2025 has been a year of remarkable accomplishments, growth, and new opportunities at DOCS Education.
By Genni Burkhart
As 2025 comes to a close, it’s time to reflect and celebrate the dedication and achievements across DOCS Education. This year brought remarkable milestones, including new partnerships and faculty members, expanded offerings, silver anniversaries, regulatory triumphs, and Grand Awards.
These achievements were made possible by the hard work of the entire DOCS Education team and the ongoing commitment to safe sedation from our members. As we review the top moments of the past year, the staff at The Incisor is proud to highlight the progress, collaboration, and momentum that made 2025 a standout year!
1. Sedation Safety Week and Dentist of the Year
March marked the 17th annual Sedation Safety Week, a tradition that continues to spotlight leadership in safe dental sedation. This year, we celebrated Dr. Scott Bridges as Dentist of the Year for his ongoing commitment to patient safety, training, and education.
2. The Incisor Newsletter and Blog Earns Top Honors
The Incisor brought home both a Grand Award and an Award of Excellence from Apex, reinforcing its role as a trusted voice in oral health news and education. Several of this year’s most-read pieces helped drive that recognition, including features on fluoride policy, medical emergencies, patient care, and the evolving legal landscape of sedation dentistry.
Some of the top articles of the year include:
- Steph Curry Made Mouthguards Cool—Now It's Time to Get Your Patients to Wear Them
- HIPAA Rules for Patient Testimonials: What Dentists Can (and Can't) Say
- Navigating the Standard of Care in Dentistry: Essential Legal Insights
- Are Pulse Oximeters as Accurate as You Think?
- Patients Trust Your Waterlines Are Safe, Should They?
3. A Landmark National Win in IV Sedation Training
The DOCS IV Sedation Training program reached a significant milestone by meeting regulatory requirements for an IV permit in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, making it the only non-residency program in the country with complete nationwide alignment.
DOCS also supported members through key state-level updates, including Illinois, Alabama, Maine, New Jersey, Tennessee, and South Dakota.
4. Growth Across Programs and Membership
As more practices expanded, hired associates, and trained full teams in sedation, the programming at DOCS grew right alongside them. DOCS has continued to refine its Master Series heading into 2026, updated Advanced Sedation with new clinical depth, and added more live and virtual events to meet busy schedules. Behind the scenes, the Ultimate Cheat Sheet Companion course received a refresh, and more than 25 hours of new CE were added to the online library. Nitrous offerings have also been expanded to include dental teams.
5. Honoring 25-Year Members
This year, 26 dentists reached the remarkable milestone of 25 years with DOCS Education. Their long-standing dedication to safe sedation and ongoing learning continues to shape the heart of this organization.
6. A New DOCS Fellow and Fresh Educational Resources
DOCS proudly welcomed a new Fellow, Dr. Lowe, whose commitment to advancing sedation education reflects the very best of its core mission.
Members also received upgraded resources this year, including new guidebook support materials and updated patient education videos. The Elite Learning Series delivered its strongest lineup yet, covering everything from sedation profitability to critical medical emergencies and the latest clinical debates.
7. Expanded Access to Care
DOCS operated 18 IV clinics this year and trained more than 100 doctors in IV sedation.
A third IV facility is now underway, expanding access to hands-on experiences. Collectively, IV attendees provided an estimated $6.8 million in free dentistry to underserved communities in Kentucky and Utah—an impact that extends far beyond the classroom.
8. Strengthening Partnerships
Collaboration played a major role in 2025, with partnerships that included HealthFirst, Porter Instruments, Septodont, AADOM, Dental Learning, and DentalXP. DOCS also co-sponsored programs with the Washington Academy of General Dentistry and the Sacramento District Dental Society, expanding state-specific CE access and elevating member benefits.
9. New Faculty and Broadening Expertise
DOCS proudly welcomed new faculty members whose clinical insight, teaching experience, and commitment to safe sedation further enriched our educational programs. Their contributions helped broaden the depth and diversity of instruction available to members throughout the year.
10. Member Support at Every Step
As practices grow and regulations evolve, the team at DOCS has continued to offer responsive, personalized support for sedation permitting, course selection, membership planning, and clinical resources. From one-on-one guidance to thoughtful program updates, the goal remained the same: helping every member move forward with confidence.
Looking Ahead to 2026
As the chapter on 2025 closes, it's clear the progress made this year reflects the strength of the entire DOCS Education community, including its faculty, staff, members, attendees, and partners. The dedication of members, the commitment of faculty, and the steady work of staff continue to move safe sedation forward in meaningful ways.
"As we look ahead, let’s remember what makes this community extraordinary. It’s not just the knowledge we share; it’s the passion, care, and dedication to patient care and excellence that drive us every day.
Thank you for being part of DOCS Education. Together, we are making a profound impact—not only in our practices but in the lives of patients and communities worldwide.
Here’s to another incredible year ahead."
-Dr. Michael Silverman, President and CEO of DOCS Education
Author: With over 15 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.
