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Dawson Academy Faculty Members Teach Proper Dentistry and Treat the Needy

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Peter E. Dawson Foundation traveled to Romania in August
Posted: October 2, 2008
DF in Romania (WinCE).jpg
Dawson Academy Faculty Members Teach Proper Dentistry and Treat the Needy in Romania
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
 
St. Petersburg, FL – October 1, 2008 – With a commitment to the advancement of comprehensive dentistry worldwide, three faculty members of The Dawson Academy and board members of the Peter E. Dawson Foundation traveled to Romania in August where they presented a lecture to dentists and treated needy patients.
 
This opportunity came together because of Dr. Michael Radu, a Romanian-trained dentist, who maintains a restorative practice in Boca Raton, Florida.  Dr. Radu has attended all of The Dawson Academy’s courses in St. Petersburg, Florida and was eager to share The Dawson Philosophy with his fellow countrymen.
 
“When Dr. Radu learned three of our faculty members would be in Braila, Romania as part of a dental mission team, he jumped at the opportunity to bring together as many Romanian dentists as he could for a CE presentation,” said DeWitt Wilkerson, DMD, the Foundation’s chairman.  “Our final afternoon in Braila was available, so we all agreed to devote this time to a complimentary CE program for area dentists.  Michael started emailing 2 to 3 weeks before our trip and brought together 21 dentists eager to learn about comprehensive dentistry.”
 
Dr. Wilkerson, along with William “Bo” Bruce, DMD, and David Newkirk, DDS, presented short courses to the Romanian dentists on August 8, 2008.
 
Dr. Wilkerson added that another Dawson Academy alumnus from Bucharest, Romania, acted as a translator and was persuasive in talking about comprehensive care with his colleagues. Dr. Wilkerson is no stranger to this type of venture.  He serves on the Advisory Board for Trinity Forum and has served on numerous dental mission trips to Romania and Kenya.
 
 “Witt talked about muscle response to malocclusion and studies on the relationship of malocclusion to headaches,” Dr. Bruce said.  “His presentation included an introduction to bite splints as therapeutic and diagnostic tools, and a short introduction to equilibration.”
 
Dr. Newkirk’s spoke about the results of recent research pertaining to bonding materials and how to get the best results.  Dr. Bruce lectured on where to begin a case and a “considerations” checklist when making esthetic improvements that are functional.
 
“The dentists attending our courses were very interested in smile design and full-mouth makeovers, although the opportunity to practice this type of dentistry is extremely limited,” Dr. Bruce said.  “Many Romanians can only afford emergency dental treatment.”
 
This was very much the case in the medical/dental center where the three Dawson dentists spent four days treating patients as part of a mission team sponsored by ServingHIM (Healthcare International Ministries) based out of Dallas, Texas.  ServingHIM is a charitable organization of Christians dedicated to serving others worldwide by ministering to their physical and spiritual needs.
 
“It was rewarding to remove infection, eliminate pain and restore teeth to help extend the quality of life for the people we helped,” Dr. Newkirk said, “but it was frustrating not to be able to provide long-term comprehensive care for these individuals.  Proper oral healthcare and education have a long way to go, which also means there is a greater opportunity to help.”
 
“Our relationship with Romanian dentists is likely to grow, and more CE programs are likely to happen in the future,” Dr. Wilkerson said.  “Not only did we provide an afternoon of education, but earlier in the week we invited a few local dentists to watch us work in the clinic.  We watched them work as well, which was very informative.  Sometimes progress is made in little steps such as our first CE program in Braila, but it is from small steps that a journey of transformation is made.”
 
About The Peter E. Dawson Foundation
The Foundation was founded with a commitment to give back for the advancement of ethical dentistry, scientific research and worldwide dental outreach programs to help the less fortunate.  The Foundation supports the education of dentists all over the world, including dentists who do not have the training  available in the United States and those whose patients cannot afford or do not know about proper oral health care. In addition to its outreach program, another of the Foundation’s goals is to provide an annual opportunity for new dental school graduates to learn key fundamentals for successful and ethical practices, new practice start-up tips, and concepts for financial security and practice management for a balanced family life.
 
About DeWitt Wilkerson, DMD
Dr. Wilkerson is a founding member of the Dawson Center for Advanced Dental Study, a Senior Faculty Member for The Dawson Academy and an adjunct faculty member of University of Florida College of Dentistry.  A member of many national and international dental societies, Dr. Wilkerson has lectured extensively on occlusion, restorative dentistry and the diagnosis and treatment of masticatory system disorders.
 
About William “Bo” Bruce, DMD
Dr. Bruce is an internationally recognized speaker on functional aesthetics and occlusion.  He has been a featured lecturer for the American Dental Association, British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, and many more.  Dr. Bruce graduated from the Medical University of South Carolina and is a distinguished faculty member and instructor at The Dawson Academy.  He is one of only 240 world-wide Accredited Members of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.  He is an internationally published author and recipient of certificate of appreciation from the American Equilibrium Society for his significant contribution in the field of occlusion.  Dr. Bruce has a private practice in Simpsonville, South Carolina geared toward solving complex restorative and esthetic problems.
 
About David “Dave” Newkirk, DDS
Dr. Newkirk graduated from Loyola University School of Dentistry in 1993. A native of the Chicago area, he maintains a fee-for-service practice in Naperville, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. Dr. Newkirk is a former Associate Clinical Professor of Northwestern University School of Dentistry. He enjoys treating occlusal-related problems and focuses his practice on esthetic and restorative dentistry. Dr. Newkirk is a member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry and the American Equilibration Society.  He currently lectures nationally and internationally including engagements in Australia, New Zealand, England and Romania on functional esthetic dentistry and practice management.
 
For more information about the Peter E. Dawson Foundation, please call 800-952-2178 or visit http://www.PeterDawsonFoundation.com. 
    
 
Figure Caption—Faculty members of The Dawson Academy and board members of the Peter E. Dawson Foundation traveled to Romania in August where they presented a lecture to local dentists.
 
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