were the ones that charged his passion,
and decided in 2010 to open a new practice. He would practice 3-4 days a week in
the new office, with just one employee and
a single treatment room, and would limit
his practice to treating complex restorative and esthetic cases by referral.
Photo by Ray Bryant, Bryant Studios
Susan Shepherd, who had been a member
of Dr. Dawson’s clinical team for 14 years
and stayed on as clinical assistant in the
new practice, has a passion for computer
technology that perfectly complements
Dr. Dawson’s extensive experience in dentistry. With the freedom to shape the new
practice from the beginning, they agreed
to take advantage of digital technology in
every way possible to make the new prac-
doctors effectively address the potential
pitfalls that could derail a successful outcome in dental implant treatment.
Dr. Dawson points out, “Digital technology has transformed dentistry in so many
helpful ways. In planning our new enterprise, we began to think about digital tools
that might improve the process of providing implant treatment. Implant treatment
typically involves 25 different providers,
which creates myriad potential points for
communication to break down. Restorative dentists and surgeons often work in
isolated silos rather than functioning as
integrated members of the implant team.
We know this is not optimal. Really
streamlining clear, straightforward com-
Centergistix, developed by Dr. Dawson and Susan Shepherd, ties the implant team
together in a new way and helps the patient stay connected throughout the process.
munication between all team members is
crucial to orchestrating an efficient and
successful treatment process.”
Dr. Dawson and Susan Shepherd set out
to develop a new system to simplify the
implant process and make it more engaging and efficient, and through hours of
collaboration with the help of a software
company, released Centergistix in 2014.
Via an intuitive, user-friendly interface,
Centergistix ties the implant team
together in a new way and helps the
patient stay connected throughout the
implant process. It allows clinicians to
easily and securely transfer all case notes
to a permanent record and share information with every other provider involved in
the case by accessing a single page
through a secure website. It also helps
educate patients about implants and
makes sure they know and understand the
next step in their treatment. Patients have
the information they need to make sound
decisions about their treatment, to
become effective, informed partners in
planning their treatment, and to see the
value of their treatment. Patients can use
Centergistix to provide their health history by filling out one convenient form
online just one time before coming to the
office. Centergistix also enables doctors
to order components directly from the
manufacturer and creates a record of the
Centergistix allows clinicians to easily and securely
transfer all case notes to a
patient’s permanent record.
tice more efficient. “We spent a lot of time
considering ways to make the new office
like a peaceful spa,” he notes. “We wanted
to be able to provide state-of-the-art care
without interruption and help patients
resolve dental problems in the most pleasant and comfortable setting possible.”
In addition to returning to practice,
Dr. Dawson’s lifelong love for education
led him to return to teaching, with the goal
of imparting the important insights and
knowledge he had gained over his long
career. In particular, he wanted to help
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