Anxiety Free Dentistry

Imagine undergoing a complex dental treatment like a root canal, extraction, or oral surgery. When your treatment is complete, you have no recollection of the time it took, the pain, the noise, or the discomfort you were expecting. We are pleased to offer our patients the option of comfortable, safe, and effective anxiety-free dentistry. Patients who benefit  have:

• A fear or anxiety of being at the dentist
• A hard time sitting still for long periods of time
• A hard time getting (and staying) numb from anesthetics

What is Anxiolysis?

Anxiolysis is a fancy word for a minimal level of sedation. It allows your doctor to provide a variety of dental treatments safely and comfortably for patients who experience anxiety when visiting the dentist. There are several benefits, including:

• Little or no memory of undergoing the procedure
• Hours seem like minutes
• No fear or anxiety during treatment
• No masks or gases to inhale
• No IV needles, just a pill to take

Patients who have undergone a procedure using anxiety-free dentistry will tell you it’s a simple, relaxing way to experience dentistry.

I’m nervous about being unconscious. What levels of sedation are available to me?

There’s no need to be nervous as you will be conscious the whole time. If you need to tell us something, you will be able to. We will use state-of-the-art equipment to monitor your blood pressure, pulse, and oxygen.

Sedation dentistry is closely regulated by law, which recognizes three sedative states: anxiolysis, moderate sedation, and deep sedation. Our office offers anxiolysis, or mild sedation only. If you require, or would prefer, deeper levels of sedation, including general anesthesia (going totally to sleep), we can arrange a referral.

How are sedatives administered?

You will be given a pill here in the office about an hour before your procedure. The exact medication and dosage will be chosen based on your age and weight, any other medications you are taking, and the length of the procedure. The protocols we use have been used safely in hundreds of thousands of cases, allowing patients who otherwise would not visit the dentist to have the treatment they want and deserve. 

What about experience and training?

In addition to decades of experience and training with many types of sedation including IV and general anesthesia, Dr. Herrmann recently trained with the Dental Organization for Conscious Sedation in the most up-to-date techniques for anxiety-free dentistry.

Please contact our practice to schedule a consultation, learn more about anxiety-free dentistry, and find out how we can help you achieve the healthy smile you deserve!