The Dawson Academy Blog

By Dr. Peter Dawson

It is not possible to be a "complete" dentist without a comprehensive understanding of occlusion. Occlusion is the foundation for everything a dentist does that involves teeth. A thorough knowledge of occlusion is the basis for understanding why teeth get loose, why they wear excessively, break cusps, fracture restorations, or shift position. Occlusal disharmony is a primary consideration when dealing with sore teeth, sore muscles, and orofacial pain, including a high percentage of chronic tension headaches.

What is Occlusal Disease?

Damage to the biting surfaces of teeth is called "occlusal disease". It is the most common cause for patient discomfort and dissatisfaction with treatment. It is also the most neglected diagnosis, which is a sad commentary because early diagnosis and treatment of very recognizable signs of occlusal disease can prevent the progression of damage to the dentition. Without an in-depth understanding of occlusal principles it is impossible to be predictive in achieving a successful restorative result, even on simple restorations involving the occlusal surface. In fact, a knowledge of occlusion is essential for predictable success in treating any and all types of occlusal damage.

As an integral part of the total occlusion, the anterior teeth are a critical protector of the posterior teeth. This inter-relationship has tremendous importance for both the front teeth and the back teeth. An understanding of anterior guidance is the key to predictable comfort and long-term maintenance of the entire dentition. The development of a functionally harmonious occlusion must depend on pure guesswork if the rules for perfecting the anterior/posterior relationship are not followed. An understanding of this total functional harmony is also the guiding premise for establishing the most attractive, functional, and stable smile design as form and function are interdependent.

Is Occlusal Equilibration Important?

Occlusal equilibration is one of the most important clinical skills that is absolutely essential for adequate patient care. Knowing when, how, and why to choose equilibration over (or in combination with) other treatment modalities for correcting occlusal disharmony is a learnable skill that must not be compromised. Yet far too many dentists are lacking in this skill and they pay dearly for that shortcoming.

Started by Dr. Peter Dawson, The Dawson Academy has been teaching for decades the importance of understanding occlusion in order to provide patients with predictable, functional, and long-lasting care.

By: Dr. Neeraj Khanna

The importance of photography in dentistry cannot be underestimated. It has many purposes, like internal & external marketing or communication with specialists and laboratories. Its greatest importance, though, is to accurately diagnose conditions.  

Treatment Planning

Treatment planning starts with a complete examination and complete diagnosis.  Diagnostic records should be taken as part of a complete examination. This includes:

By Dr. Angie Gribble Hedlund

I wanted to share with you some traditional principles of crown preparation as well as some esthetic and functional techniques that I have found to be useful in my practice.

For all types of crown preparations the key principles still apply including retention form or parallel walls to prevent displacement of the crown along its path of insertion and resistance form to prevent dislodgment of a restoration by oblique forces. An appropriate marginal finish line is important to minimize microleakage and allow accessibility for optimal oral hygiene.  In addition, the marginal shoulder should have sufficient reduction to allow the cervical contour of the crown to follow the emergence profile of the tooth and preserve a healthy periodontium. 

By Dr. Laura Wittenauer

One of the biggest advantages of practicing the Dawson Academy Philosophy is being able to sequence treatment by starting with the end in mind.  This allows many of our patients to have the best treatment with the least amount of dentistry, delivered over a longer period of time, which helps patients financially and also allows them to take advantage of their dental benefits.

At the Dawson Academy we begin with a complete examination.  If any signs of instability or esthetic concerns are present, we take a CR bite record and facebow recording, a photographic series, and any necessary imaging.  Once the study casts are mounted in CR on an articulator, our 2D Functional Esthetic checklist and our 3D Treatment Planning checklist are completed.  By following this process, the dentist can sequence the treatment plan for the patient using the following stages.

By Dr. Glenn DuPont

There is nothing more critical for the practicing dentist than the abilities to both recognize occlusal instability and achieve occlusal stability. The fundamental goal of treatment planning is to achieve a result that will not cause breakdown in the stomatognathic system and to provide long-term stability.

By Dr. Jeff Scott

By: Dr. Kim Daxon

By Dr. Steven Miller

Provisional restorations play a far more important role than just a transitional role while the laboratory fabricates the definitive restoration.  Of course they function to protect the dentin and pulp from thermal, chemical, mechanical and bacterial damage, but there is much more. 

They are adjusted for ideal esthetics, phonetics and function.  Provisional restorations provide the dentist, patient and dental laboratory with “in vivo” information, as the patient test drives the restoration.  Especially when changing esthetics and function, feedback is obtained regarding contour, shape, incisal edge position, overall esthetics and function.  When dealing with periodontal procedures, such as grafting, crown lengthening and implants, they serve as a great healing evaluation tool.  Accurate records including photographs and mounted models of patient approved temporaries provide the laboratory with a functional prescription for the definitive restorations.

By: Dr. Angie Gribble Hedlund

I had the pleasure of being the teaching assistant to Glenn DuPont this fall as he led the dental treatment planning course in St. Petersburg. I really appreciated his candor in sharing with us some of his "research."  Like many of us, Glenn has done "research" on occasion on how not to treat a case. I had the blessing for 16 years of practicing alongside Ron Goldstein and David Garber. As you can imagine, there were incredible opportunities to do comprehensive esthetic dentistry. I learned early in my career and through much "research" of my own that esthetic dentistry cannot be successful without understanding proper function. As a matter of fact, it were these case complications that led me to my first course with The Dawson Academy. 

I want to address two particular areas where our desire for ideal esthetics could result in premature failures due to our patient's function.