Now in its 18th year, Sedation Safety Week returned March 9 with practical information on safe sedation screening, monitoring, and regulatory compliance.
By Genni Burkhart
Since 2008, Sedation Safety Week has focused on the everyday decisions behind safe sedation, helping dentists strengthen screening, monitoring, and team readiness year after year. This year, new content will highlight the practical safeguards behind safe sedation care and issues practices face. From comprehensive health screening to monitoring protocols and regulatory considerations around AI, the goal is to reinforce the habits and systems that support predictable, responsible treatment.
Dr. Taylor Tate will share perspectives drawn from decades of sedation-focused practice. DOCS legal counsel David Palmer, Esq., will address sedation regulations and the risks practices assume when relying on artificial intelligence chatbots instead of verified state guidance through legitimate channels. We will also take a closer look at the health screening process that forms the foundation of every safe sedation plan, along with a practical look inside the day at a safety-driven sedation practice.
The week concludes with the announcement of the Sedation Safety Week Dentist of the Year, recognizing a clinician who demonstrates exceptional commitment to patient care and professional responsibility.
Practical Guidance
On Tuesday, March 10, Dr. Tate presented “25 Safety Statements from 25 Years of Safety Excellence,” a program shaped by 25 years of quality dentistry and sedation safety.
Participants learned how to:
- Identify red flags in polypharmacy and chronic disease before treatment begins.
- Recognize how age, diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and special populations influence sedation planning.
- Implement best practices for monitoring vital signs and the level of consciousness.
- Strengthen airway assessment, positioning, and protection strategies.
- Prepare for emergencies through team drills, compliant documentation, and medication readiness.
The monthly Elite Learning Series webinars are FREE for everyone to attend. DOCS members can earn 1 CE credit when attending live, or by finding the course on their dashboard following the event. Not a member? Learn more here.
For 26 years, DOCS Education has led the profession’s commitment to responsible sedation practices under the leadership of co-founder and President Dr. Michael Silverman, founder and national chairman of Sedation Safety Week.
Join us for five consecutive days of focused education as we celebrate 25 years of DOCS Education and 18 years of Sedation Safety Week here.
Author: With over 16 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.
