Gives IV sedation, and plans long visits with people who haven't seen a dentist in years.
Sedation dentistry and dental fear
A dental visit at the pace you set
Nitrous oxide, a pill or an IV: three dentists who give each level, and a team that stays with you. Raise a hand and we stop.
Three levels of sedation, side by side
You choose with your dentist, after a review of your health and medicines. None of these is a promise of how you will feel, and some people do well with none at all.
| Nitrous oxide | Oral sedation | IV sedation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How it feels | Nitrous oxideLight and relaxed. You stay awake and can talk. | Oral sedationDrowsy and relaxed. Most people stay awake and can answer when we speak to them. | IV sedationDeeply relaxed. You keep breathing on your own and can respond when we speak to you. |
| Who gives it | Nitrous oxideYour dentist, with a trained assistant. | Oral sedationYour dentist, who holds the permit for oral sedation. | IV sedationA dentist who holds the permit for IV sedation, with a second team member watching only you. |
| How we monitor you | Nitrous oxideYour dentist and assistant watch your breathing and how you look, and talk with you throughout. | Oral sedationA clip on your finger reads your oxygen level and pulse. We check your blood pressure until you are ready to leave. | IV sedationOxygen level, pulse, blood pressure and breathing are watched the whole time, until you are ready to leave. |
| Your ride home | Nitrous oxideYour dentist tells you at the visit whether you need one. | Oral sedationAn adult drives you home and stays with you. | IV sedationAn adult drives you home and stays with you for the rest of the day. |
| Eating beforehand | Nitrous oxideWe tell you what to eat and drink, usually a light meal. | Oral sedationWritten instructions, a few days ahead. | IV sedationWritten instructions with times, a few days ahead. |
| Afterward | Nitrous oxideYou breathe oxygen at the end, and most people are back to normal soon after. | Oral sedationYou may feel drowsy for hours. Rest at home. | IV sedationRest for the rest of the day. No driving or work until your dentist says you can. |
| A good fit if | Nitrous oxideYou are a little nervous, or want a visit to feel easier. | Oral sedationYour fear is stronger, or the visit is long. | IV sedationYour fear is strong, you have a lot of treatment to do, or staying still is hard for you. |
What the team does to stay with you
Sedation is one tool. The rest is how we run the visit.
Someone is at your chair from the first minute to the last. We say what we are about to do before we do it, and we ask before we touch.
A raised hand means stop. We stop, every time.
Breaks whenever you want one, with no reason needed.
Headphones, a blanket and sunglasses for the light, if they help.
A hand on your shoulder, only if you'd like it.
A caregiver or friend beside you, if that is easier.
Who we see
People come to us for different reasons. They have one thing in common: they want the visit to go slowly and kindly.
People who dread the dentist
Some of our patients haven't been in years. The first visit can be a talk and a look at the room, with no treatment.
Visits for dental fearAdults with disabilities, and their caregivers
We book longer visits, welcome a caregiver at the chair, and speak to the adult first.
Care for adults with disabilitiesAnyone with a lot to do
Fillings, crowns or removals in fewer, longer visits, with sedation if you choose it.
See all services
A first visit, in order
Treatment starts on a later day, once you've seen the room and read the plan.
- 01
Step 1: You call or write
Tell us what worries you, in a sentence or two on the phone, or ask someone to call for you.
- 02
Step 2: We talk, and you see the room
Sit in the chair with the light off. Ask anything. There is no exam unless you want one.
- 03
Step 3: You get a written plan
The dentist puts the plan and an estimate in writing, with the sedation level you've chosen, if any.
- 04
Step 4: You decide, and we set a day
Take the paper home. When you are ready, we book the visit and send instructions.
Three dentists, one quiet room
Each of us gives nitrous oxide and oral sedation. Two of us give IV sedation.
Gives nitrous oxide and oral sedation, and takes the time to explain each step before it happens.
Gives IV sedation, and works with caregivers to plan visits for adults with disabilities.
Before any sedation, we check
Not everyone is a good candidate for every level. This is how we decide, together.
Your health
A review of your health history, in the patient portal or on paper, before any sedation is planned.
Your medicines
What you take, and what you take it for. We may ask your physician.
Your ride and your meal
Who is driving you, and what to eat and drink beforehand, written down.
Your say
You choose the level, or none. You can change your mind on the day.
Before you call
Will I be awake?
With nitrous oxide, yes. With oral sedation most people stay awake but drowsy. With IV sedation you stay able to breathe on your own and to respond when we speak to you, though some people become very drowsy. We can't promise how much of the visit you will recall.
Will it hurt?
We numb the area before treatment, and you can ask us to stop at any time. We can't promise how a visit will feel, but we will keep checking in.
Can someone come in with me?
Yes. A friend, a family member or a caregiver can sit beside you for the talk and for the visit, unless a part of it needs the room clear for safety. We tell you before.
What if I have not been to a dentist in years?
You are not the first, and we won't lecture you. The first visit can be a talk and a look at the room.
Do you see adults with disabilities?
Yes. We book longer visits, ask the adult first, and welcome a caregiver at the chair. See the page for caregivers.
How do I find out what it costs?
We give you a written estimate before any treatment, with each step and its fee. Sedation is a separate line. See how fees work.
Come and see the room first
A first visit can be a talk and a tour. Call, or ask for a visit and we will call you back.