Dr. Leonard Hess, DDS

Dr. Leonard Hess, DDS

Dr. Leonard Hess began teaching continuing education courses in 2005, and the topics include occlusion, smile design, treatment planning, preparation design, and practice integration of complete dentistry.

He’s taught full-day continuing education courses at the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry’s national meeting, The Greater New York Dental Meeting, AACD National Meeting, Pacific Dental Conference, Ontario Dental Association meeting, and The Yankee Dental Conference.

Dr. Hess also has taught courses in Japan, Germany, Poland, China, and Canada.

Dr. Hess is currently serving as the Senior Clinical Director at The Dawson Academy. He also owns Union County Center for Comprehensive Dentistry in Charlotte, North Carolina.

centric relation

How Do You Know If You Achieved Centric Relation?

By: Dr. Leonard A. Hess, DDSClinical Director, The Dawson AcademyThe Article Originally Appeared on TheDawsonAcademy.comLearn about Occlusion…

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load test tmjs

Dentists: Why Should You Load Test the TMJs?

By: Dr. Leonard A. Hess, DDSClinical Director, The Dawson AcademyThe Article Originally Appeared on TheDawsonAcademy.com Properly loading…

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changing vertical dimension

Changing Vertical Dimension: When is it Safe?

By: Dr. Leonard A. Hess, DDSClinical Director, The Dawson AcademyThe Article Originally Appeared on TheDawsonAcademy.com If you…

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How Does the Occlusal Plane Relate to the Anterior Teeth? By: Dr. Leonard A. Hess, DDS Clinical Director, The Dawson Academy The Article Originally Appeared on TheDawsonAcademy.com One of the most common mistakes I see in occlusal restorations is also the easiest mistake to observe. It is interference of the posterior teeth with the anterior guidance. A perfected occlusion allows the anterior teeth to contact in centric relation simultaneously and with equal intensity with the posterior teeth. This harmony of contacts occurs with complete seating of the condyles at their most superior position, which is bone braced. This means that there is an ideal distribution of compressive contact starting at the TMJs, and continuing all the way through front tooth contact. This is the contact distribution that we want for centric relation. When the jaw moves from centric relation, in a perfected occlusion only the anterior teeth contact. All posterior teeth distal to the cuspids should immediately separate. This is called “posterior disclusion”. Separation of the posterior teeth should occur, whether the jaw moves forward, left, or right from centric relation. The reason that posterior disclusion is such a desired effect is that the moment the posterior teeth separate, almost all of the elevator muscles shut off. This reduces the horizontal forces against the anterior teeth which are carrying all the forces in protrusive or lateral movements of the mandible. it also reduces the loading forces on the TMJ’s. But even more importantly, it is impossible to wear or overload the posterior teeth if they cannot rub. Keep Reading: How to Use Splints in Your Treatment Plan

How Does the Occlusal Plane Relate to the Anterior Teeth?

By: Dr. Leonard A. Hess, DDSClinical Director, The Dawson AcademyThe Article Originally Appeared on TheDawsonAcademy.com One of…

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anterior teeth

Why Do I Keep Having to Adjust the Anterior Teeth When Restoring?

By: Dr. Leonard A. Hess, DDSClinical Director, The Dawson AcademyThe Article Originally Appeared on TheDawsonAcademy.com One of…

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splints in treatment planning

How to Use Splints in Your Treatment Plan

By: Dr. Leonard A. Hess, DDSClinical Director, The Dawson AcademyThe Article Originally Appeared on TheDawsonAcademy.com Hi, everybody,…

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clinical failures

Why am I Experiencing Clinical Failures?

By: Dr. Leonard A. Hess, DDSClinical Director, The Dawson AcademyThe Article Originally Appeared on TheDawsonAcademy.com If we’ve…

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what script do i need to order an mri for a patient

What Script Do I Need To Order an MRI for a Patient?

