Why Choose Dawson Academy

The Dawson Academy isn't just about dental education; it's a transformative journey that instills integrity, confidence, and trust in every aspect of your practice.

For You, the Dentist:

Integrity: Dawson Academy's time-tested principles, rooted in Dr. Dawson's teachings, empower you to solve complex dental problems with confidence and predictability. You'll develop a deep understanding of the masticatory system, enabling you to provide proactive, comprehensive care that upholds the highest ethical standards.

Mastery: The Academy's curriculum goes beyond textbook knowledge, equipping you with the skills and expertise to become a true physician of the masticatory system. You'll learn to identify early signs of instability, preventing future complications and ensuring lasting results for your patients.

Community: By joining the Dawson Academy, you become part of a vibrant, supportive community of like-minded professionals dedicated to advancing dentistry. This network provides ongoing opportunities for learning, collaboration, and personal growth.

For Your Staff:

Confidence: Dawson Academy provides comprehensive training for your entire team, fostering a deep understanding of complete dentistry principles. This empowers your staff to educate patients, answer questions with authority, and build strong relationships based on trust.

Empowerment: A knowledgeable team is a confident team. Your staff will gain a higher sense of self-worth and job satisfaction, leading to increased productivity and a more positive practice environment.

For Your Patients:

Trust: The Dawson Academy's emphasis on a complete examination, co-diagnosis, and thorough communication builds an unparalleled level of trust with your patients. They'll understand their oral health in a way they never have before, leading to greater treatment acceptance and long-term loyalty.

Optimal Care: With Dawson Academy's comprehensive approach, your patients will receive the most advanced, personalized care available. They'll experience improved function, aesthetics, and overall well-being, knowing their dental health is in the best possible hands.

Choosing Dawson Academy means choosing a path to personal and professional fulfillment. It's an investment in yourself, your team, and your patients that yields lifelong dividends.

In-Person CE

The Dawson Academy offers 6 convenient locations: Irvine, CA; Columbus, OH; Milwaukee, WI; Palm Bay, FL; Denver, CO; and Carrollton, TX. They provide courses to dentists, dental offices (dentist and staff), and dental labs. The training is broken down into seven core fundamental courses:

Core 1: Occlusion & Smile Design

Embark on the first course in your transformative journey with Occlusion & Smile Design. Elevate your dentistry to the top 10% as you explore occlusal stability, patient communication, case acceptance, and practice management, all underpinned by timeless principles for harmonious and predictable restorative care. Experience the fusion of function and aesthetics, analog and digital workflows, and ignite your practice’s efficiency and fulfillment in ways that reshape your approach to dentistry. This course can be taken in person, or online.

Core 2: Examination & Records

Examination and Records is one of the most important dental courses that a dentist will master on the path to complete dentistry. The cornerstone of the Dawson philosophy begins with a thorough comprehensive examination and the gathering of necessary records accurately. As Dr. Dawson says “every great treatment plan comes from a well organized Records appointment”.

Core 3: Treatment Planning

This dental CE course provides a programmed approach to predictably diagnose and treatment plan both simple to extremely difficult cases. Utilizing the standardized records discussed in our dental courses Functional Occlusion- from TMJ to Smile Design and Achieving Predictable Esthetic Results each dentist will discover how to visualize optimum dentistry from an esthetic, functional, biological and structural perspective. You will learn to apply the four treatment options: reshaping, repositioning, restoring and surgical correction, which are a critical component of step-by-step dental treatment planning checklists. (Limited to 20 dentists)

Core 4: Equilibration & Orthotics

This Dawson Academy hands-on course provides continuing education for dentists who need to implement a process of occlusal therapy within their dental practice. Equilibration is a cornerstone for treatment of occlusal disease, and as such, any dentist who wishes to practice complete dentistry must know how to perform all aspects of it correctly. As a participant, you will discover the importance of the trial equilibration and be given the opportunity to adjust several different case types to ensure your complete understanding of the material presented. This complete dentistry dental continuing education course includes lectures, videos of patient treatment, and hands-on exercises to provide you with the knowledge and confidence to return home and implement occlusal treatments in your practice on Monday morning. (Limited to 20 dentists)

Core 5: Diagnosis & Airway

This restorative dental course will provide the students with the procedural knowledge to do contemporary restorative procedures at the highest level. This dental seminar will leave each student with a clear understanding of the four options of treatment: Reshaping, Repositioning, Restoring, and Surgical alternatives.

