A dentist who completed training and certification through DOCS Education describes how surgical cases are more predictable and less stressful now that he relies on IV sedation
After using oral sedation for implants and other surgical cases for years, Dr. John Conness decided it was time for a change. He found oral sedation was just too variable and unpredictable for the complex cases he was performing. Everyone reacts differently, and it takes time for patients to feel the effects.
“With oral sedation, if you weren’t in the middle of that bell-shaped curve, or if you had a hypo- or hyper-responder, you just weren’t in control of the situation,” explained Dr. Conness, a board-certified implantologist who has been performing implant and cosmetic dental procedures for over 30 years.
Ultimately, he wanted more control during surgeries, and switching to IV sedation afforded him that.
“With IV sedation, you can dose as needed and have an IV line open for reversal agents or other emergency drugs. It works quicker and it’s just a more pleasant experience.”
Top-Notch Training
During IV sedation, Dr. Conness has 2 nurses with him who monitor the patient during treatment. He’s developed a “really good system” with them over the years—he only wishes he would have implemented it 15 years ago vs starting with oral sedation.
“With IV sedation, I’m not worried about anything,” he said. “I’m just worried about doing surgery.”
Dr. Conness completed his training at DOCS Education and was very happy with the experience and quality of the education, which allowed him to do didactic training at home while receiving support from study groups. This made it easier for him to earn his certification.
The program includes 4 days of in-person training with live patients and 1-on-1 instruction. Dr. Conness brought one of his nurses and an assistant to the training, which allowed for smooth, successful implementation into his practice. “I looked into other programs, but this one worked the best for me,” he added.
New Opportunities
Very few dentists offer IV sedation, Dr. Conness said, so those who do stand out. This is especially helpful when treating patients with dental anxiety.
“A lot of these patients haven’t gone to the dentist in years, and their mouths are broken down,” he explained. “Now, there’s an option to treat and restore their dentition in a comfortable manner. It opens up a whole new income center for the doctor, and a whole new realm of services for patients on the general dentistry side who have severe anxiety toward treatment.”
It also makes complex dental procedures less stressful. “The process is far more predictable now," Dr. Conness said. "You’re not hoping you gave enough drugs orally to catch that bell curve. You’re titrated to affect patients for their individualized comfort and safety. That’s the beauty.”
