By Larry Daugherty, DMD The Pankey Institute and The Dawson Academy, among the world’s leading sources of dental continuing education, are just some of the professional enrichment I’ve enjoyed over the past 26 years. Most courses made an impact on my practice by contributing to my ability to provide dentistry of high quality. Despite my overall satisfaction with these courses, however, it still seemed as if something was lacking. I tried several patient-management programs in an effort to make people more comfortable during their comprehensive dental treatment. I used low doses of Valium® and nitrous oxide. I took a one-day sedation course in North Carolina in the 1990s that accomplished one thing: it scared me just enough to NOT sedate patients. Mailings from DOCS Education continued throughout much of this time, but I didn’t make a commitment to attend a class until December 2006. I now consider that decision among the most significant of my career. I followed the first course with two more. Here, finally, was a sedation system I could confidently apply to the benefit of many patients—indeed my whole practice. I now have over 75 hours in sedation education and recently achieved DOCS Education Fellowship status. I want to exploit all the CE and sedation experience I can, for a very practical reason. With the arrival of another sedation dentist in my town it’s important to show how much training and experience I possess. Since 2006 I have successfully handled over 180 conscious sedation cases. Most of these patients would not have undertaken necessary care without this option. An entire notebook in my reception room is filled with testimonials. I have consistently found that people will accept total comprehensive treatment so long as they know they can be sedated. Of course, their comfort increases my own levels of ease and confidence. I don’t have to worry about gagging or complaints about sounds or taste. The amnesiac effect of triazolam moderates all phases of dentistry for the patient. I have prepped a full arch of crown and bridge, completed multiple root canals, and performed surgical extractions without the patient remembering any aspect of the treatment. On many occasions the patient will call the appointment “the best dental experience I have ever had.†That positive reaction often radiates forward and generally alters their entire attitude about dentistry. The financial rewards of sedation dentistry are also satisfying. Instead of seeing five patients and accomplishing a few procedures, I may now have a single comprehensive case in the morning and feel much more productive. My office attracts an entire new segment of the population that I might never have treated in the past. Given the current lagging economy, I appreciate this competitive edge. I should point out that I practice in a town of 9,000 people. If I can accomplish these results in a small community, so should any dentist, anywhere. I urge anyone contemplating taking additional sedation dentistry courses to seize the moment and sign up for with DOCS Education. It’s a favor to your patients and a boost to your practice.