Core 6: Predictable Esthetics

This hands-on program will assist the cosmetic dentist in taking those critical steps in accomplishing anterior restorative procedures at their highest level. Restoring anterior teeth and managing dental esthetics with predictability truly represents the culmination of our understanding of how this intricate system is designed as we attempt to emulate what nature has originally created.

Core 7: Advanced Problem Solving

This dental course will provide the participant with the necessary information to solve complex dental problems. Extreme occlusal wear, anterior open bites, deep overbites, extreme overjet, and Class III malocclusions will be discussed. Neutral zone and vertical dimension will be covered in detail as it pertains to the treatment of the above problems.

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Online CE

The Dawson Academy offers a comprehensive suite of on-demand online CE courses, free webinars, and live-streamed CE content. They provide various tiers of access to suit different needs:

All Access Tier

DAWSON DIGITAL LIBRARY: Gain access to hours of online dental CE courses, instructional videos, webinars, and resources.

All Access+

DAWSON DIGITAL LIBRARY: Enjoy all the benefits of the All Access tier, plus additional resources and perks.

Live Stream Courses

Get access to all live stream courses, enabling you to participate in real-time learning experiences.

20% Tuition Savings

Benefit from savings on Core 1: Occlusion & Smile Design in-person courses.

Special Offers

Enjoy membership perks from our exclusive partners, providing added value to your educational journey.

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Study Clubs

Study Clubs for All Dental Professionals

Dawson Study Clubs redefine the learning experience for dentists at every career stage. Find a Dawson Study Club tier that best fits you and elevates your career.

Top Perks of Dawson Study Clubs

• Ignite Your Confidence: Experience a transformative journey towards mastering Complete Dentistry. Elevate your skills with hands-on sessions, cutting-edge techniques, and personalized guidance.
• Build Local Camaraderie: Connect with Dawson Dentists near you and unlock a network of like-minded professionals. Engage in live discussions, share groundbreaking ideas, and be part of your local community shaping the future of dentistry.
• Continuous Learning, Continuous Success: Be a perpetual learner with ongoing support and resources tailored to Dawson Dentists. Stay ahead of the curve with early access to the latest industry trends, research, and breakthroughs.
• Exclusive Help and Support: Receive invaluable mentorship from experienced practitioners. Tap into a wealth of knowledge, advice, and collaborative problem-solving.

Fellow Study Club

• For New Dawson Academy Dentists
• Open to all new dentists at The Dawson Academy
• Monthly 1-2 hour Virtual Meetings (CE available)
• Learning Portal Access (up to 12 CE credits)
• All meetings held online
• Dive into 12 Case Study Presentations with rotating Dawson Faculty
• Enjoy a Mini-Residency discount
• Virtual Access: Fellow Study Clubs are fully virtual
• Open to All: No prior Dawson course history required to join

Resident Study Club

• Exclusively for Mini-Residency Enrollees
• Open to any Dawson Dentist currently enrolled in a Mini-Residency
• 3 (1) hour Virtual Meetings – Dawson Faculty Led (CE available)
• Online access to “Functional Occlusion – From TMJ to Smile Design”
• All meetings held online
• Learning Portal Access (up to 29 CE credits)
• Enjoy Discounts on Dawson electives
• Virtual Access: Fellow Study Clubs are fully virtual
• Mini-Residency Access: Reserved for active Mini-Residency Students only

Scholar Study Club

• For Dawson Scholars Graduates
• Open to Dawson Scholars who have graduated
• 6 On-site and/or Virtual Meetings (CE available)
• Online access to “Functional Occlusion – From TMJ to Smile Design”
• Select your Study Club location
• Advanced Learning Portal Access (up to 46 CE credits)
• Enjoy Discounts on all Dawson Courses
• On-site or Online: Enjoy the option to pick your Study Club location
• Dawson Scholar Exclusive: Only Dawson Scholars may enroll

Study Clubs

STUDY CLUBS FOR ALL DENTAL PROFESSIONALS

Dawson Study Clubs redefine the learning experience for dentists at every career stage. Find a Dawson Study Club tier that best fits you & elevates your career.

