To many patients, dentistry seems so simple: brush, floss, rinse, and visit a dentist every six months for a routine check-up. In fact, many dentists buy into a similar concept. However, as Dr. Rajeev Upadaya of Florham Park, NJ—as well as countless other students of The Dawson Academy—can attest, the requirements for a healthy mouth extend beyond simply healthy teeth. And truth be told, if you master these requirements, you’re bound to grow your practice exponentially, regardless of the economic conditions—and Dr. Upadaya’s success is proof positive.
Dr. Upadaya has long seen dentistry as a labor of love. But shortly after buying his current practice more than four years ago, Dr. Upadaya realized there was something missing, specifically comprehensive, complete dentistry. “When I took over the practice, we were a very routine, general dental office,” Dr. Upadaya explains. “Over the last four years, we’ve become a very comprehensive-based practice and it’s all due to what I’ve learned at The Dawson Academy,” he adds.
While many dentists may spend what seems like a lifetime analyzing a patient’s dentition but not addressing real problems, students of The Dawson Academy can proudly attest to the impact that Dr. Peter Dawson’s founding principles can have on their own dental practices, a fact that Dr. Upadaya became aware of within the first few minutes of Seminar One: Functional Occlusion – From TMJ to Smile Design.
“From the first seminar I went to, it transformed the way I view dentistry and how I practice it,” Dr. Upadaya emphasizes. “It opened my eyes to look at things I thought were normal and realize that there were actual signs of pretty dramatic occlusal disease. It taught me ways to stop that, prevent that, and how to do it predictably,” he continues.
As Dr. Upadaya has expanded his dental focus, he has also come to realize the importance of function when correcting his patients’ esthetics, which has been especially helpful now that the demand for cosmetic dentistry now supersedes most any other procedure conducted in a dental office. In particular, Dr. Upadaya has learned that creating smiles that function properly, feel great, look great, and provide the longevity people desire should now be the cornerstone of his dental practice going forward.
“I’ve always been wowed by the cosmetic results I’ve seen at other seminars, but I’ve always been a little nervous about getting into it because I’ve also seen so many failures,” Dr. Upadaya explains. “But once I got the knowledge I did through The Dawson Academy, I learned that we can do truly functional esthetics. We can achieve the same if not better esthetic outcomes by making sure the function has been addressed to make someone’s mouth healthier before all else,” he adds.
Thanks to the lessons learned from teachings of The Dawson Academy, Dr. Upadaya has positioned his practice for continued growth throughout his local community. He is also convinced that any dentist willing to adopt a similar philosophy can reap the same benefits from The Dawson Academy for their own practices.
“The lessons learned from The Dawson Academy will provide anyone with the confidence and knowledge needed to see, diagnose, and treat any occlusal situation they can and will see in their practice,” Dr. Upadaya explains. “In fact, it will help dentists see that there are a lot more problems in their routine patients than they will ever realize,” he continues, “and they now have the training needed to offer solutions. Finally, these newly diagnosed problems will help make their practice even more profitable.”
