2024 milestones, advocacy, and award wins! Dive into the Incisor's "Year in Review"—stories shaping sedation dentistry, safety, and dental excellence.
By Genni Burkhart, DOCS Incisor Editor
In 2024, DOCS Education reached a remarkable milestone: 25 years of dedication to safe sedation training. This achievement stands as a testament to the dedication and hard work of the DOCS faculty and staff over the years, and their contributions are deeply appreciated and celebrated.
This year introduced new opportunities to enhance offerings and strengthen support for dental professionals across the nation. The trust and partnership of DOCS Education members have been instrumental in driving these efforts forward, and their support remains deeply valued.
As the Incisor staff reflects on the highlights of 2024, we look ahead to a new year focused on delivering relevant issues that directly impact its readers, ensuring they remain engaged, enlightened, and informed.
The Incisor Newsletter and Blog Celebrates its 5th Winning Year of Publication and Writing Excellence
Once again, the team at the Incisor has been honored with the Apex Award for Publication Excellence in the category of "Writing, Health and Medical" with an Award of Excellence.
Apex celebrated its 36th year, sponsored by Writer's Web Watch and the Writing That Works Archives. With over 1,101 entries, awards are based on excellence in graphic design, editorial content, and the success of the article's intent. There was some stiff competition this year, including writers from the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), The American Heart Association (AHA), and the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS).
Editorial Highlights
2024 editorial highlights from the Incisor newsletter & blog include:
Amid headlines about water fluoridation and forever chemicals, including shifting public opinion and legal action against the EPA, I contributed two feature articles exploring the impact of public water supplies on oral health.
- "The Amount of Forever Chemicals in Public Water Supplies Is Sounding Alarms"
- "The Dentist's Role Amidst the Waning Public Trust in Water Fluoridation"
In the intricate world of regulatory compliance, DOCS Regulatory Counsel David Palmer, Esq. is an excellent advocate to have in your corner. David is also a contributing writer to the Incisor with articles such as:
- "Advocating for Patients and Practitioners with DOCS Regulatory Counsel"
- "Changes to Dental Sedation Regulations Coming in 2024"
A talented team of writers with expertise across various topics supports the Incisor. Among them are Susan Richards, DOCS' insightful staff writer, and Dr. Ayesha Khan, MD, MBA, a contributing writer who brings unique perspectives to the publication. Some of their articles include:
Dr. Khan:
- "Oral Microbiome — The Secret to Longevity?"
- "Lolamicin: A Potential Breakthrough in Managing Dental Diseases"
Susan Richards:
Advocating and Educating
Some of this year’s standout articles highlighted essential topics like sedation safety, medical research, and patient advocacy. These pieces showcased the latest insights and strategies and underscored the primary objective of sedation dentistry, compassionate care that fosters patient trust.
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"It's Time to Normalize Discussions on Menopause and Its Impact on Oral Health" By Theresa Ahearn
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"Providing Dental Care in Conflict Zones" By Paige Anderson, CRDH
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"Addressing the Unique Needs of HIV-Positive Sedation Patients" By Genni Burkhart
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"It’s Flu Season! Empower Your Patients with Immunity-Boosting Advice" By the Incisor Writing Staff
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"Trauma-Informed Care: Essentials of Compassionate Dentistry" By Noelle Copeland, RDH
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"Are mRNA Vaccines Our Greatest Hope in Treating Deadly Cancers?" By Genni Burkhart
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"Dentists, Have We Entered a New Era of Safe Pain Management?" By Genni Burkhart
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"The Power of Toothbrushing: A Simple Habit with Life-Saving Potential" By Ayesha Khan, MD, MBA
As we reflect on the stories shared throughout 2024, DOCS' Incisor remains committed to delivering valuable insights on patient care, sedation safety, regulations, guidelines, advocacy, education, innovation, technology, research, medicine, and more. Thank you for your continued engagement, and here’s to another year of captivating stories and newsworthy topics in 2025!
A Message From the DOCS Education President
We leave you with a word from Dr. Michael Silverman, DMD FIADFE, FACD, FICD, DICO:
"Reflecting on the past year at DOCS Education, I am immensely proud of our unwavering commitment to advancing safe sedation practices in dentistry. Throughout the year, our primary focus has been ensuring that dental professionals have the knowledge, skills, and resources to deliver sedation services safely and confidently, adhering to the highest standards of care and compliance.
"Our mission has always been to empower dentists to provide patients with the care they need in a safe and comfortable environment, and this past year has been a testament to that goal. We have expanded our educational offerings, deepened our partnerships with leading dental organizations, and adapted our programs to meet evolving industry regulations. Every course and guideline we produce is centered on the safety and wellbeing of the practitioner and the patient.
"At DOCS Education, we recognize the importance of patients' trust in dental professionals, especially during sedation procedures. We take this responsibility seriously and are committed to ensuring that our programs and certifications are comprehensive, evidence-based, and fully compliant with all state and national regulations.
"Looking ahead, we will continue to innovate, expand our educational outreach, and advocate for safer sedation protocols in dentistry. Our dedication to safe sedation is not just a goal—it is the foundation of who we are as an organization and will continue to drive everything we do. Thank you for participating in this journey and for your ongoing commitment to safe, high-quality dental care."
Author: With over 14 years as a published journalist, editor, and writer, Genni Burkhart's career has spanned politics, healthcare, law, business finance, technology, and news. She resides in Northern Colorado, where she works as the editor-in-chief of the Incisor at DOCS Education.
