Sedation Dentistry Olympia

Our warm, welcoming dental office in Olympia, WA and friendly, professional staff usually ease our patients’ fears right away, and many people with dental phobia never even need any sedation once they arrive at our practice.

Should you need sedation dentistry so we can perform fast and comfortable dental care, here are the options:

• Oral Conscious Sedation
• Nitrous Oxide (laughing gas)

Oral conscious sedation involves prescribing medication to our patients to help them better cope with the necessary dental work. You may have such severe anxiety that you need anti-anxiety medication before your appointment and even the night before to help you sleep. If you’re a good candidate for anti-anxiety medication, you will get a prescription before your appointment with instructions on when to take it. Due to the side effects of the medication, you will need someone to drive you to and from your dental appointment.

Nitrous oxide helps patients relax while Dr. Bath and his team work on your mouth. Laughing gas is the mildest form of sedation dentistry and will put you at ease quickly. When laughing gas is administered, you will fall into a dreamlike state, remaining relaxed until your dental work is done. You will need someone to drive you home following your dental appointment, as the nitrous oxide will not have worn off by the time the work is complete.

Most of our patients don’t know why they are so anxious about going to a dentist because they have never had a bad experience at a dentist’s office; however, other patients have very bad memories that have led them to be fearful of the dentist:

1. Negative Past Experiences

Many patients trace their dental anxiety to a specific incident, such as a painful procedure or an encounter with a dentist who seemed rushed, dismissive, or unsympathetic. These experiences can leave a lasting impression, especially if they occurred during childhood when patients are more vulnerable. Even a single traumatic visit can lead to a lifelong fear of dental care.

2. Fear of Pain

Fear of pain is one of the most common reasons people avoid the dentist. Older patients may have vivid memories of dental visits before the advent of modern anesthesia or gentle techniques. Even with today’s advances, the anticipation of pain can be more frightening than the reality, especially for those with a low pain threshold or heightened sensitivity.

3. Loss of Control

Sitting in a reclined position with your mouth open while someone works inches from your face can feel disorienting. Patients can’t see what’s happening, can’t easily communicate, and may feel trapped. This sense of helplessness contributes to anxiety, especially for individuals who already struggle with claustrophobia or control-related stress.

4. Embarrassment or Shame About Oral Health

Some patients are anxious about being judged for the condition of their teeth and gums. They may fear that their dentist will scold them, express disgust, or comment harshly on their oral hygiene habits. This can be particularly true for patients who haven’t seen a dentist in years or who struggle with decay, bad breath, or missing teeth.

5. Fear of Injections, Drills, or Dental Tools

Needles, drills, suction hoses, and ultrasonic scalers can trigger intense anxiety—even before they’re used. The sharp smell of disinfectants or the sound of a drill can provoke a stress response in some patients. For individuals with needle phobias or sensory sensitivities, these common aspects of dental treatment can feel overwhelming.

6. Generalized Anxiety or Phobias

Patients with an underlying anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress, or panic disorder may find dental visits particularly difficult. The environment of a dental office—bright lights, confined spaces, and clinical smells—can trigger symptoms or worsen an already heightened state of anxiety. Dental fears are also more common in people who struggle with other types of medical or social phobias.

7. Sensory Overload

Dental appointments involve multiple sensory inputs: the buzzing of tools, the smell of chemicals, the taste of fluoride, the feel of instruments in your mouth, and the sound of suction or water sprays. For people with sensory processing challenges, including those with autism or ADHD, this overstimulation can be especially stressful.

8. Learned Behavior or Family Influence

Children often mirror their parents’ behaviors and attitudes. If a parent openly expresses fear of the dentist or avoids appointments, children are more likely to develop dental anxiety themselves. Even hearing stories about painful or scary dental visits from friends or relatives can shape a person’s perception before they ever sit in a dental chair.

One of the beautiful things about dental sedation is that you will likely have little or no memory of your dental appointment. The medication for dental anxiety often leaves patients with only a blurry memory of their dental procedures. That’s excellent news for those of you who hate the sounds and smells of a dental office.

You may not even be sure you have dental anxiety. It’s estimated that as many as one out of every three adults suffers from dental anxiety, so you’re not alone if you’ve been putting off your twice-yearly cleanings and exams due to fear of the dentist. You may benefit from sedation dentistry at Impressions Dentistry if you show any of these signs and symptoms of dental anxiety/dental phobia: