FAQs: IV Sedation Dentistry

YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED…

The faculty consists of one GP and two oral surgeons. Combined, they have safely completed over 150,000 IV sedation cases and bring a wealth of experience. Your clinical training takes place inside a live GP practice that consistenly performs IV sedation for a variety of procedures.

Yes, prior to attending the in-person didactic portion, you need to be ACLS certified. You need to have a dental license in good standing. And if your dental license is outside of Ohio, the Vesper Institute team will walk you through the process of getting a temporary license in Ohio.

Yes. Phase 1 of the program includes 52 hours of self-paced online modules. Phase 3 of the program includes the completion of 20 patient cases that occur inside a general practice dental office.

Our program is approved in several states. Reach out directly to see if our program is approved for your specific state.

Some of the required course work takes place on weekends but not all. The in-person didactic (Phase 2) starts on Thursday afternoon and runs through Sunday. The patient cases (Phase 3) takes place Monday through Friday.

Yes. You’ll practice airway management & venipuncture on the final day of your didactric training during the simulation lab where we use a high-fidelity mannikin. Additionally, your clinical instructors will discuss airway management during your patient cases experience.

Yes, you need both.

Yes, we offer financing options via TUA Financial, a financial technology payments platform.

Options via TUA include:

• a personal consumer financing term loan (up to 36 months) that allows students to pay their tuition over time. Applicable interest rate is based upon each applicant’s credit history.

• a commercial/ business financing revolving credit line that allows students to finance their tuition as well as any equipment desired/needed for sedation dentistry.


Initial Deposit:
We require an initial $5,000 deposit to reserve each student’s spot.
(This amount is applied toward tuition.)

Once the initial deposit is received, the remaining balance can either be paid via Tua or a simple credit card transaction.

Yes, our program satisfies the requirements outlined in the current (2016) ADA “Guidelines for the Use of Sedation and General Anesthesia by Dentists.”

Yes, we offer payment plans. Participants can choose between monthly payments through us (at zero percent interest) or work with Tua, third-party provider that offers personal and business lines of credit. Reach out and we can discuss in more detail.

We are accredited in the majority of states. Please reach out directly to learn more about your state’s requirements.

Our educational liaison will work directly with you to ensure you understand your state-specific requirements, providing the necessary information, materials, and support to help you meet them.

On average, general practitioners bill $502 per practice hour while specialists bill $563 for each hour. However, IV sedation allows you to manage more invasive treatments in a single visit, increasing both the efficiency and profitability of your practice. This brings your practice closer to specialist-level earnings. With IV sedation, you can work less and earn more, maximizing your schedule for production and efficiency.

The instruction and training for every cohort is the same, meaning it doesn’t really matter what cohort you choose. 

Our recommendation is to complete Phase 2 (in-person didactic) and Phase 3 (patient cases) back-to-back, all of which can be completed in a week (from Friday to Friday). 

Once you’ve determined the “best” week to be away from the office, you can work backwards to create a study schedule for Phase 1 (online modules). If you allot 6-8 hours per week of study time, the modules should take you approximately 8-10 weeks to complete.

There’s a degree of flexiblity in the training. Phase 1 of the program includes 52 hours of online modules that are self-paced. They have to be completed ahead of the in-person didactic, but you can set your own schedule. Phase 2 of the program, which is the in-person didactic, happens on set dates (Thursday afternoon through Sunday). Phase 3 of the program is the patient cases, which are scheduled separately. It takes a week to complete. After registering for the course, participants (on a first come, first serve basis) schedule the week they’ll return for their patient cases.

It takes approximately 3-6 months to complete Vesper Institute’s program, starting with the 52 hours of online modules followed by 3.5 days of in-person didactic instruction, and culminating with 20 patient cases at a general dentistry clinic.

While we can’t guarantee doctors participating in our program will complete their required cases in any specific amount of time, we often see our students reaching the “20 patient cases” mark in approximately 5 days.

Our scheduling team works with each program participant to coordinate an “in-clinic” schedule that works best for them. (Clinical days are typically scheduled Monday through Friday.)

HELPFUL CONTEXT:
It’s important to note that most other IV sedation training programs place their student-dentists inside of a hospital for their patient cases. We don’t.

We want our students to train in an environment that is both familiar and genuinely applicable to the environment that they ACTUALLY WORK IN.

We therefore place our students in a well-oiled, high-production GP office, working 1:1 with a dedicated team of extremely experienced IV-sedation-focused general dentists.

