The first course of Dawson’s Core Curriculum

Core 1: Occlusion & Smile Design

Master Occlusion, Smile Design, and Boost Your Bottom Line

Core 1: Occlusion & Smile Design, where students dive into the fundamentals of functional occlusion. This comprehensive course is designed to elevate your practice to new heights, offering a seamless integration of foundational occlusal principles with cutting-edge digital workflows. Beyond mastering the intricacies of esthetic dentistry, Core 1 provides practical strategies to reduce insurance dependency, ensuring a robust bottom line. Join us in redefining the possibilities of dental excellence and business success, positioning yourself as a leader in your community. The first step on the journey toward becoming a Dawson Scholar starts with Core 1.

Learning Objectives

Visualize the journey from an insurance-focused level of care to a patient-focused, health-oriented model
Discover why the most productive practices only need 10-12 new patients per month
Convert the dental practice to fee-for-service with ease and predictability
Motivate patients towards a higher level of health to ethically boost productivity per hour
Identify the 11 factors critical to a stable occlusion resulting in the long-term success of general and cosmetic cases
Gain confidence in diagnosing TMD-related issues and how to provide appropriate, successful orthotic/splint therapy
Understand the treatment planning relationship between the face, airway, and bite and how to identify, prior to treatment, which patients pose a risk of future instability
Eliminate porcelain chips and breakage, and uncover how these issues can erode profitability more than dentists realize
Determine tooth positioning for orthodontics, veneers, crowns, or implant-supported restorations
Utilize checklists for functional-esthetic analysis and treatment planning
Define a thorough examination process and how to implement in practice by employing diagnostic records for complete diagnosis and treatment planning
Recognize how designing a stable, minimal-stress occlusion on teeth or implants saves time, increases profitability, and reduces stress

Resources

Students will receive a comprehensive implementation plan so they can reference and take it to practice immediately.

Complete Examination Form
Photographic Full Series Checklist
Bimanual Manipulation Checklist
Functional-Esthetic Analysis Checklist
Treatment Sequencing Checklist
10-Step 3D Treatment Planning Checklist
Provisional Checklist
Lab Communication Checklist
Free Post-Course Virtual Study Session with Faculty

Course Description

Core 1 in the first course of Dawson’s Core Curriculum. Over two days, you’ll learn the requirements for occlusal stability to improve your practice–from examination and records to treatment planning to practice management.

Added material in this occlusion-led course includes patient communication, case acceptance, converting to a fee-for-service model, and more.

These timeless principles remain the foundation of quality care dentistry. True long-term success, otherwise known as predictability, in restorative care is the merger of esthetic, functional, and phonetic parameters. The foundation of The Dawson Academy is rooted in a complete understanding of how the TM joints, muscles, proprioceptive input, lower anterior teeth, upper anterior teeth, lower posterior teeth, and upper posterior teeth are designed to function in harmony with one another.

Examples will be presented for both analog and digital workflows–with bonus content catered to implementation and business management. Students will understand how integrity and fulfillment are intertwined to create the most efficient and predictable outcomes and results. This course will give you an insight and understanding that will change not only how you practice and manage, but your enjoyment of practice as well.

Course Details (In-Person)

Online Format

Purchase Your Seat

Course Advisement

Course Financing

Course Dates

March 28, 2025 - March 29, 2025
Carrollton, TX
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April 4, 2025 - April 5, 2025
Charlotte, NC
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May 29, 2025 - May 30, 2025
Scottsdale, AZ
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July 25, 2025 - July 26, 2025
Nashville, TN
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August 7, 2025 - August 8, 2025
Milwaukee, WI
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September 19, 2025 - September 20, 2025
San Diego, CA
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October 17, 2025 - October 18, 2025
Palm Bay,FL
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Join Us at Core 1

LESS INSURANCE DEPENDENCY
UNDERSTAND OCCLUSAL PRINCIPLES
TMJ ANATOMY & TMD DIAGNOSIS
SPLINT THERAPY THAT WORKS
EFFECTIVE TREATMENT PLANNING
METHODS TO BOOST INCOME

Questions about this course?

Receive personalized guidance from a Dawson Advisor.

Learn More about Top 10% Course

Transforming Practices

“I’m no longer just a single tooth, or a couple of teeth or a few veneers, type of dentist. If you have a broken down mouth, I try to find a solution.”

“Sometimes, patients will leave the office and tell my assistant at the front desk that I’m the only one in town who provides this type of care.”

Meet the instructor

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.

View a recent lecture

FAQ on Core 1

Do I have to take the rest of the Core Curriculum when I register for Core 1?

Nope! You can just take Core 1. If you’re ready to take the rest of the Core Curriculum, we’d suggest bundling all of those courses with our Mini-Residency Program.

Are there any new grad incentives for Core 1?

While we do not have a dedicated special available for new grads, we’re happy to see what options are available to you to get started with Dawson. Book a call to connect with a Course Advisor.

Is there hands-on education at Core 1?

Core 1 is a two-day lecture course and is the first course of our Core Curriculum. As you progress through the Core Curriculum, hands-on training will begin at Core 2: Examination & Records

Can I finance my Core 1 course?

Absolutely! We offer interest-free payment plans. Learn more here.

Is there lodging provided for Core 1?

Students are responsible for securing their hotel accommodations, we always suggest booking your stay near the venue. Contact us if you need any suggestions on where to stay.

What is discussed in Core 1?

Core 1 at The Dawson Academy covers the requirements for occlusal stability over two days, focusing on examination, records, treatment planning, and practice management. It includes patient communication, case acceptance, and transitioning to a fee-for-service model. The course emphasizes the principles of esthetic, functional, and phonetic harmony in restorative care, with a comprehensive understanding of TM joints, muscles, teeth, and their interactions. Both analog and digital workflows are discussed, with added content on implementation and business management. The course aims to enhance practice efficiency, predictability, and overall enjoyment in the field of dentistry.

Cancellation Policy:

For registrations paid in full at time of registering, requests to cancel or transfer registration in a Dawson Academy course, lecture, or event will be accommodated until 90 DAYS PRIOR to start date. Upon request a refund will be provided minus a $200.00 non-refundable deposit, or a one-time course, lecture, or event transfer, which remains valid for 12 months. Less than 90 days prior to course, no refunds or transfers will be issued.

*Students who finance tuition through the Lending Club financing program are subject to special terms and conditions.

Please contact The Dawson Academy at 1.800.952.2178 for full details.

The Dawson Academy is an ADA CERP Recognized Provider. 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. The Dawson Academy designates this activity for 16 credit hours continuing education credits.

The first course of Dawson’s Core Curriculum

Core 1: Occlusion & Smile Design

Master Occlusion, Smile Design, and Boost Your Bottom Line

Course Dates