Message Boards
Today's Active Topics Today's Active Cases Browse Forum Categories My Recent Activity My Messages Private Groups My Marked Threads My Subscriptions
Today's Active Images Today's Active Polls Most Active Topics Global Townie Map Advanced Message Board Search Message Board Terms of Use

Functional Occlusion – The Dawson Academy Way

Start Discussion
From TMJ to Smile Design
Posted: August 20, 2008

Functional Occlusion – The Dawson Academy Way
From TMJ to Smile Design
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
 
St. Petersburg, FL – August 20, 2008 – The Dawson Academy offers a lecture that identifies the key components of a complete examination – from occlusion to proper esthetics.
 
This premier two-and-a-half-day lecture, Functional Occlusion – From TMJ to Smile Design, will be led by Peter E. Dawson, DDS.  Dr. Dawson will be joined by the Academy’s faculty members: John C. Cranham, DDS, Glenn E. DuPont, DDS, Henry Gremillion, DDS, Jim McKee, DDS and DeWitt Wilkerson, DMD.  The course will take place on October 9-11 at the Tradewinds Resort in St. Pete Beach, Florida.
 
This lecture is part of The Dawson Academy’s Core Curriculum; the fee is $1,495 per student, and after completing the lecture, each student will receive 19 continuing education credits.  The lecture is available to general dentists, specialists and laboratory technicians.
 
About the Lecture
As the foundational seminar in the “Concept of Complete DentistrySM Series,” students will learn the timeless message that good, esthetic and complete dentistry must begin with a thorough understanding of occlusion and the functions of the masticatory system.  A comprehensive understanding of how the temporomandibular joint, muscles, lower anterior teeth, upper anterior teeth, lower posterior teeth and upper posterior teeth are designed to function in harmony with one another is the cornerstone of The Dawson Philosophy.  Each student will learn to produce beautiful, functionally correct restorative dentistry in an efficient, predictable and profitable fashion.  The “4 × 4” approach to treatment planning will provide each student with the ability to efficiently and systematically treatment plan.  They will also learn to recognize dysfunction in all parts of the system, and to recognize the cases that will require additional study before restoration.  They will also learn how to design a beautiful smile; one that will be in harmony with function and speech.  Students will learn a standardized approach to gathering records; one that will be consistent with all further Dawson courses, and one that will lead to consistent diagnosis and optimum treatment planning.
 
About The Dawson Academy’s Core Curriculum
Students finishing The Dawson Academy Core Curriculum will have a complete understanding of the optimum oral health and dysfunction of each part of the masticatory system as well as the supporting structures.  Additionally, students will have a profound understanding of contemporary esthetic procedures providing their patients with beautiful, functionally correct dentistry.  Treatment decisions will be based upon a standardized comprehensive examination.  Through a programmed approach to treatment planning, graduates of the core curriculum will know when reshaping, repositioning, restorative and/or orthognathic surgery is the correct option.
 
About Peter E. Dawson, DDS
Dr. Dawson is considered one of the most influential clinicians and teachers in the history of dentistry.  Dr. Dawson is the founder of the Concept of Complete DentistrySM Series as well as the Dawson Center for Advanced Dental Study, which he began in 1979.  In addition to numerous awards and special recognitions, Dr. Dawson is a past president and life member of the American Equilibration Society, and past president of the American Academy of Restorative Dentistry and the American Academy of Esthetic Dentistry.
 
About John C. Cranham, DDS
Dr. Cranham has a private practice in Chesapeake, Virginia focused on solving complex esthetic and functional problems.  An honors graduate of the Medical College of Virginia in 1988, Dr. Cranham maintains a strong relationship with his alma mater serving as an associate clinical professor.  Dr. Cranham is an internationally recognized speaker on the Esthetic Principles of Smile Design, Contemporary Occlusal Concepts, Laboratory Communication, and Happiness and Fulfillment in Dentistry as well as the founder of Cranham Dental Seminars.  An author of numerous articles, Dr. Cranham has taught more than 650 days of continuing education throughout the world.  Dr. Cranham has a strong commitment to developing sound educational programs that exceed the needs of today’s dental professional.
 