These instructor dentists each see a large variety of cases, which provides a robust learning environment while also underscoring the power that IV sedation can bring into a dentist’s practice.

Because these cases can be large and take longer to complete, stacking up toward the “20 patient cases” goal can, therefore, be a more gradual process. (Versus stacking up a host of smaller cases.)

It is our belief, however, that this approach offers the most realistic, in-depth, “real learning” experience and best serves our student-doctors and their patients.

We recommend you allot 6-8 hours of study time per week for the online modules. This means it’ll take you approximately 8-10 weeks to complete the modules. In total, the online modules have 65 hours of recorded training and material.

It depends on how you plan to schedule Phase 2 and Phase 3 of the program. 

Phase 2: In-Person DIDACTIC Training
This portion of the program spans 3.5 days (Thursday afternoon through Sunday).

Phase 3: CLINICAL Training (Patient Cases)

While we can’t guarantee that each student will complete their required patient cases within any specific amount of time, we often see students complete 20 patient cases in approximately 5 days.

In-clinic days are generally scheduled Monday through Friday.
Patient cases are facilitated through Advance Dentistry, an IV-sedation-focused general dentistry practice.

To learn more, please view the question DIRECTLY BELOW (re: “20 patient cases”).

Most states require you to complete 20 patient cases.

Most states require you to complete 20 patient cases. However, if your state requires more or less, we match your state’s requirements.

The course is $22,999.

Our course is comparable to other courses in terms of price. Some may be a little lower in price but not offer as much in terms of ongoing support. That’s where we differentiate ourselves, ensuring that you go from “learning” how to do IV sedation to actually “implementing” it in your office.

What if there’s a complication? Why would I create unnecessary risks for my patients by sedating them?

Medical complications can happen. That’s inevitable as practicing dentists. However, if you become IV sedation certified, you will feel far more comfortable and prepared to handle any medical emergency, IV sedation-related or not.

That’s because the mindset we teach ISN’T… 

“What do I do IF there’s an emergency?” 

Rather, IT’S… 

“I know exactly what to do WHEN an emergency happens.” 

Right now, you might be afraid of the “uncertainties” and “potential complications” that IV sedation represents in your mind. That’s natural. 

Think back to the first time you used a drill to remove decay or anesthetized a patient. You probably experienced some degree of fear & anxiety before mastering that skill. Now, it’s second nature. 

The same is true when it comes to implementing IV sedation. With the right training, instruction, and experience, you will have all the tools you need to practice safely.

Yes, you will receive all the training materials you need through our program, which offers a mix of online, self-paced modules; in-person didactic training; hands-on clinicals; and ongoing monthly support.

Offering IV sedation is a great way to increase your practice’s profitability.

  1. Increased Treatment Acceptance: Patients with dental anxiety or phobia are more likely to accept recommended treatments when IV sedation is available, leading to more procedures being performed.
  2. Ability to Perform Complex Procedures: IV sedation allows patients to undergo longer and more complex treatments in a single visit. This reduces the need for multiple appointments and increases the value of each visit.
  3. Patient Comfort and Tolerance: Sedated patients are more comfortable and can tolerate lengthy procedures better, enabling dentists to complete multiple treatments in one session, which maximizes the use of chair time.
  4. Efficient Scheduling: With IV sedation, dentists can optimize their schedules by reducing the number of shorter, fragmented appointments and increasing the number of comprehensive, higher-value treatment sessions.

Yes, there is a final exam. You need to score 80% or higher.

Yes, we encourage you to bring your assistant for the “simulation lab” day of the in-person didactic phase and the live patient training sessions.

Prior to coming to Cincinnati, your assistants will receive online modules to prepare for their training. 

To be successful at implementing IV sedation, it’s critical that your entire team is on board and buys into it. 

During our monthly support calls, we will have opportunities for your admin & marketing teams to ask questions and get the information they need to be successful as well.

IV sedation offers you powerful advantages that make dental visits more comfortable, manageable, and even stress-free.

1) Comfort & Anxiety Relief
You’ll feel deeply relaxed—but not fully unconscious—so you stay calm and in control.
Time seems to pass quickly, making even long procedures feel easier.
It’s especially helpful if you have dental phobia, anxiety, or a strong gag reflex.

2) Pain-Free Experience
You’ll feel little to no discomfort during treatment.
Higher levels of sedation mean your dental team can complete more work in one visit—without added stress for you.

3) Faster Recovery Than General Anesthesia
You’ll wake up more quickly and feel more alert after your procedure.
When administered correctly, IV sedation comes with minimal side effects, so you can get back to your day sooner.

