Last Updated: June 2026 | Next Review: December 2026 Written by: Dr. Charles Sutera, DMD, FAGD | Aesthetic Smile Reconstruction, Waltham, MA Sedation dentistry is safer than most patients assume and riskier than most marketing makes it sound. The honest [...]
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 in Boston. I know dental anxiety affects millions of Americans, especially those with PTSD or past dental trauma. If the idea of visiting the dentist makes you nervous or anxious, you're not [...]
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 [...]
Dental anxiety: Gosh who wants to talk about that? I know what you're thinking. Dentists, what a horrible thing. Written and medically reviewed by Charles Sutera, DMD, FAGD — Updated: September 27, 2025 Located near Boston? Book a consult → Make an [...]
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 [...]
Do you wish you could sleep through your dental treatment? For many patients, sleep dentistry is revolutionizing their dental treatment. Sleep dentistry is also known as oral sedation dentistry. Sedation dentistry involves the use of medications designed to calm, relax, [...]
It’s not a secret that many people would rather go through an IRS audit than go to the dentist. Studies estimate nearly 20% of Americans are currently avoiding the dentist, and have been for years, due to severe dental [...]
IV sedation is a type of anesthesia offered at some dental practices with advanced specialized training in dental anesthesia. Dental practices that are board-certified in IV sedation allow patients an additional aspect of comfort compared to traditional dental offices. [...]
