Editor's Letter
Dawson Complete and Predictable Dentistry
Editor’s Letter
Peter E. Dawson, DDS
In the last issue, I explained how the WIDIOM rule has been so effective in helping me decide the best treatment for my patients. By asking “Would I Do It On Me?,” the choice of treatment is always based on a totally ethical judgment regarding what is in the best interest for each patient. In this issue, I’d like to look at the WIDIOM rule in the context of additional perspectives.
Let me put those perspectives in the form of questions all dentists should ask of themselves: If you were a patient with an occlusal problem that was causing excessive wear on the teeth, would you want a dentist to treat you if he hadn’t learned precisely how to solve your occlusal problem?
Would you want a dentist to do extensive restorations in your mouth if she attempted it without following proven rules for quality control, including a complete diagnostic work up and a verifiable treatment plan? Would it be okay with you if your dentist skipped some of the steps that guarantee a predictable result? Or just as bad—would it be okay if your dentist never learned or never implemented the proven steps for predictable success?
Would you be satisfied with dentistry that ignores the relationship between the occlusion and the TMJs? With cosmetic dentistry done by a dentist who does not understand anterior guidance, the value of immediate posterior disclusion, the cause of TMJ pain, or the importance of the neutral zone?
The full perspective of the WIDIOM rule is that it requires its practitioners to know how to solve problems and commit to a “no shortcut” rule regarding examination and treatment planning. It is a fact that today we can look after our patients’ every dental need without any reason for guessing. The knowledge is available to all who aspire to give every patient the kind of expertise and care they would want performed on themselves. If additional training is necessary to reach that level of competence, the WIDIOM rule requires that commitment.
The primary purpose of The Dawson Academy is to provide a total curriculum for any dentist who truly wants to practice WIDIOM at its highest level.
Take advantage of what we can offer to you. It is our passion to help dentists be as good as they can be.
Peter E. Dawson, DDS
Founder, The Dawson Academy
