We have a patient who is 6’5” and weighs about as much as a truck. He is a great big tough guy. He is not afraid of spiders, snakes or the Boogeyman. He is, however, afraid of the dentist. Or at least he was. Since he’s been coming to us, we have been able to alleviate his fears about dental procedures, and now he can walk into our office without fear. We want to make your dental visit as easy as possible for you, even if you are afraid of the dentist. Which means, that if you have anxieties about coming to the dentist, we can talk to you about ways to reduce your anxiety about visiting the dentist - such as sedation.

Why Sedation?

While people think of sedation as something that happens during a major surgery, actually sedation can be really helpful when you need to alleviate your fears about visiting the dentist. Let’s face it, it is actually more important that you visit your dentist to get your teeth cleaned and checked than it is to worry about sedation. There are many different types of sedation we can talk to you about. Some types of sedation can be used to calm you during a dental exam, while others may be more suited to dental procedures.

For example, oral sedatives can be used to relax you during the exam. Oral sedatives do not put you to sleep, but they do relax you. These might be effective if you are anxious about an exam. We can also use a gas called nitrous oxide to relax you as well. Many people worry about pain during a dental procedure. If you are worried about the pain, we can discuss with you the benefits of pain medication or IV sedation. That way, you can come to the dentist without worrying about pain or anxiety.

If you are worried about anxiety during dental exams or dental procedures, why not give us a call for an appointment? We will be able to make you feel more comfortable about visiting the dentist.

Contact Our Offices

Milwaukie: (503) 855-0465
Oregon City: (503) 765-7185
Mobile Dental Clinic: (503) 653-9334