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3 Questions With Dr. John Heimke

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Dentaltown Magazine

When it comes to cosmetic dentistry, Dr. John Heimke is one of the best doctors in the business: He’s a master and instructor for the Digital Smile Design curriculum, a fellow of the Pierre Fauchard Academy and one of only eight dentists in the world inducted into Oral Design, a Swiss-based group of 138 master dental technicians and dentists who’ve studied with master ceramist Willi Geller. So it’s no surprise that the patient in “A Dynamic Duo,” Heimke’s article in this issue, is a prominent dental professional himself and sought out Heimke for an aesthetically pleasing solution to a full-mouth rehab and bite management case. In our exclusive Q&A, Heimke talks more about his association with Oral Design, some of the principles involved and how dentists can soon learn even more firsthand.
1. How did you connect with Willi Geller, and what was involved with becoming inducted into the Oral Design group?
For more than 20 years, I had already teamed with Oral Design members and master ceramists Peter Kouvaris in New York and Pinhas Adar in Atlanta. And through Dr. Larry Rosenthal’s Aesthetic Advantage continuum, I learned about Oral Design and Willi Geller.

Each member of Oral Design was hand-picked by Mr. Geller, who selectively invites dentists and dental laboratory technicians to visit and study at his lab in Zurich. I was honored to become a member in 2019; today, there are 138 members worldwide, only eight of whom are dentists. Each person brings something special to the group, but we all have the passion and drive to better the field of dental aesthetics, and dentistry in general, using the face as the basis for smile design.

2. At your Ohio practice, your signature Facial Aesthetic Design process takes into account factors such as skin color, nose shape and even personality. How might these details steer the direction of a treatment plan?
Being a student of the face and facial characteristics is the key to Oral Design, and Mr. Geller isn’t alone in this concept—it’s also an important component of the Digital Smile Design program founded by Dr. Christian Coachman. I start by mentally “gridding off ” the face in conversation with the patient at the consult, and use photos and video to study facial dynamics. From there, the Oral Design team of dentist and master ceramist knows how to address facial and smile asymmetries, light reflectivity and shade dynamics to create the beauty and personality associated with natural facial harmony.

3. When it comes to cosmetic dentistry, what is the top way general dentists could improve their clinical capabilities?
To improve your aesthetic dentistry skill set, start by taking diagnostic photos and video and sharing them with your lab technician. Also, consider 3D face scans and intraoral scans. Start with additive cases, then build up to larger cases.

From there, take advanced training from a well-regarded clinical facility, such as Aesthetics Advantage, the FMR program, the Kois Center, Spear Education or Strupp Brumm Seminars. And this year, Oral Design master dental technician Peter Kouvaris and I will begin an over-the-shoulder training program at dentists’ offices. [For more information about the program, email jheimkedmd@gmail.com.]
Dentaltown Magazine
October 2025
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