Comfort & sedation
If the dentist's office makes you nervous
You're not the only one — and you don't have to white-knuckle it. Tell us, and we'll change how the whole visit feels.
Anxiety-friendly care
Roughly one in three adults skips the dentist because of anxiety. Our team is trained to handle that gently. When you tell us you're nervous, we slow down. We narrate every step. We give you a clear hand-raise signal you can use any time to pause. And we don't push treatment forward until you say you're ready.
Nitrous oxide
Sometimes called laughing gas, nitrous oxide is the soft option. You wear a small nose mask, breathe normally, and feel a calm wash over within about a minute. It takes the edge off without putting you out — you can answer questions, you can hear the team, you just won't care about the drill. The effect wears off in minutes after we remove the mask, and you can drive yourself home.
Oral conscious sedation
For stronger anxiety or longer procedures, we can prescribe a pill you take about an hour before your appointment. You'll be deeply relaxed but still awake. Most patients remember very little afterward. You'll need a driver to bring you in and home, and you should plan to rest for the remainder of the day.
Small touches
- Headphones and music of your choice during longer procedures
- A weighted blanket if it helps you settle
- The smallest-gauge needle and topical numbing before any injection
- A clear, agreed-upon stop signal — you raise your hand, we stop
- Honest answers to "what are you doing right now" any time you ask
Common questions
Frequently asked
- What sedation options are available?
- We offer nitrous oxide (the gas mask, also called laughing gas) for mild anxiety and oral conscious sedation (a pill you take before the appointment) for stronger anxiety or longer procedures. Both keep you awake and aware but very relaxed.
- Is nitrous oxide safe?
- Yes — nitrous oxide has been used safely in dentistry for over a century. It wears off in minutes, you can drive yourself home, and you'll feel completely back to normal within 15 minutes of removing the mask.
- What is oral conscious sedation?
- You take a prescribed pill about an hour before your appointment. You stay awake but deeply relaxed — most patients remember very little of the procedure. You'll need a ride home and the rest of the day to recover.
- I have dental anxiety. What should I tell you?
- Tell us at booking, tell us at check-in, and tell us when you sit down. Even just a heads-up changes how we pace the visit — slower introductions, more breaks, no surprise sounds, and a clear stop signal you can use any time.
- Will the shot hurt?
- We use topical anesthetic to numb the area first, deliver the injection slowly, and use the smallest gauge needle that does the job. Most patients describe it as a brief pinch, not pain.
- Can my child have sedation?
- Nitrous oxide is often a great option for nervous kids. Oral sedation is sometimes used for longer pediatric procedures. We'll talk through what's appropriate based on age, weight, and the procedure.
- What if I'm a returning patient who has just become anxious?
- Dental anxiety can develop at any age — a bad experience elsewhere, a new medical situation, or just life stress. Tell us. We'll adjust how we run your visit, no judgment, no upcharge.
Anxious patient? Tell us when you call.
Five extra minutes on the phone can change how the whole visit feels.