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Designed for Dawson Academy graduates from 12–25 years ago who want to refresh their skills and stay current with modern advancements in Complete Care Dentistry. It revisits key concepts from Cores 1–3 with updated techniques, technologies, and hands-on exercises to strengthen confidence in diagnosis, occlusion, and treatment planning.
Others feel that they never fully implemented Complete Care into their practices. Becoming a physician of the masticatory system takes time, practice, and intention. The techniques taught at the Dawson Academy have evolved over time. Technologies have changed every facet of dentistry. In addition, there are many elements in diagnosis and treatment planning not even considered in the last decade. Airway diagnosis and it’s impact on treatment decisions was not even considered 15 years ago. 2D and 3D treatment planning has constantly evolved as we better understand bruxism and parafunction. Esthetic techniques and material selection is more important than ever as patients demand the best esthetic results.
This course is designed for Dentists who Graduated from the Dawson Academy 12-25 years ago, and need a little freshening up on their knowledge base. If you feel rusty diagnosing TMJ issues, taking CR bites, feeling confident managing bite changes with vertical dimension, or treatment planning complicated cases……..this course is for you. This class will highlight all the most important parts from Core 1,2, and 3 from the current academy curriculum and will also include hands-on exercises.
Refresh your Core 1–3 skills with modern approaches and hands-on exercises. Confidently diagnose TMJ, airway, and occlusion challenges, and manage complex cases with greater precision.
Leverage advanced digital workflows and updated restorative strategies for bruxism, vertical dimension, and worn dentition. Work efficiently while improving predictability and treatment outcomes.
Refine bite guidance, material selection, and smile design to deliver beautiful, functional results. Increase patient satisfaction, boost case acceptance, and strengthen your practice reputation.
This elective is for Dawson Academy graduates from 12–25 years ago who want to refresh their skills, stay current with modern advancements, and fully implement Complete Care in their practices.
You’ll revisit Core 1–3 concepts with updated techniques, including comprehensive exams, airway and TMJ assessment, CR bite records, 2D/3D treatment planning, esthetic restorations, provisionals, and case equilibration.
Yes. The course builds on your original Dawson training, helping you strengthen and modernize skills so you can fully integrate Complete Care principles into daily practice.
Absolutely. You’ll get guided, hands-on practice with CR bite records, Smile Wizard 2D/3D planning, anterior reconstruction, vertical dimension changes, and equilibration, all verified by instructors.
You’ll gain the skills and confidence to fully implement Complete Care using the latest advances in airway and TMJ evaluation, 2D/3D planning, esthetic materials, and digital workflows, ensuring your practice delivers modern, high-quality, and patient-focused care.
Electives are open to all dental professionals, including dentists, specialists, hygienists, and dental assistants. Most electives do not require previous Dawson Academy courses, making them a great way to enhance your skills in a specific area of dentistry.
Dawson Academy electives cover a range of focused topics, including: Restorative & Esthetics, TMD & Airway, Implants & Prosthetics and Practice & Team Development
Explore the full list of electives here.
Electives are offered in multiple locations across the United States, including Florida, Texas, and other major dental hubs. All courses are taught by experienced Dawson Faculty who actively practice dentistry, ensuring real-world application of the techniques you’ll learn.
It depends on the course. Some electives are hands-on, allowing you to practice techniques. Others are lecture-based but highly interactive with case discussions.
Yes! All electives provide CE credits, with the number of credits varying by course. You’ll receive official documentation upon completion.
You can register directly on The Dawson Academy website or contact our team for assistance. Some courses have limited seating, so early registration is recommended.
Take the next step towards mastering occlusion and smile design — without the stress of upfront costs. Explore our financing and secure your spot in Core 1 today.
Please contact The Dawson Academy at 1.800.952.2178 for full details.
ADA CERP is a service of the American Dental Association to assist dental professionals in identifying quality providers of continuing dental education. ADA CERP does not approve or endorse individual courses or instructors, nor does it imply acceptance of credit hours by boards of dentistry.
Concerns or complaints about a CE provider may be directed to the provider or to the Commission for Continuing Education Provider Recognition at ADA.org/CERP.
Leonard A. Hess, DDS is the Clinical Director at The Dawson Academy and joined the faculty in 2009. He owns Union County Center for Comprehensive Dentistry in Charlotte, North Carolina, and practices full-time in addition to teaching continuing education courses. He is a member of the editorial board for Inside Dentistry and has had over 17 articles published in peer-reviewed journals. He is also a member of the American Academy of Restorative Dentistry, AACD, ADA, AES, and NCDS. Dr. Hess began teaching continuing education courses in 2005 on topics including occlusion, smile design, treatment planning, preparation design, and practice integration of Complete Care Dentistry. He’s taught full-day continuing education courses at the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry’s national meeting, The Greater New York Dental Meeting, AACD National Meeting, Pacific Dental Conference, Ontario Dental Association meeting, and The Yankee Dental Conference. Dr. Hess has taught courses in Japan, Germany, Poland, China, and Canada.
