Our hands-On dental continuing education courses at The Dawson Academy are limited in enrollment to afford participants the maximum opportunity to practice the skills in a hands-on format.
We utilize state of the art learning techniques to insure that students go beyond just understanding principles to actually being able to implement the concepts and skills in thReeir practices.
Core Curriculum: Hands-On Series
Comprehensive Examination & Records
Comprehensive Examination and Records is one of the most important dental courses that a dentist will master on the path to complete dentistry. The cornerstone of the Dawson philosophy begins with a thorough comprehensive examination and the gathering of necessary records accurately. As Dr. Dawson says “every great treatment plan comes from a well organized Records appointment.” (Limited to 20 dentists)
Treatment Planning Functional Esthetic Excellence
This dental ce course provides a programmed approach to predictably diagnose and treatment plan both simple to extremely difficult cases. Utilizing the standardized records discussed in our dental courses Functional Occlusion- from TMJ to Smile Design and Achieving Predictable Esthetic Results each dentist will discover how to visualize optimum dentistry from an esthetic, functional, biological and structural perspective. You will learn to apply the four treatment options: reshaping, repositioning, restoring and surgical correction, which are a critical component of step-by-step dental treatment planning checklists. (Limited to 20 dentists)
The Art & Science of Equilibration
This Dawson Academy hands on course provides continuing education for dentists who need to implement a process of occlusal therapy within their dental practice. Equilibration is a cornerstone for treatment of occlusal disease, and as such, any dentist who wishes to practice complete dentistry must know how to perform all aspects of it correctly. As a participant, you will discover the importance of the trial equilibration and be given the opportunity to adjust several different case types to insure your complete understanding of the material presented. This complete dentistry dental continuing education course includes lectures, videos of patient treatment, and hands-on exercises to provide you with the knowledge and confidence to return home and implement occlusal treatments in your practice on Monday morning. (Limited to 20 dentists)
Restoring Anterior Teeth
This Dawson Academy continuing education esthetics course is a hands-on program that will assist the cosmetic dentist in taking those critical steps in accomplishing anterior restorative procedures at their highest level. Restoring anterior teeth and managing dental esthetics with predictability, truly represents the culmination of our understanding of how this intricate system is designed as we attempt to emulate what nature has originally created. Through the use of lecture, clinical videos, and hands-on exercises the restorative dentist will develop the confidence in diagnosis, material selection, preparation design and the creation of key indices to insure predictability in delivering exquisite anterior restorations. (Limited to 20 dentists)
Advanced Restorative Track: Hands-On Series
Mastering Complex Cases
Mastering Complex Treatment Planning, formerly called Mastering Complex Cases, is an intensive, hands-on class that will take your dental knowledge to the highest level – implementation. By diagnosing, treatment planning and developing a plan for phasing treatment, your confidence and competence to successfully treat major restorative cases will soar.
Mastering Interdisciplinary Treatment
This mastery level dental continuing education course is limited to twelve participants for maximum interaction and instruction. In addition to the challenging cases presented in this course, each student will bring and present a complex case for analysis. A standardized protocol will be sent in advance of attendance. Come and study with a small group of like-minded professionals and leave with the confidence and ability to solve any restorative challenge.
Dental Medicine Track: Hands-On Series
TMD Patient: Diagnosis & Treatment*
This course will pick up where Comprehensive Examination and Records left off and teach a systematic process for advanced records when TMD pathology is suspected. A systematic process for the evaluation, differential diagnosis and treatment/management of patients exhibiting signs and symptoms of TMD will be developed. A significant focus will be placed on occlusal splint therapy and the development of an individualized patient management plan of which splint therapy is one component. The use of occlusal splint therapy in cases of nocturnal bruxism, during and following treatment of certain restorative cases will be included.
*Formerly Advanced Diagnostics & Phase 1 Treatment
Evaluation, Diagnosis and Treatment of Sleep Disorders
Evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of sleep disorders is one of the hottest topics in Dentistry. Approximately 40 million people in the U.S. are chronic sufferers from sleep disordered breathing problems. Less than 10% have been diagnosed or sought treatment. Obstructive sleep apnea can severely impact the quality of life, as it can lead to an increased risk for heart excitation, high blood pressure, diabetes, memory impairment, daytime sleepiness, poor concentration, heart attacks and strokes. Every dental practice has potentially several hundred patients at risk.The goal of this workshop is to equip each participant/team, to gain the knowledge and tools, to immediately go home and begin integrating Dental Sleep Medicine into their Dawson philosophy practice.
Practice and Professional Growth: Hands-On Series
Implementing Complete Care Dentistry
This two-day program is designed for the Dentist and the key team members from the business and clinical staff. The purpose is for the team to come home with a unified vision of how to schedule, the specific roles of each team member in the new patient process, the required verbal skills both on the phone and chairside, and the programmed approach to case presentation. This is a retreat that will ignite the potential within your practice.
Hygienist’s Role in Supporting Complete Dentistry
This two-day dental hygienist course is designed to significantly enhance the dental hygienist’s knowledge of complete dentistry as it relates to periodontal health and occlusal stability. The hygienist will learn that the key to long-term success of optimum health begins with a thorough understanding of the masticatory system and the use of centric relation. Through both hands-on exercises and lecture, the hygienist will understand the complete exam process, identify signs of occlusal instability and how they relate to patients’ symptoms and periodontal disease. He/she will also learn communication skills necessary to transition patients to a “complete” dental practice.
Dental Assistant’s Role in Supporting Complete Dentistry
This two-day dental assistant continuing education course is designed to teach dental assistants the skills necessary to support their dentists in diagnosis and treatment planning. A programmed approach to gathering patient information and records is the basis of the class. The role that technological advances in digital photography, computer diagnostics and mounted digital casts play in the assistant’s job is also covered in this intense hands-on dental assistant course.