IV sedation training courses for dentists typically include around 60 hours of didactic instruction and 20 clinical cases, with tuition ranging from $14k to $23k. These programs vary in quality depending on the faculty, case access, and post-training support. Most offer limited follow-up after certification, and learners often share clinical cases. In contrast, Vesper Institute offers a more structured and supportive approach. Its program combines 52 hours of online learning, a 3.5-day in-person didactic session, and five days of clinical cases. What sets Vesper apart is its faculty of seasoned sedation clinicians, its individualized clinical experience, and its built-in follow-up of support (resource guide, ongoing connection to faculty, etc.). At $22,999 it costs more than most programs, but it’s built for dentists who want sedation to become a real part of their workflow, not just a credential.

At the end of the didactic portion (Phase 2), participants will spend the afternoon doing mock drills on a high-fidelity mannikin. The majority of the clinical training occurs inside Dr. Sayre’s Advance Dentistry office. Course participants will have the opportunity to place 20 IVs and individually manage patients per the ADA requirements. We also encourage dentsits to bring an assistant to the clinic for additional training and support.

Vesper faculty (Dr. Roberson, Dr. Reznick, and Dr. Sayre) will host monthly Zoom calls to go over patient cases with fellow program graduates. Additionally, they are always available through email or text if a question arises in between the scheduled calls. 

Once you complete the program, we’ll provide you with an IV sedation “cheat sheet,” including a verified list of equipment and supplies that you’ll need to get you up and running at the office. 

Additionally, there will be webinars hosted by administrative staff on subjects related to billing, treatment planning, scheduling, and marketing. 

Finally, if you ever want to come back to Vesper Institute for more training (more than your required 20 patient cases), you are always welcome without having to pay additional fees.

Dentists who participate in our program will complete 52 hours of self-paced online modules. Next, they will attend 3.5 days of in-person didactic instruction. Finally, they will complete 20 patient cases. The curriculum is designed to ensure all students leaving feeling confident and competent to safely implement IV sedation in their practice.

The faculty consists of one GP and two oral surgeons. Combined, they have safely completed over 150,000 IV sedation cases and bring a wealth of experience.

Vesper Institute offers a comprehensive IV sedation course with online modules (52 hours), in-person training (3.5 days in Cincinnati), and hands-on experience with 20 patient cases. The program is designed for general dentists & specialists. Following completion of the course, Vesper provides ongoing mentorship and support to safely integrate sedation into practice.

At the end of the didactic portion (Phase 2), participants will spend the afternoon doing mock drills on a high-fidelity mannikin. The majority of the clinical training occurs inside Dr. Sayre’s Advance Dentistry office. Course participants will have the opportunity to place 20 IVs and individually manage patients per the ADA requirements. We also encourage dentsits to bring an assistant to the clinic for additional training and support.

Once you’ve registered for the program, our educational liaison will contact you with a list of recommended hotels in the area. While you can use Uber or Lyft to get around, we’d recommend renting a car for your convenience.

This program IS MEANT for dentists looking to advance in their careers, perform complex cases & advanced procedures, provide better patient care, and earn more while working less. Overall, this is for dentists who want to build a dental life that is FULFILLING and highly PROFITABLE.

This program IS NOT MEANT for dentists who are afraid of needles, don’t have the time to commit to the training, and seem happy enough with their dental career and its trajectory.

Here’s the faculty:
– Dr. Jay Reznick, DMD, MD
– Dr. John Roberson, DMD, FACD, FICD, FICOI, FIAOMS
– Dr. Scott Sayre, DDS, MBA, MAS

86% of students who graduate from other IV sedation programs don’t end up implementing IV sedation in their practice. The investment of hours and tuition goes to waste. 

We exist to close that gap. 

→ That’s why ongoing support is an integral part of our program. 

 That’s why we encourage your staff to come train with us as well. 

→ And that’s why our program is intentionally designed by faculty who have over 45+ years of experience and who have safely completed a combined 100,000 IV sedation cases. 


Finally, that’s why our training happens in a real-life GP environment, not a hospital. 

During your minimum of 20 patient cases, you will learn how to handle all types of cases, from a 30-minute procedure to a multi-hour procedure. You will have the opportunity to train 1:1 with a GP who does this everyday. 

No other program offers that kind of training. We do.

Our educational liaison will provide all the necessary paperwork, guiding you through the steps required for your individual state’s inspection.

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Let's discuss how IV Sedation fits into your career goals.

Our program goes beyond certification – it’s a pathway to a more focused, profitable, and fulfilling dental life.