, they are skilled in sequencing and segmenting treatment plans for greater case acceptance, which enables them to see a lower volume of patients who require more comprehensive, ongoing care. Levin, whose business is dedicated to helping dentists implement efficient systems within their dental offices, has commented that his clients experience success in their practices by offering segmented plans that enable patients to undergo phased treatment. This allows the dentist to present comprehensive treatment plans in segments that are more affordable and manageable by the patient. When the cost is broken down or spread out, patients are more willing to undergo some treatment over time, rather than declining the entire treatment plan.

The Dawson Academy philosophy of dental practice is the cornerstone of winning strategies that ultimately lead to the desired balance between work and life, fulfillment from the profession, and a successful dental practice. Complete Dentists who see a lower volume of patients have lower practice overhead and a better net profit, which contributes to less stress and greater personal and professional satisfaction. In 2009—a time when the majority of dental practices saw fewer patients—many dentists who completed The Dawson Academy core curriculum experienced an increase in net profit compared to 2008!
To further enhance a graduate’s ability to capitalize on the benefits of lower volume, The Dawson Academy Alumni Association provides practice-building promotions and tools to increase patient awareness of the significance of Complete Dentistry.

Experts such as John C. Cranham, DDS, who was cited in the March 2008 issue of Inside Dentistry, suggest that dental schools have difficulty fully explaining and demonstrating theories of occlusion to students in the classroom setting due to lack of time and an oversaturated curricula. Therefore, to develop a full appreciation and mastership of the topic, dental continuing education programs can provide better overall occlusion training in the philosophy, procedures, and techniques available to ensure a patient’s oral health and the durability of their restorative treatments.  Because most participants in dental continuing education courses bring some level of knowledge and practical clinical experience to these programs, they already have witnessed the symptoms and consequences of occlusal discrepancies. As a result, comprehensive dental continuing education courses are the best venues to refine their skills for evaluating, diagnosing, and treatment planning.

Since occlusal problems are often exacerbated by improperly planned restorative therapies, the occlusion training courses at The Dawson Academy prepare participants to incorporate protocols addressing all functional and esthetic parameters that affect a patient’s dentition, periodontium, and TMJ.  By emphasizing a Complete Dentistry approach, The Dawson Academy provides its students with knowledge beyond merely applying today’s restorative materials, instead educating them to develop appropriate restorations built based on conservative occlusal management and rehabilitation.  To enhance the dental practitioner’s learning experience, programs involve hands-on skills development using facebows, mounted models, articulators, radiographs, and other diagnostic tools.

Other occlusion experts–including Glenn DuPont, DDS, who also is cited in the literature–further agree that the teeth should fit evenly and comfortably, with anterior teeth taking over and posterior teeth discluding when moving laterally. Because this concept is of paramount importance to the proper and long-term function and wear of the oral system, participating in advanced continuing dental education courses therefore becomes a necessity in order to develop the knowledge and skills required to incorporate concepts of occlusal stability and predictability into the treatment planning process.

However, when choosing among the options for dental continuing education, it’s beneficial to select an institution that embraces a complete-care philosophy. Dawson Academy instructors advocate treatment planning based on individual patient needs, not generic techniques.  Because the advanced dental education courses at The Dawson Academy cultivate “Complete Dentists” who are known as masticatory system physicians, participants experience the benefit of quality referrals. Based on their comprehensive approach to restorative care, Dawson Academy participants receive referrals not only from current patients, but also from colleagues who recognize their ability to perform the least amount of dentistry required to achieve the desired and necessary outcome.

According to directors of dental continuing education courses, such as William Yancy, DDS, from the UCLA School of Dentistry, who was quoted in the October 2006 issue of Inside Dentistry, dentists are faced with practicing at a time when the new materials and techniques constantly introduced are extremely important. As a result, according to Laura Neumann, DDS, MPH, associate executive director of the division of education for the American Dental Association, who also commented in the same publication, dentists have an obligation to update their knowledge and skills through on-going quality continuing education. However, experts in continuing dental education–including Gordon Christensen, DDS, MSD, PhD, who commented in an article published in April 2008 about post-graduate education–suggest that it is not enough to attend programs offering instruction in only specific areas.