Top Perks of Dawson Study Clubs

• Boost Your Confidence:
  • Experience a transformative journey towards mastering Complete Dentistry.
  • Elevate your skills with hands-on sessions, cutting-edge techniques, and personalized guidance.
• Build Local Camaraderie:
  • Connect with Dawson Dentists near you and unlock a network of like-minded professionals.
  • Engage in live discussions, share groundbreaking ideas, and be part of your local community shaping the future of dentistry.
• Continuous Learning, Continuous Success:
  • Be a perpetual learner with ongoing support and resources tailored to Dawson Dentists.
  • Stay ahead of the curve with early access to the latest industry trends, research, and breakthroughs.
• Exclusive Help and Support:
  • Receive invaluable mentorship from experienced practitioners.
  • Tap into a wealth of knowledge, advice, and collaborative problem-solving.

Study Club Tiers

Fellow Study Club

For New Dawson Academy Dentists

• Open to all new dentists at The Dawson Academy.
• Monthly 1-2 hour Virtual Meetings. (CE available)
• Learning Portal Access. (up to 12 CE credits)
• All meetings held online.
• Dive into (12) Case Study Presentations with rotating Dawson Faculty.
• Enjoy a Mini-Residency discount.
• Fellow Study Clubs are fully virtual.
• No prior Dawson course history required to join.

Resident Study Club

Exclusively for Mini-Residency Enrollees

• Open to any Dawson Dentist currently enrolled in a Mini-Residency.
• 3 (1) hour Virtual Meetings – Dawson Faculty Led. (CE available)
• Online access to “Functional Occlusion – From TMJ to Smile Design”
• All meetings held online.
• Learning Portal Access. (up to 29 CE credits)
• Enjoy Discounts on Dawson electives.
• Fellow Study Clubs are fully virtual.

Scholar Study Club

For Dawson Scholars Graduates

• Open to Dawson Scholars who have graduated.
• 6 On-site and/or Virtual Meetings (CE available).
• Online access to “Functional Occlusion – From TMJ to Smile Design”
• Select your Study Club location.
• Advanced Learning Portal Access (up to 46 CE credits).
• Enjoy Discounts on all Dawson Courses.
• Enjoy the option to pick your Study Club location.
• Only Dawson Scholars may enroll.

How to Join the Study Clubs

New to The Dawson Academy? Dive into the Fellow Study Club, connecting with Dawson Faculty and other Fellow Study Club members through monthly virtual meetings led by our faculty. Earn CE credits, access our rich learning portal, and enjoy savings on other programs. Mini-Residency participants explore the Resident Study Club, while Dawson Scholars have exclusive access to the Scholar Study Club. Engage, learn, and save with Dawson!

Cost

In-person cost for each core course varies – here are the details:

• Core 1: 16 CE credits, Tuition: $799-$1995
• Core 2: 22 CE credits, Tuition: $6,095 – $6,595
• Core 3: 20 CE credits, Tuition: $6,095 – $6,595
• Core 4: 20 CE credits, Tuition: $6,095 – $6,595
• Core 5: 12 CE credits, Tuition: $799 – $999
• Core 6: 20 CE credits, Tuition: $6,095 – $6,595
• Core 7: 13 CE credits, Tuition: $3,300

For virtual dental CE courses, the prices can vary depending on the course you want to take. They offer 2 bundle and save options:

Season Pass

• Full access for 12 months
• 12-month access to all 12 course recordings
• Unlimited access to absorb each top-tier program well into 2024
• Mentorship from senior faculty
• Utilize the Q&A sections for unlimited questions to the panel of resident experts, senior faculty, and special guests
• Receive feedback and recommendations for case questions from the clinical team
• Savings of $1,389

All Access Options

All access options provide extensive online CE courses, instructional videos, webinars, and resources. They also offer special membership perks from exclusive partners and savings of $288.

Scholarship Opportunity

The Dawson Academy offers a scholarship opportunity for D4 dental students: The Peter E. Dawson Legacy Scholarship. This scholarship is designed to empower D4 students to redefine excellence in restorative dentistry.

Welcome to The Dawson Academy’s Peter E. Dawson Legacy Scholarship—an exceptional opportunity for D4 students passionate about advancing their dental careers and receiving educational support right from the start. We invite all D4 dental students to apply for this dental student scholarship in 2024. This is your chance to win complementary enrollment in our 7 part Core Curriculum series. A value of over $30,000 in dental CE education.

Who This Dental Scholarship Is For:

• D4 students graduating and licensed by 06/2024.
• Commitment to learning “A Better Way.”
• Ability to attend all Core Curriculum courses within 18-24 months.
• Strong passion for Restorative, Prosthodontics, Functional, and Cosmetic Dentistry.

