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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.
Complete Examinations in Dentistry
By: Dr. Leonard A. Hess, DDSClinical Director, The Dawson AcademyThe Article Originally Appeared on TheDawsonAcademy.com. Dr. Hess…
How To Track Key Dental Practice Performance Metrics
By: Dr. Leonard A. Hess, DDSClinical Director, The Dawson AcademyThe Article Originally Appeared on TheDawsonAcademy.com Measure What’s…
Top Phone Greeting Tips for Dental Practices
By: Dr. Leonard A. Hess, DDSClinical Director, The Dawson AcademyThe Article Originally Appeared on TheDawsonAcademy.com In today’s…
How to Master a Complete Dental Examination
By: Dr. Leonard A. Hess, DDS, Clinical Director, The Dawson AcademyThis article originally appeared on TheDawsonAcademy.com, Dr….
How Do You Know If You Achieved Centric Relation?
By: Dr. Leonard A. Hess, DDSClinical Director, The Dawson AcademyThis article originally appeared on TheDawsonAcademy.com, Dr. Hess…
TMJ 101: The Best TMD Treatment Options For Dentists
By: Dr. Leonard A. Hess, DDSClinical Director, The Dawson AcademyThis article originally appeared on TheDawsonAcademy.com, Dr. Hess…
What is Fremitus and Why Should You Check For It?
By: Dr. Leonard A. Hess, DDSClinical Director, The Dawson AcademyThis article originally appeared on TheDawsonAcademy.com, Dr. Hess allowed igniteDDS to…
Dentist Education: How Do I Predictably Prep Second Molars?
By: Dr. Leonard A. Hess, DDSClinical Director, The Dawson AcademyArticle originally appeared on TheDawsonAcademy.com, Dr. Hess allowed…
Sequencing a Full-Mouth Rehab: Anterior or Posteriors First?
The correct sequence to begin a full-mouth rehab is tobegin with the anterior teeth first, particularly the…
Q&A with Dr. Hess: Patients Who Have More Pain After Wearing a B-Splint
By: Dr. Leonard A. Hess, DDSClinical Director, The Dawson AcademyThe Article Originally Appeared on TheDawsonAcademy.com Question: What…
Creating Success-Oriented Patient Relationships in Dentistry
By: Paul A. Henny, DDS This topic originally appeared on PankeyGram.org. Dr. Henny granted permission for igniteDDS to share with our readers. The word “prescriptive” recently got stuck in my head. It made me think about the important distinction between a relationship that’s primarily focused on “giving directions or injunctions” versus mutually goal-oriented and collaborative. It’s…
Management of Congenitally Missing Teeth in Ectodermal Dysplasia
By: Daren Becker, DMD This topic originally appeared on PankeyGram.org. Dr. Becker granted permission for igniteDDS to share with our readers. Case Presentation A 16-year-old girl presented with the worst case of ectodermal dysplasia I had ever seen. She was missing all of her lower teeth except for her 12-year molars. She presented with a lower…
Don’t Guess Your Way Through Credentialing — Maximize ROI from Day One
By: Angela Holland Stepping into your first dental practice is like jumping into the deep end — exciting, but full of unknowns. You’re a clinician, not an insurance guru, and that’s okay. You don’t know what you don’t know, especially when it comes to strategic credentialing. But here’s the truth: a sloppy approach to insurance…
Lessons Learned From Listening to Different Preceptors as a D4
By: Michael Eid One of the hardest parts of dental school isn’t the hand skills or the exams — it’s treatment planning. One thing I’ve learned is that every preceptor has their own philosophy. At first, you want to take every word as gospel. But the deeper you get into clinic, the more you realize:…
Mentoring the Next Generation of Dentists: Your Legacy Matters
By: Edwin A. McDonald, DDS This topic originally appeared on PankeyGram.org. Dr. McDonald granted permission for igniteDDS to share with our readers. After over 40 years of offering relationship-based dentistry, I’ve learned that while the clinical aspects of dentistry continue to evolve, the core human needs remain the same. Patients still want to be heard, understood,…
Removing Saliva Contamination Effectively from Indirect Restorations
By: Dr. Lee Ann Brady, DMD This topic originally appeared on PankeyGram.org, Dr. Brady granted permission for igniteDDS to share with our readers. One of the most common and frustrating challenges with indirect restorations is achieving a strong bond after intraoral try-ins. Saliva contamination during this step is nearly unavoidable, yet even a small amount can…
Equal Pay vs. Fair Pay: What’s Best for Your Practice?
By: Garrett Wilson Compensation is one of the toughest decisions dental offices face. Limited access to reliable data, a lack of clear best practices, and the absence of a consistent structure can make it overwhelming. But one choice every practice must make is whether to follow an equal pay or a fair pay philosophy. Equal…
This Is Just How It Is, Right?
By: Dr. Eric Recker I remember so vividly being in the throes of burnout. My life had gone gray. Nothing excited me. I was under immense pressure running a practice with a team of 18. I was exhausted. I was dying inside. I questioned whether it would matter if I wasn’t here on this earth…
How Dentists Can Be Patient with Their Dental Assistant as They’re Still Learning
By: Ronda Holman Every dentist remembers that awkward learning curve when they first started practicing — the fumbling, the second-guessing, the mental checklist running in the background. Your dental assistant goes through the same thing, but here’s the kicker: they didn’t go to dental school. That means, in the beginning, …and that’s okay. Learning a…
Resin-Bonded Bridges: A Conservative Approach for Missing Lateral Incisors
By: Lee Ann Brady, DMDThis topic originally appeared on PankeyGram.org. Dr. Brady granted permission for igniteDDS to share with our readers. As restorative dentists, our commitment to providing high-quality, lasting dental care is unwavering. Ideally, we’d offer our patients restorative solutions that last a lifetime without needing repair or replacement. However, in reality, no restoration…








