DentistryOnline courseGnathology
The Dawson approach to occlusion — centric relation, anterior guidance, vertical dimension and a complete functional-aesthetic exam
Peter E. Dawson, founder of the Dawson Academy, and co-clinical director John C. Cranham present the Academy’s foundation seminar in Functional Occlusion: From TMJ to Smile Design. Across 14 sections and about 71 short videos (10 h 53 min, plus a PDF manual), the course explains how joints, muscles and anterior and posterior teeth work as one system, and turns that into an examination and records routine you can run on every aesthetic or restorative case.
- 14sections
- 71lessons
- 10 h 53 minof video
- PDFcourse manual
What you’ll be able to do
- Recognise occlusal disease and the patients at risk of instability before you start treatment
- Verify centric relation and understand adapted centric posture
- Decide when it is safe to open the vertical dimension and when it is not
- Place anterior teeth within the envelope of function and neutral zone for veneers, crowns and implants
- Run a full examination with photos, facebow and mounted models
- Classify condyle-disc derangements with the Dawson and Piper systems and plan splint therapy
Inside the course
Principles and anatomy
The inverted tripod, the functionally generated path and the requirements of a stable bite lead into masticatory design, TMJ anatomy, the condyle-disc assembly and six short lessons on centric relation.
Muscles, vertical dimension and tooth position
Muscle harmony, determinants of tooth position, the argument against bite-raising appliances, the neutral zone and overjet, and the occlusal plane are taken one by one.
Anterior and posterior teeth
The long-centric concept, functional smile design and a contouring sequence are shown on case examples, followed by posterior occlusal requirements — the basis for explaining why porcelain chips and how to prevent it.
Exam, records, analysis and dysfunction
The longest block, 2 h 24 min, shows the preclinical interview, scheduling, photography, TMJ and occlusal exam, co-diagnosis, impressions and mounting. Instrumentation, condylar and anterior guidance paths, derangement progression, classification and splints then lead into two treatment-planning case studies.
Built for
- Restorative and cosmetic dentistsA dependable way to know where teeth should go before prepping veneers or crowns.
- Dentists new to occlusionThe classic entry seminar of the Dawson philosophy, broken into short videos.
Curriculum
Course manual (1 min, PDF) 2 lessons
- Course Manual Functional Occlusion – TMJ to Smile Design (PDF)
- Tutorial: how to access your manual
I. Occlusal Principles (55 min) 6 lessons
- Recognizing Occlusal Disease
- Understanding Occlusal Principle
- Inverted Tripod Concept
- Two must know factors of Occlusion
- Three Requirements for Occlusal Stability
- Functionally generated path
II. The TMJs (32 min) 4 lessons
- Design of the Masticatory System
- Anatomy of the TMJ
- Condyle Disk Assembly
- Signs of Instability
III. Centric Relation (57 min) 7 lessons
- Understanding CR part 1
- Understanding CR part 2
- Understanding CR part 3
- Understanding CR part 4
- Understanding CR part 5
- Understanding CR part 6
- Adapted Centric Posture
IV. Masticatory Musculature (37 min) 4 lessons
- Understanding the Role of Muscle
- Principles of Functional Harmony
- Requirements for Occlusal Stabilization
- Determinants of Tooth Position
V. Vertical Dimension (39 min) 3 lessons
- Vertical Dimension
- Fallacy of bite raising appliance
- Altering Vertical Dimension
VI. Neutral Zone (33 min) 4 lessons
- Neutral Zone Part 1
- Neutral Zone Part 2
- Neutral Zone Treatment of Overjet
- Occlusal Plane
VII. Plane of Occlusion (10 min) 1 lesson
- Plane of Occlusion
VIII. Anterior Teeth, Long Centric, Envelope of Function (1 h 4 min) 7 lessons
- Anterior Teeth
- Anterior Teeth Part 2
- Anterior Teeth Functional Smile
- Anterior Contouring Sequence
- Anterior Contouring Sequence Part 2
- Case Example Anterior Teeth Part 1
- Case Example Anterior Teeth Part 2
IX. Posterior Teeth (9 min) 1 lesson
- Posterior Teeth
X. Complete Examination Process, Records (2 h 24 min) 15 lessons
- Complete Examination
- Creating a schedule
- Welcome Preclinical Interview
- Preclinical Walkthrough
- Photography Introduction
- Setup and Photos Part 1
- Setup and Photos Part 2
- TMJ Occlusal Exam Overview
- TMJ Occlusal Exam Part 1
- TMJ Occlusal Exam Part 2
- Co-Diagnostic Process
- Additional Records
- Occlusal Analysis Introduction
- Impressions, Facebow
- Mounted Models
XI. Occlusal Analysis (54 min) 7 lessons
- Understanding instrumentation
- Understanding instrumentation (continued)
- Protrusive Condylar Path
- Lateral Condylar Path
- Recording Anterior Guidance Path, part 1
- Recording Anterior Guidance Path, part 2
- Recording the Condylar Path
XII. Dysfunction (1 h 29 min) 9 lessons
- Dysfunction: Dawson Classification
- Condyle Disc Derangements
- Condyle Disc Derangements part I
- Progression of Condyle Disk Derangements
- Condyle Disk Derangements
- TMD Classifications
- Piper Classification criteria
- Piper Classification Stages
- Occlusal Splints
XIII. Treatment Planning (24 min) 2 lessons
- Treatment planning case study – part 1
- Treatment planning case study – part 2
Before you buy
Are the videos long lectures?
No. Most sections are split into clips of a few minutes each, so the 71 items average under ten minutes.
Is hands-on articulator work included?
Facebow transfer, mounting and instrument settings are demonstrated on video, but there is no hands-on component in an online course.
Is the manual included?
Yes, a PDF course manual comes with the videos, along with a short tutorial on accessing it.
Do I get CME credit or a certificate?
No. Clinicapedia provides the educational content only — no CME or CE credits, MOC points or certificates of completion are included with this product.
Specifications
| Format | Online video course + PDF manual |
|---|---|
| Instructors | Peter E. Dawson · John C. Cranham |
| Contents | 14 sections · 71 lessons |
| Duration | 10 h 53 min |
| Access | Lifetime, self-paced |
| Department | Dentistry |
| Delivery | Instant download · lifetime re-download |
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