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Most Dawson graduates say the same thing: “I know this, I just don’t use it.”
That gap between knowing and doing costs dentists thousands of dollars in missed production every year. More than that, it costs them the satisfaction of practicing the way they know is right.
Scholar Review was built to close that gap.
This is a 2-day, hands-on clinical course that takes you back to the fundamentals of diagnosis, records, and treatment planning, the foundation of everything Dawson teaches, updated with the latest advances in airway integration, digital workflows, and modern occlusal science.
You won’t sit through lectures you already know. You’ll work through real cases, under instructor guidance, and walk away with the clinical clarity and confidence to practice Complete Dentistry the way you trained to.
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 5-30+ 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.
You remember what it felt like to examine a patient through the Dawson lens, to see the full picture, the joints, the muscles, the occlusion, the airway. Scholar Review restores that clarity. Updated diagnostic protocols and real case application reconnect you to the dentist you trained to become.
Airway. Digital records. Updated occlusal sequencing. Evidence-based refinements to what you already know. Dentistry has evolved since your Core Curriculum, and Scholar Review bridges that gap. You leave with a modern Dawson workflow that works in today’s practice environment.
Dentists who present comprehensive treatment with conviction get far more yes. The bottleneck is rarely knowledge, it’s confidence. Scholar Review rebuilds both. You’ll walk away with the clinical language, the diagnostic structure, and the case planning clarity to change how patients respond and what your monthly production looks like.
Dawson Scholars who completed Core 1, 2, or 3 and feel they haven’t fully implemented what they learned. If you finished the curriculum 5 to 25 years ago and feel rusty or disconnected from the Dawson approach, this course was built for you.
That’s exactly why this course exists. You already have the foundation. Scholar Review does not start from scratch. It meets you where you are and rebuilds from there. Most attendees describe it as “hearing it again for the first time,” but with far more clinical context and immediate applicability.
No. Scholar Review is not beginner education. It assumes you’ve already completed the Core series. You’ll revisit the fundamentals of diagnosis, records, and treatment planning through a more advanced lens, with updated clinical applications and hands-on case work that the Core curriculum alone does not include.
By restoring the confidence to diagnose and present comprehensive treatment. That confidence is the difference between a patient who accepts treatment and one who declines. Most Dawson graduates tell us the bottleneck isn’t knowledge, it’s conviction. This course rebuilds both, and gives you the clinical structure to back it up.
Directly. Dentists who implement Complete Dentistry consistently report higher case acceptance, larger average case values, and more predictable restorative outcomes. The complex cases you’ve been avoiding are already in your practice. This course helps you see them, plan them, and present them with confidence.
Because knowing and doing are two different things. If you were implementing at the level you’re capable of, you wouldn’t be asking the question. Scholar Review isn’t about the basics. It’s about removing the barriers, the hesitation, the outdated workflows, the loss of confidence, that keep skilled Dawson graduates from practicing the way they were trained.
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.
