WITH KIMBERLY CORRIGAN-DANKWORTH, DDS
Dr. Kimberly Corrigan-Dankworth has been practicing sedation dentistry for over 3 decades at Oceanside Dental Excellence in Oceanside, CA. She believes it has boosted both her patient population and daily workflow, improving her ROI while helping patients accept dental treatment with more confidence and less fear. Here, she shares how the sedation training and protocols she's learned and implemented through DOCS Education have uniquely transformed the practice and been a win-win for both her patients and team members.
Q: How has sedation dentistry increased the number of patients you now see in your practice?
A: I’m able to offer dental care to patients with severe gag reflexes, as well as those with special needs or who are older and have difficulty with dental treatments. We can help these patients maintain good oral health, which is some-thing we wouldn’t be able to do without sedation protocols in place.
It’s so rewarding to know that patients are less likely to develop bleeding gums, gingivitis, or decay, all because we are able to treat them now. We’ve also invited medical specialists into the office who can help manage patients' overall health while they are sedated—whether it’s a blood draw or a vaccination. Word spreads very quickly, and our patient population has increased since we’ve been able to offer these additional services.
Q: In addition to boosting your production, how has sedation dentistry been transformative for your practice staff?
A: Our entire dental team must be educated and certified in sedation protocols and high-level life support, and that includes our hygienists and dental assistants. Teaching my staff about how to react and respond to patients who are under sedation is really important. Our team feels very good about what we’re doing, in part because it allows us to offer treatment that improves our patients' oral health. They know that down the street at another practice, the assistants are sitting in their chairs performing suctioning, while at my practice, they're tasked with more high-level dental responsibilities. It’s a rewarding feeling! Offering sedation to patients truly elevates the whole office.
Q: Can you share a recent case where you offered sedation to a patient who might otherwise not have agreed to treatment?
A: I saw a young woman in her early 20s who had extremely decayed dentition, to the point where there were holes in her front teeth. She'd had a very difficult life, and because of the condition of her teeth, she never smiled, which hindered her ability to secure employment. That, of course, led to more difficulties in her life. I told her we were going to need to remove all her teeth and we both cried, because she was so young. But without sedation dentistry, this probably would not have been possible for her. I was able to explain what we could do during the time she'd be sedated, and how she would wake up with a beautiful smile.
I think she realized she was going to wake up and see a new "her," which was really transformational. So, she agreed to be sedated and accepted the dental treatment. I did the necessary oral surgery, fitted her with interim dentures, and then eventually the final dentures, and it simply restored her confidence. What a transformation! Today, she’s a successful business owner—plus, she has a beautiful smile!
