Identifying a systematic approach to understanding centric relation dentistry and the importance of healthy occlusion must be taught to all dental professionals, including hygienists.

The Dawson Academy recognizes and understands what optimum oral health must look like.  That’s why it now is offering a new hands-on course teaching healthy occlusion to hygienists.

The Hygienist’s Role in Supporting Complete Dentistry is a two-day course and will be given by Kimberley D. Daxon, DDS, and Joanne E. Schultz, RDH.  The course will take place Oct. 9-10, 2008 at The Dawson Academy in St. Petersburg, FL, and is limited to 20 hygienists.

The Hygienist’s Role in Supporting Complete Dentistry

About the Hands-on Course
This course is designed to significantly enhance the hygienist’s knowledge of complete dentistry as it relates to periodontal health and occlusal stability.  The hygienist will learn that optimum oral health begins with a thorough understanding of the masticatory system and the use of centric relation.  Through both hands-on exercises and lecture, the hygienist will study the complete exam process, learning to identify signs of occlusal instability and how they relate to patients’ symptoms and periodontal disease.  Hygienists will also learn communication skills necessary to transition patients to a “complete” dental practice.  Designed to parallel the dentists’ curriculum, this course will reinforce the hygienist’s vital role in bringing the practice full circle for the development of optimum oral health and longevity for all patients.

This hands-on course, which falls under The Dawson Academy’s Practice & Professional Growth Track, is $1,295 per hygienist.  Hygienists completing the course will receive a total of 14 continuing education credits.

About Kimberley D. Daxon, DDS

Dr. Daxon has been practicing dentistry since 1993.  A native of Fort Pierce, FL, Dr. Daxon is a graduate of the University of North Carolina School of Dentistry in Chapel Hill.  Following graduation, she served a one-year general practice residency at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, MA, and a two-year prosthodontic residency at Harvard School of Dental Medicine and the Veterans Administration.  Dr. Daxon joined the practice of Drs. Pete Roach, Glenn DuPont, Dewitt Wilkerson and Kenneth Grundset in 1998.  She holds awards from the International College of Dentists and the Academy of Oral Medicine.  Dr. Daxon is a member of the American Dental Association, the American College of Prosthodontists, the Florida Prosthodontic Association, the Academy of General Dentistry and Tampa Junior League.

About Joanne E. Schultz, RDH

Ms. Schultz began her dental career in 1973 as a dental assistant, and joined the practice of Drs. Peter Dawson and Pete Roach in 1978.  In 1979, she received her hygiene degree from St. Petersburg College. Today, after 29 years, she continues to work for the same practice, which is now known as the International Center for Complete Dentistry.

About Practice & Professional Growth Track

In order to reach its full potential, the entire dental team needs to understand and support the mission of the practice.  In this Track, seminars and workshops provide clinical and behavioral education for all team members as well as training in entrepreneurship and leadership.  The Dawson Academy’s growing offerings in this Track are designed to develop the non-clinical competencies that are often the missing link in the dental practice.  Because these programs are part of the integrated curriculum, the messages are consistent with the clinical teachings and support the systems and processes needed to implement complete dentistry.

About The Dawson Academy

The Dawson Academy is the result of merging the Dawson Center with Cranham Dental Seminars and Lee Culp’s Institute for Oral Art and Design, and the addition of Dr. Henry Gremillion to the leadership team.  The Academy is dedicated to teaching the principles and skills necessary for the successful practice of complete, quality, predictable dentistry with primary concentrations in occlusion, the temporomandibular joints and comprehensive restorative dentistry.  The Academy covers four areas of study: the Core Curriculum, Advanced Restorative Principles and Procedures, Dental Medicine, and Practice and Professional Growth.