Does the thought of a dental appointment make you nervous? Many people feel some level of fear when visiting the dentist. For some, that fear can be overwhelming and they may need sedation for dental anxiety. At Aesthetic Smile Reconstruction, [...]
Hi, I’m Dr. Sutera from Aesthetic Smile Reconstruction, your trusted sedation dentist in Boston. I understand that dental anxiety can make routine visits feel intimidating. If you're nervous about seeing a dentist, you’re definitely not alone. Thankfully, general dentistry sedation [...]
Do you struggle with a sensitive gag reflex during dental visits? Consider sedation dentistry! Many people find even simple procedures—like X-rays, cleanings, or impressions—uncomfortable or even impossible due to uncontrollable gagging. This issue can make dental visits stressful and lead [...]
Updated: September 30, 2025 • Medically reviewed by Charles Sutera, DMD, FAGD Do you know the phrase, I’m so frustrated I want to pull my hair out? Well sometimes that phrase applies to dentistry. Are you thinking what I'm thinking? [...]
Dental anxiety is real. And it can have serious health impacts if allowed to interfere with dental care. Studies estimate that as many as 60% of dental patients have anywhere from mild to severe dental fear, and as many as [...]
Approximately 20 million Americans have a severe fear of needles. A study in 2015 showed that approximately 14% of people had avoided the dentist due to needle phobia, or trypanophobia. That’s a large portion of people forgoing necessary dental treatment due [...]
Most of my patients with severe dental anxiety have tried willpower. They've made appointments, cancelled them, made them again. Or read about breathing techniques. They've been told by well-meaning dentists to "just relax." Just to feel embarrassed about a fear [...]
