Offering sedation dentistry puts patients' dental fears at ease while providing an additional revenue stream for the practice
It’s no secret that dental anxiety keeps many patients away from the dental office—but it also creates an opportunity. By addressing their fears head-on, dentists can improve the patient experience while building a successful practice.
“The data tells a compelling story about dental anxiety in America,” observed Kelly Downs, Director of Sales & Membership, DOCS Education. “According to BMC Oral Health research, 36% of adults display moderate or severe anxiety during dental visits, while a comprehensive 2023 survey by Workforce Dental Staffing reveals that 61% of patients report some fear of visiting the dentist.”
Dentists shouldn't feel uncomfortable acting on this insight—patients are actively looking for help.
“Perhaps most significantly for practice owners, 42% of patients express interest in sedation during dental treatment,” Downs said. “This represents a massively underserved population that could transform practice dynamics if dentists can overcome the implementation challenges."
What to Expect
Offering sedation dentistry services provides a profound impact to the practice’s bottom line.
“Sedation acts as a powerful revenue driver by increasing case acceptance and reducing missed appointments,” Downs said.
In his experience, practices typically see:
• Higher case acceptance. Patients agree to dental treatments they previously avoided.
• Improved efficiency. Complex procedures can be finished in a single visit with fewer cancellations.
• Revenue growth. DOCS-trained dentists report top-line revenue growth of up to 47% after implementing comprehensive sedation services.
There are, of course, upfront costs when providing sedation, but the investment will vary, depending on which level of service the practice provides.
“Investment varies by modality, ranging from $1,000 to $3,000 for nitrous oxide, $3,000 to $5,000 for oral sedation, and $14,000 to $25,000 for IV sedation certification,” Downs noted. “Beyond training, you will need to invest in monitoring equipment, emergency supplies, and updated regulatory permits or insurance coverage.”
The Payoff
Growth may not happen overnight, but once it does, practices will reap the rewards of their efforts.
“Even with conservative estimates, most practices recover their initial training and equipment costs within 9 to 22 months,” Downs said. “High-growth practices that actively market their services often achieve full ROI in under a year, with some reaching profitability in as little as 5 months.”
