Many of us began our dental careers as tooth-by-tooth dentists. We examined each tooth individually, treating the biological needs of what we saw, and moved on to the next.

When restorations fail, we often look for reasons. A common one is finding blame with a laboratory or searching for external factors. Through the teachings of Dr. Peter Dawson, many dentists and other healthcare professionals have discovered the element their practice has been missing: the bigger picture of occlusion and its impact on the complete dental care experience.

A Hidden Challenge Leads To A Broader Understanding of Dentistry

Let’s start with a familiar scenario:

A patient presents with worn anterior teeth, incisal edges worn through to the dentin, showing significant loss of structure. These aren’t just cosmetic issues; they’re red flags signaling a larger problem that demands our attention.

From the start, you know occlusal disease from its definition:

“a destructive process evident in any part of the masticatory apparatus – joints, muscles, periodontium, and teeth – as a consequence of occlusal disharmony or parafunction.”

But this definition highlights something crucial: occlusal disease isn’t isolated to only teeth.

Occlusal disease is the most common reason for restorative failure, yet it often goes undiagnosed. Many endodontic procedures, failed implants, and cases of chronic pulpitis can be traced back to malocclusion.

What makes occlusal disease particularly challenging is that patients often present with no symptoms. When asking a patient if any other dentist has addressed these signs of instability, it is not uncommon to hear previous dentists mention that these signs of instability may be due to “just aging” or “normal nighttime grinding.”

While these explanations aren’t entirely wrong, they miss a critical opportunity to address the underlying cause of the disease process.

The key question we should be asking isn’t just “What do we see?” but “How long has this been going on, and what are the implications if we don’t address it now?”

The Complete Dentistry Mindset

The transformation from a tooth-by-tooth approach to complete dentistry requires a fundamental shift in how we think about treatment.

The foundation can be simply understood in knowing that occlusion begins with a stable joint position (Centric Relation) and ends in the anterior teeth (designed with form and function). This simple concept transforms our approach to every case.

Think of the masticatory system as a triangle with three essential components:

• Joints: The foundation of stable occlusion
• Muscles: The power system that drives function
• Teeth: The end-point of our occlusal design

Each component of the masticatory system communicates directly with the brain, creating a sophisticated system that’s more precise than we often realize. For example, if our patient’s masticatory system can detect a hair-thin particle while chewing, imagine how the system responds to even minor occlusal changes.

The Diagnostic Revolution

Complete dentistry requires a systematic approach to diagnosis:

1. Comprehensive Examination

Begin with a thorough evaluation considering the entire masticatory system, not just individual teeth. This systematic approach includes:

• • Joint stability assessment
  • Muscle palpation
  • Occlusal analysis
  • Full dental evaluation

2. Proper Records

Documentation is crucial for treatment planning and tracking progress over time. Every case requires:

• • Perfect impressions or digital scans
  • Centric relation records
  • Digital facial photography
  • Mounted models on a semi-adjustable articulator

3. Treatment Planning

Before any treatment is formulated, we must have a clear understanding of the patient’s masticatory system and a vision of our desired outcome. There is a predictable path to achieve it. This involves:

• Starting with the end in mind
• Understanding your patient boundaries
• Understanding the arc of closure
• Planning to create a stable occlusion as part of the solution

Complete Dentistry Relies on Effective Patient Communication

The most challenging aspect of our profession is the art of how we communicate with our patients. We often easily overwhelm our patients by overloading them with too much technical information. A way to avoid this is to engage your patients in dialogue that invites them to be more curious. An example is to ask open-ended questions such as:

• “Has anyone explained why these teeth are wearing down so quickly?”
• “How long would you like your dental work to last?”
• “I’m noticing some patterns here – would you like to understand what they mean for your long-term dental health?”

As mentioned earlier, each patient has a combination of three types of boundaries that we need to understand and respect:

Emotional Boundaries

The psychological aspects of dental care often create the strongest barriers to treatment acceptance. Understanding these emotional boundaries can help us appreciate some of the emotional restrictions that can prevent patient acceptance of treatment:

• Fear and anxiety about dental work
• Past dental experiences
• Trust issues with healthcare providers
• Personal priorities and values

Financial Boundaries

Financial conversations can often be difficult and challenging. However, we encourage all complete care dentists to feel comfortable discussing fees. This type of barrier is necessary and essential for creating realistic treatment plans that are within those financial boundaries. Complete dentistry mindset allows you to phase complex treatment over time with respect to this type of boundary. Consider these vital financial aspects:

• Budget constraints
• Insurance considerations
• Investment priorities
• Long-term value understanding

Time Boundaries

Every patient’s life comes with opportunities and demands that sometimes create time boundaries. It is important for the complete dentist to inquire about and respect time boundaries. Successful treatment planning involves respecting these boundaries. Examples that can define these boundaries include:

• Work commitments
• Family responsibilities
• Life events and timing
• Treatment sequencing preferences

Building Trust Through Understanding

Respecting our patient boundaries builds trust. When we sense resistance or hesitation, we might ask: “I’m sensing there might be something else on your mind. Is there anything you’d like to share about what’s holding you back?”

This simple approach often reveals the real hidden barrier to accepting treatment—these barriers may have nothing to do with dentistry itself.

Leadership in Complete Dentistry

As practitioners of complete dentistry, we must think beyond individual procedures and consider our role as practice leaders. Leadership is simply the ability to inspire others, including your patients and team members. However, for you to inspire, one must consider the following:

Creating a Clear Vision

• Defining the type of practice we want to build
• Determining the patient experience we aim to deliver
• Establishing a comprehensive care philosophy
• Setting clear goals for patient outcomes

Developing Our Teams

• Helping staff understand the ‘why’ behind complete dentistry
• Investing in training and development
• Creating systems for consistent care delivery
• Empowering team members to recognize and communicate about occlusal disease

Building Sustainable Systems

The transition to complete dentistry involves changing how we treat patients and how our practices function at every level.

Creating sustainable systems ensures this comprehensive approach becomes part of our practice DNA, not just an occasional offering. These systems serve as the framework that supports our clinical excellence and helps our teams deliver consistent, predictable care.

Clinical Systems

Success in complete dentistry requires consistent, repeatable processes that ensure nothing is overlooked. Establish these foundational protocols:

• Comprehensive examination protocols
• Diagnostic records checklists
• Treatment planning procedures
• Quality control measures

Communication Systems

Clear, systematic communication helps patients understand their conditions and treatment options while building trust. Implement these essential communication tools:

• New patient experience protocols
• Case presentation methods
• Follow-up procedures
• Patient education materials
• Excellence in customer service

From Theory to Practice: The Journey to Complete Dentistry

The principles of complete dentistry provide a path for any dentist who desires the ability to solve occlusal disease problems. When implemented correctly, it becomes part of your everyday practice. When patients present with TMJ issues, multiple failing restorations, and concerns about anterior wear, they are really seeking solutions from a provider who can understand their respective masticatory system. This is the underlying request for a “healthy mouth.”

A dentist who understands this process sees things through a lens of complete dentistry. It means examining the entire masticatory system, understanding the patient’s unique concerns, and creating a predictable treatment plan that addresses both function and aesthetics.

The pathway to success in these cases follows a precise sequence:

1. Understanding specific concerns and boundaries
2. Performing a comprehensive examination of joints, muscles, and teeth
3. Taking proper diagnostic records and mounted models on a semi-adjustable articulator
4. Creating a treatment plan addressing both function and aesthetics
5. Communicating findings in a way that respects patient decision-making

The outcome? Not just beautiful teeth but a stable, functional masticatory system that will serve patients well for years to come.