About Glenn E. DuPont, DDS
Dr. DuPont graduated from Emory University School of Dentistry in 1979 and joined the practice of Drs. Pete Dawson and Reuben “Pete” Roach in St. Petersburg, Florida.  This association provided Dr. DuPont the unique opportunity of working side-by-side with Dr. Dawson completing difficult restorative cases and developing innovative teaching techniques.  Dr. DuPont is a founding member of the Dawson Center for Advanced Dental Study and an adjunct faculty member of University of Florida College of Dentistry.  He is a member of the American Academy of Restorative Dentistry and the American Equilibration Society.  He is also past president of the Florida Academy of Dental Practice Administration.  Dr. DuPont has lectured both nationally and internationally since 1980.
 
About Henry Gremillion, DDS
Dr. Gremillion attended Louisiana State University, Louisiana State University School of Dentistry and UFCD.  Following completion of the fellowship in craniofacial pain at the University of Florida in 1991, Dr. Gremillion accepted an appointment as assistant professor in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Diagnostic Sciences with an affiliate appointment in the Department of Prosthodontics at the UFCD.  In 1992 he was named Director of the Parker E. Mahan Facial Pain Center.  He currently holds an appointment as professor in the Department of Orthodontics and an affiliate appointment in the Department of Prosthodontics at UFCD.  Dr. Gremillion also holds an adjunct professorship in the Department of Neurology at the University of South Florida School of Medicine.  He is an internationally known lecturer and serves as consultant to numerous organizations such as the U.S. Armed Forces.  He is on the editorial board of The Journal of Craniomandibular Practice, The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry, and General Dentistry.
 
About Jim McKee, DDS
Dr. McKee graduated from the University of Notre Dame and from the University of Illinois College of Dentistry.  Since 1984, he has maintained a fee-for-service private practice approximately 40 minutes southwest of Chicago in Downers Grove, Illinois.  Dr. McKee’s practice emphasis is on predictable restorative dentistry, diagnosis and treatment of TMD.  His article, “Comparing condylar position repeatability for standardized versus non-standardized methods of achieving centric relation,” was published in the Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry in March of 1998.  Dr. McKee is currently President of the American Equilibration Society and on the Executive Council of the American Academy of Restorative Dentistry.
 
About DeWitt Wilkerson, DMD
Dr. Wilkerson graduated from the UFCD in 1982, the same year he joined Dr. Dawson’s group practice in St. Petersburg, Florida.  He is a founding member of the Dawson Center for Advanced Dental Study, a Senior Faculty Member for the Dawson Academy and adjunct faculty member of UFCD.  A member of many national and international dental societies, Dr. Wilkerson has lectured extensively on the topics of Occlusion, Restorative Dentistry and the Diagnosis and Treatment of Masticatory System Disorders.  He serves on the Advisory Board for Trinity Forum and has served on numerous dental mission trips to Kenya and Romania.
 
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.
 
For more information about the classes, dates, locations, prices and continuing education credits, please contact The Dawson Academy by calling 800-952-2178 or visiting http://www.TheDawsonAcademy.com.
 
Views: 76
Start Discussion
Dentaltown Magazine
November 2025
Dentaltown Magazine November 2025 Read Current Issue Read Archived Issues
Sponsors
Townie Perks
Townie® Poll
Do you do more or less endo procedures since you started practicing?
  
Site Menu
Message Boards Magazine Continuing Education Podcasts Blogs Classifieds Dental News Events Townie® Poll Ebooks Townie Choice Awards
Company Info
Contact Us Advertise With Us Howard Farran DDS, MBA Policies and Agreements
Site Help
The Dentaltown Team, Farran Media Support
Phone: +1-480-445-9710
Email: support@dentaltown.com
©2025 Dentaltown, a division of Farran Media • All Rights Reserved
9633 S. 48th Street Suite 200 • Phoenix, AZ 85044 • Phone:+1-480-598-0001 • Fax:+1-480-598-3450