By: Dr. Leonard A. Hess, DDSClinical Director, The Dawson AcademyArticle Originally Appeared on TheDawsonAcademy.com So what script…

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Vertical Dimension Confusion

By: Dr. Leonard A. Hess, DDSClinical Director, The Dawson Academy There is no topic more confusing and…

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dental fuel

The Art of Listening: Clinical Mistakes with Dr. Chad Duplantis on Dental Fuel

By Chad Duplantis, D.D.S, F.A.G.D | October 16, 2024

Host: Dr. Tanya Sue MaestasGuest:  Dr. Chad DuplantisEdited By: Candy Velez CRDH In this episode of Dental Fuel, our host, Dr. Tanya-Sue Maestas, sits down with Dr. Chad Duplantis, a seasoned restorative dentist based in Fort Worth, Texas. With decades of experience and a passion for technology in dentistry, Dr. Duplantis shares invaluable insights for…

cultivate leadership in your dental practice team

Building Self-Esteem & Long-Term Commitment: How to Show Appreciation to Your Dental Team 

By Dawn Patrick | October 14, 2024

By: Dawn Patrick, Dental Coach + Director of Operations, IgniteDDS  In any dental practice, the team is its core. When they feel appreciated, their self-esteem rises, confidence grows, and they’re more likely to stay long-term. Showing consistent and genuine appreciation is not just a gesture—it’s an ongoing strategy to build a committed, high-performing team. This…

A Challenging Hybrid Overdenture Case

A Challenging Hybrid Overdenture Case

By Dr. Lee Ann Brady | October 11, 2024

By: Dr. Lee Ann Brady, DMDThis topic originally appeared on Pankey.org. Dr. Brady granted permission for igniteDDS to share with our readers. Dentistry is a life-learning career, and everyone encounters some cases through their career that challenge their clinical skills. That’s a positive thing, it motivates us to explore more and advance our skills further,…

dentist creating a better financial situation

When to Change Financial Advisors

By Todd Doobrow, CFP | October 9, 2024

By: Todd Doobrow, CFP Break-ups are rarely ever fun but are often necessary to help us keep moving forward.  Whether firing a difficult patient or moving on from a significant other, closing one door hopefully leads to another opening. This is no different when thinking about your relationship with your financial advisor. As your needs…

challenging communication in difficult situations

Challenges & Benefits of Working in Healthcare

By Savanah Craig | October 7, 2024

By: Dr. Savanah Craig Working in healthcare is challenging for many reasons. I would bet that most people in healthcare are high-achieving and have a strong desire to help others. This makes people susceptible to burnout. Dentists, however, have the added level of patient fear, distrust, and isolation to contend with. Spend enough time with…

How to Master a Complete Dental Examination

By Dr. Leonard Hess, DDS | October 4, 2024

By: Dr. Leonard A. Hess, DDS, Clinical Director, The Dawson AcademyThis article originally appeared on TheDawsonAcademy.com, Dr. Hess allowed igniteDDS to share with our readers. The key to offering complete dentistry starts with a thorough complete dental examination, but the order and how each Dentist explains this to patients can vary. 4 Steps to a…

strong dental team culture

Building a Strong Culture with Your Dental Team: The Foundation of a Thriving Practice 

By Dawn Patrick | October 2, 2024

By: Dawn Patrick, Dental Coach + Director of Operations IgniteDDS  In the ever-evolving world of dentistry, clinical skills and patient care are paramount. However, the success of a dental practice isn’t driven by technical expertise alone. Behind every flourishing practice is a unified, motivated, and engaged dental team that works seamlessly together. The key to…

sedation dentistry

Improving Efficiency in Dental Treatment Room Turnover

By Ronda Holman | September 30, 2024

By: Ronda Holman One of the common frustrations in a dental practice is when treatment room turnover takes longer than necessary. This delay can create bottlenecks, lead to patient dissatisfaction, and disrupt the schedule. Teaching a dental assistant to clean and set up a treatment room efficiently is essential for maintaining a smooth workflow. 5…

locus of control

Shifting ‘The Locus of Control’ Towards a True Partnership

By Dr. Brad Weiss | September 27, 2024

By: Brad WeissThis topic originally appeared on Pankey.org. Dr. Weiss granted permission for igniteDDS to share with our readers. As a maximizer, I’m always tweaking processes to try to make things a little better. A few years back on the advice of a wise mentor, I made a small change to the last question I…

cultivate leadership in your dental practice team

Building & Maintaining a Strong, Committed Dental Team: A Comprehensive Guide for Long-Term Success 

By Dawn Patrick | September 25, 2024

By: Dawn Patrick, Dental Coach + Director of Operations IgniteDDS  The success of any dental practice is rooted in the strength of its team. As a dentist and business owner, the challenge of managing a team while balancing clinical duties can feel overwhelming. However, creating a culture of engagement, accountability, and commitment is crucial for…