About Raymond G. Hatland, DDS
After graduating from the University of Illinois School of Dentistry in the top 15% of my class, I went into a rotating internship at Ireland Army Hospital in Fort Knox, KY for one year. Here I rotated through all the specialties (such as periodontics, oral surgery, fixed and removable prosthodontics, endodontics and orthodontics) – learning from some of the top solution-oriented specialists in the country. During that year, I became the “TMJ dentist” of Fort Knox where I treated 45 patients. I wrote a thesis on the contributing causes of symptoms that make up the TMJ disorder/syndrome. Back then the understanding of the influence of the stress system and how its hormones changed the body chemistry profoundly was in its infancy. To this day, this has formed a foundational understanding of how to treat patients with TMJ or compression disorders though my way of treating has been greatly improved in effectiveness and simplicity. This one-year internship prepared me for my next three years in the army where as the sole dentist at 7th Field Hospital in Tokyo Japan I performed any needed specialty procedures. I finished my final year of Army service as the sole Army dentist in Chicago, IL at the U.S. Coast Guard Facility. My professional experience in the Army is where I got really excited about all the phases of dentistry. My skills were developed along with my understanding of patient needs. This allowed me to create integrated treatments because I understood specialized dentistry and what could be done. My practice is full-service, holistic and quality oriented so I can help most patients with complex dental or health related problems without having to refer them to specialists. This saves money and time for my patients. After leaving the Army, I opened my practice in Indianapolis, IN and continued my professional development through taking many courses in implants and traditional orthodontics with Dr. Dick Donovan, DDS, who was one of only two PhD orthodontists at that time. Eventually I got into more body friendly, functional orthodontics that was non-extraction work, which took advantage of the growth and development of the arches. Pioneers in this work were Dr. Witzig and Dr. Truit among others. I have an open mind and can easily think outside the box. I have a life-long fascination in understanding what creates illnesses in the body as well as how people can heal and stay well. Also, because of the many profound and life changing experiences I have had over the past decades from pursuing spiritual truths and practicing meditation and yoga, I naturally started studying many alternative and holistic techniques that are more biologically friendly and life energy enhancing. A big breakthrough came with learning about Dental Kinesiology. Through the many courses I took with Drs. George Eversual and Versendal’s, I learned how to access the body’s intelligence. This has been a tremendous aid in doing treatments safely that the body can accept and use to improve and get well. The energy work I use has come from several renowned holistic doctors over the many years. Important doctors in this area who have taught me are G. Eversaul PhD, R. Versendal DC, K. Yuen DC, Harold Smith DDS, J. Tennant MD, and W. Schmitt DC. They have all enhanced my ability to do energy work to help me with my patients – especially with my TMJ patients.