Why Apply?

Legacy of Excellence:

• Join a prestigious legacy inspired by Peter E. Dawson’s commitment to advancing dental care for all.

Financial Support:

• Receive over $30,000 worth of dental CE, for free.

Network and Mentorship:

• Connect with dental professionals and experienced mentors from across the nation.

Apply Now

Lecturers/Faculty Members

Leonard Hess, DDS

Clinical Director, Charlotte, NC

Leonard Hess, D.D.S. joined the Dawson faculty in 2009 and is now the Senior Clinical Director at The Dawson Academy. 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, covering topics such as occlusion, smile design, treatment planning, preparation design, and practice integration of complete dentistry. He has taught at major conferences including the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry’s national meeting, The Greater New York Dental Meeting, and others across the globe.

Carrie Botsford

President

Resident Experts

The following is a directory of the Resident Experts of The Dawson Academy faculty. Learn more about their commitment and mastery in their respective fields in their individual biography pages and articles they have written.

Kimberley Daxon, DDS

Resident Expert: Removable Prosthodontics, St. Petersburg, FL

Kimberley Daxon, D.D.S. is the Resident Expert of Removable Prosthetics and has been a Senior Faculty member for The Dawson Academy for over 20 years. She is also an owner and prosthodontist at Daxon Dentistry in St. Petersburg, Florida, specializing in complex occlusal disorders, complete dentures, team training, and implants.

Angie Gribble Hedlund, DMD

Resident Expert: Esthetics, Alpharetta, GA

Dr. Angela Gribble Hedlund is an associate faculty member who has practiced dentistry in Atlanta since 1994 and lectures on esthetic dentistry. She has received her Fellowship in the Academy of General Dentistry, an honor held by fewer than 2% of dentists in the country.

Pio Modi, DDS

Resident Expert: Implants, Toronto, ON

Andrew Reingold, DMD

Resident Expert: Digital Technology, New York, NY

Combining lifelong passions for art and science, Andrew L. Reingold, D.M.D. is considered a leader in both general and cosmetic dentistry. As a Founder and President of The Dental Continuum, Dr. Reingold has fostered the education of cutting-edge techniques for other dentists, including his published and lectured techniques for rapid tooth whitening.

Dr. Reingold graduated from The University of Pennsylvania’s School of Dental Medicine and The Mount Sinai School of Medicine’s General Practice Residency in Dentistry. He is an active member of The American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry and has been appointed a Clinical Assistant Professor at NYU’s College of Dentistry, teaching both general dentistry and esthetics. Dr. Reingold’s expertise consists of smile whitening, crowns & bridges, bonding, and porcelain veneers.

DeWitt Wilkerson, DMD

Resident Expert: Airway and Integrative Dental Medicine, St. Petersburg, FL

Dr. DeWitt Wilkerson, D.M.D. is the Resident Expert of Integrative Dental Medicine and a senior faculty member at The Dawson Academy where he leads many courses. Dr. Wilkerson joined Dr. Peter Dawson’s private practice in 1982 and now co-owns DuPont & Wilkerson Dentistry in St. Petersburg, Florida with fellow senior faculty member Dr. Glenn DuPont. He recently published his first book, “THE SHIFT– The Dramatic Movement Toward Health Centered Dentistry”.

Dr. Wilkerson has been a member of The Dawson Academy’s faculty for over 25 years and is a recognized leader in researching and educating on dentistry’s role in the diagnosis and medical management of disordered breathing. He launched The Dawson Academy’s annual Airways Symposium in 2017 and has lectured globally on integrative dental medicine, whole health dental treatments, and airway/dental sleep medicine. Additionally, Dr. Wilkerson has presented on restorative dentistry, occlusion, and TMJ disorders.

Dr. Wilkerson is the current President of the American Academy for Oral and Systemic Health, past President of the American Equilibration Society, and is actively involved with the American Academy of Restorative Dentistry, American Dental Association, and the Christian Medical/Dental Association.

Conclusion

The Dawson Academy offers an unparalleled dental education experience, combining rigorous training, comprehensive resources, and a supportive community. Whether you are looking for in-person courses, online CE, or engaging study clubs, The Dawson Academy has a program that fits your needs. Their commitment to excellence, led by a distinguished faculty, ensures that you receive the best education possible, empowering you to provide superior care to your patients and achieve professional success. Invest in your future with The Dawson Academy and take your dental practice to the next level.