Rather, those-in-the-know believe that significant dental continuing education experiences incorporate a comprehensive curricula, one requiring attendance at lectures and hands-on courses every few weeks or months in order to improve your abilities to deliver the highest quality of care to the public. While some experts say that simple procedures can be learned without a hands-on component, others stress the importance of thorough training related to the mouth in an engaging format that encourages comprehension and competency.

Graduates of The Dawson Academy’s comprehensive curricula demonstrate skills beyond merely choosing advanced materials and applying innovative techniques. By training to thoroughly diagnose and solve myriad dental problems, they have become master diagnosticians who ensure their patients receive the comprehensive dental care they need. Additionally, mastership of the Concept of Complete Dentistry provides the foundation for skills in sequencing and segmenting treatment plans for affordability, thereby ensuring greater treatment acceptance and, subsequently, the best oral health of their patients.

It’s an indisputable fact that a quality and advanced dental continuing education program is a necessary–not optional–supplement to the instruction you receive in dental school. The enhanced and integrated training and skills development you can obtain in thoroughly diagnosing and solving dental problems sometimes cannot be taught in current four-year dental school environments, some experts believe.

However, when selecting a venue for continuing dental education, it’s important to ensure that instructors have been evaluated based on proven clinical outcomes, education, and teaching ability. In particular, they should teach what they do, and do what they teach, as well as demonstrate a “teacher’s heart”, a passion for the profession, and a desire to share what they have learned themselves.

The Dawson Academy philosophy of thoroughly diagnosing and solving dental problems is the cornerstone of the desired balance between work and life, fulfillment from the profession, and a successful dental office. Additionally, and most importantly, the comprehensive dental care such as the Complete Dentistry taught at the Dawson Academy results in more consistent, predictable, and healthy outcomes for patients.

The Dawson Academy, an institute offering advanced dental education programs, provides an experience that invigorates your passion for comprehensive dental care and serves as an integral component of your life-long learning journey beyond our classrooms. According to continuing dental education experts, what makes advanced dental education programs effective is a combination of subject matter, teaching methods, skilled instructors, and shared objectives of the educator and student. These experts generally agree that for dental continuing education courses to satisfy your needs, they should combine hands on components, relevant and proven information, have clearly defined learning objectives and curricula, promote and foster personal interaction with the instructors and your peers, and be taught by reputable instructors.

The dental education programs and dental hands on courses at The Dawson Academy represent a comprehensive curricula to develop your skills beyond choosing advanced materials and applying innovative techniques. Based on the teachings of Dr. Peter Dawson, one of the most respected and honored professionals in dental history, master instructors provide education in the Concept of Complete Dentistry, enabling graduates to thoroughly diagnose and solve dental problems, ensure their patients receive the comprehensive dental care they need, and sequence and segment treatment plans. This instruction is accomplished through a combination of hands on dental courses, mentoring by experts, professional networking, and in class studies.

Without question, the consensus among administrators in dental continuing education is that it’s nearly impossible for today’s dental professionals to thrive and provide quality care to patients without participating in on-going advanced dental education programs. At The Dawson Academy, primary concentration is given to occlusion training, temporomandibular joints, comprehensive esthetic restorative dentistry, and smile design, all of which are integral components of today’s dental practice.
At a time when the dental continuing education landscape is being overtaken by print, DVD, and leisure/get-away programs promising instant training, experts caution that you should choose your dental continuing education courses carefully. Consider the topics to be covered, location, skill and expertise of the instructors, and the program’s reputation. Also take into consideration the level of support provided when you complete the program and if ongoing learning opportunities are available.

As dental products, materials, and techniques evolve, dental continuing education becomes significantly more important for you in order to provide your patients with the best possible care. The Dawson Academy strives to support dentists in their endeavors by providing advanced dental education programs that help advance their careers and safeguard the well-being of their patients.