Dental anxiety

Help with dental anxiety in Royal Oak

We'll go at your pace.

Lots of people put off the dentist for years because of fear, a bad experience, or embarrassment about their teeth. You won't get a lecture here. You can start with a conversation, choose how much comfort help you want, from ear protection to nitrous to a single dose of anti-anxiety medication, and stop whenever you need to.

Book a talk-first visit 248-398-5520

Reviewed by Dr. Sohrab Ansari, DDS · Updated September 2026

Your comfort options

Choose what helps. Combine as many as you like.

Being nervous doesn't make you a difficult patient. Tell us what you'd like when you book, or decide in the chair.

A first visit where we just talkMeet the dentist, tell us what worries you and what you'd like to fix. Nothing happens in your mouth unless you say so.Ask for it
A hand signal that means stopRaise your hand and we stop, every time. We start again only when you're ready.Yours to use
Ear protectionWe have ear protection to cut down the sound of the drill and the suction.Just ask
Your own headphones and musicBring your headphones and your favorite playlist or podcast. Lots of people find it helps the time go by.Bring them
A TV in every roomPut on a show to take your mind off things.Every room
A blanketSome people feel more settled with a blanket. Just ask.Just ask
Numbing gel before any needleWe numb the spot first, so most people barely feel the injection.Standard
Nitrous oxide (laughing gas)You breathe it through a small nose mask. It takes the edge off within a few minutes, you stay awake and can talk, and it wears off soon after we turn it off.Wears off in minutes
A single dose of anti-anxiety medicationYou take it before your visit. You'll be relaxed and drowsy but awake, and some people remember very little of the appointment. We check your health history and medications first.Bring a driver

We don't offer IV sedation in our office. If you need to be fully asleep, we'll refer you to an oral surgeon we trust.

Comfort at a glance

First visit: Can be just a conversation
Nitrous oxide: $75 a visit. Awake, relaxed, wears off in minutes
Oral sedation: $444 a visit. A single dose beforehand. Bring a driver
IV sedation: Referred to an oral surgeon
Stopping: Raise your hand, any time

How a first visit goes

Tell us when you book
Say you're nervous, or that it's been a long time. We'll plan around it.
Talk first
You meet the dentist before anything happens. Tell us what's happened before and what scares you most.
Pick your comfort options
Choose from the list above, and change your mind whenever you like.
Go one step at a time
We tell you what we're about to do before we do it. If today is only x-rays, or only a look, that's fine.
Make a plan together
If you need treatment, you get the plan and the price in writing, most urgent things first. Nothing gets done until you're ready.

It's been years. Now what?

You're not the first, and you won't be the last. We'll look, tell you honestly what we see, and start with whatever matters most, usually anything that hurts.

If years of putting it off have left you with several broken, loose or missing teeth, it's not too late. All-on-X replaces a full arch with fixed teeth, and snap-in dentures hold a denture firmly in place. You can have the same comfort options for those visits, and most All-on-X patients leave surgery day with fixed temporary teeth.

For kids who are scared

We don't rush, surprise or force anything. A first visit can be just a look. Older kids who need treatment can have nitrous. More on our kids' dentistry page.

Common questions

Will I be asleep with oral sedation?

No. You'll be awake and able to answer us, just very relaxed and drowsy. If you need to be fully asleep, that's IV sedation or general anesthesia, and we'll refer you to an oral surgeon we trust.

Can I drive after nitrous oxide?

Usually, yes. It wears off within minutes once we switch you to oxygen. After oral sedation you'll need someone to drive you, and you shouldn't drive for the rest of the day.

It's been years since I've seen a dentist. Is that a problem?

Not at all. We regularly see people who haven't been in years. You won't get a lecture. We'll tell you honestly and kindly what we see, and what we'd do first.

I gag easily. Can you help?

Tell us. We can take breaks, use numbing spray, and go slower. Nitrous oxide also helps a lot of people with a strong gag reflex.

What if I need to stop in the middle?

Raise your hand. We stop, every time, and we only start again when you're ready.

Is oral sedation safe?

For most healthy adults, yes. We go over your health history and medications first, use a single dose, and keep an eye on you throughout the visit. If it isn't right for you, we'll tell you and talk about other options.

Does sedation cost extra?

Yes. Nitrous oxide is $75 and oral sedation is $444 per visit. Dental plans vary on whether they pay toward sedation, so we'll check yours and tell you the cost before your visit. Numbing, ear protection, a blanket and a talk-first visit don't cost anything extra. For All-on-X, sedation is included in the price.

My child is scared. Can you help?

Yes. We don't rush, surprise or force anything, and a first visit can be just a look. See our kids' dentistry page.

Ready when you are.

Call or book online. Tell us you're nervous and we'll plan around it.

Book a visit 248-398-5520

Help with dental anxiety in Royal Oak

Choose what helps. Combine as many as you like.

Comfort at a glance

How a first visit goes

It's been years. Now what?

For kids who are scared

Common questions

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