As a big proponent of having systems and sedation protocols in place, Dr. Rachel Davis, the 2026 Safe Sedation Dentist of the Year, prioritizes education, safety, and patient comfort in her growing practice.
By Susan Richards
Many successful dental careers begin at home, built on the foundation of a family practice and parental role model. That was certainly the case for the 2026 Safe Sedation Dentist of the Year, Rachel Davis, BA, DMD. At age 16, her plans to eventually go into medicine shifted when her dad convinced her to take a summer job as a lab technician in his implant practice.
“I did it and just absolutely fell in love with it. It was so hands-on and exciting to build things,” said Dr. Davis. Knowing what she wanted to do helped streamline her education. She worked at her father’s practice in different positions through high school and college before graduating from the University of Louisville School of Dentistry.
In 2007, she purchased his practice and started Davis Dental Center in Louisville, Kentucky. Dr. Davis and her team advocate for comfort, compassion, and state-of-the-art technology, all of which encompass the tenets of safe sedation dentistry.
Sedation and Systems
Rachel H Davis, DMD
Dr. Davis explained how she sometimes used triazolam earlier in her career, but with inconsistent results. So, when her father suggested they advance their skills through DOCS Education, she readily agreed. Following their first sedation training in 2006, Dr. Davis recalled thinking, “Oh wow, there’s a whole system to this, and I love systems! I was blown away.”
The addition to her practice was like “night and day,” and after the first week, Dr. Davis had patients lined up to take advantage of sedation. She went on to train for IV sedation in 2022.
Sedation provided the ability “to reach out and make the fearful patient more comfortable,” complementing Dr. Davis’s self-described chill demeanor. Her expertise also added value to the community due to recent changes in Kentucky regulations that now require an IV license to provide oral sedation.
“When we say our office is a sedation office, I mean we do every type of sedation,” said Dr. Davis. Based on patient needs and procedures, they can provide all levels of sedation, including nitrous oxide, oral conscious sedation, IV sedation, or a combination thereof. For the big cases and patients with special needs, Dr. Davis will bring in a nurse anesthetist.
Practice Growth and Specialized Focus
While Davis Dental Center serves all areas of oral health, Dr. Davis’s special interests are implant dentistry and full-mouth rehabilitation. She came by it naturally, as her father was a pioneer in implant placement back in the late 1970s – he retired in 2012.
“My husband says I learned implants by osmosis,” laughed Dr. Davis. In the early days of working in the family practice, she really loved doing implant and denture modeling—before digital imaging—so she pursued that path following dental school.
All associates are required to be sedation-certified, and each has a “niche” specialty they enjoy. In addition to general dentistry and implants, offerings include:
- Periodontics
- Cosmetic dentistry
- Pediatrics
- Third molars
- Botox
- Invisalign
- Root canals
Davis Dental Center shows extraordinary growth. In addition to a recent building expansion that boasts 17 operatories, the practice currently employs around 22 team members, which includes four associates and five hygienists.
“I’m really lucky, and I love my office, and I love my staff. They know what I want before I even need it,” said Dr. Davis of the team she’s built.
Fulfillment Beyond the Practice
In addition to advancing her own skills for a thriving career, Dr. Davis is passionate about teaching and helping other dental professionals. Although her growing family has slowed down some of these activities, she always has someone shadowing at the office. Dr. Davis particularly enjoys mentoring doctors who are learning IV sedation at DOCS’ nearby Lexington clinic.
“I love it. It gets me back to teaching,” she explained.
Dr. Davis also supports several industry organizations and is an active member of the ADA, Kentucky Dental Association, her dental fraternity, and DOCS Education.
While the practice keeps her busy, home life for Dr. Davis includes a husband, three kids, two cats, a dog, and a gecko lizard. They enjoy traveling, often visiting her husband’s family in England, as well as boating closer to home. Making time for exercise is a must, and she credits Pilates with improving her core strength, allowing her to stand over patients all day.
From a high school summer job in a dental lab to a successful sedation practice that’s still growing, Dr. Rachel Davis embodies the commitment to education and quality patient care that more than qualifies her as the 2026 Safe Sedation Dentist of the Year.
Author: Susan Richards is a staff writer at DOCS Education with over 20 years of experience in local journalism and business marketing. Her career includes award-winning feature writing, as well as creating content with context for a wide variety of industries.
