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- Dawson Digest: CR & Occlusion
Dawson Digest: CR & Occlusion
Dawson Digest: CR & Occlusion
Dental Occlusion & Complete Dentistry 🏆
Many of us started as tooth-by-tooth dentists. But through Dr. Peter Dawson’s teachings, countless dentists have discovered what was missing: the bigger picture, how occlusion impacts the entire patient experience.
🧠Shift Your Mindset:
Moving from tooth-by-tooth to complete dentistry requires a change in thinking. It starts with a stable joint (Centric Relation) and ends with anterior teeth designed for both form and function.
🗣️Talk the Talk:
Overloading patients with technical details can overwhelm them. Instead, invite curiosity with simple, clear dialogue that helps them engage and ask questions.
🤝Build Trust:
When patients hesitate, ask gently: “Is there something else on your mind?” Often, the real barrier to care isn’t clinical, it’s emotional.
The complete dentist advocates for their patients, identifying instability and guiding them to solutions when they’re ready.
How Do You Know If You Achieved Centric Relation? 🤔
When we talk about utilizing bimanual manipulation as a way to get centric relation, one of the biggest misunderstandings we see is the tendency for dentists to think CR is achieved by forcing the jaw back to seat the condyles. When we are in a situation where we have a tight patient, or patients that are resisting, the worst thing we can do is force it.
⚡️ Bimanual manipulation provides verification of:
The correctness of the physiologic position
The alignment of the condyle-disk assembly
The integrity of the articular surfaces
✅ Steps to Achieving Centric Relation:
1. Recline patient with arms parallel to the floor, chin up.
2. Stabilize head by cradling it between rib cage and forearm.
3. Slightly stretch neck by lifting chin, keeping forearms parallel.
4. Position fingers on lower mandible border; little finger behind mandible angle.
5. Bring thumbs together in a C-shape, resting in the notch above the symphysis. No pressure.
6. With minimal pressure, have patient hinge open/close (1-2mm arc), avoiding teeth contact.
7. Once consistent hinge movement is achieved, mandible will retrude; hold firmly at hinge point.
8. Apply upward pressure with fingers, downward with thumbs, ensuring joint rotation without teeth contact.
9. Gradually increase pressure while checking for joint tenderness. Stop if patient feels discomfort.
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Warmest Regards,
Your DPO Team