Hi, I'm Dr. Sutera at Aesthetic Smile Reconstruction in Boston. If you're struggling with TMJ disorder, I understand how daunting dental visits can feel. Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders often lead to jaw pain, limited mouth opening, and increased anxiety during [...]
Many patients ask me, "Can I be completely asleep for dental work?" The answer is yes—sedation dentistry offers various levels of relaxation, from light sedation to full unconsciousness. At Aesthetic Smile Reconstruction, we specialize in helping nervous patients get the [...]
Dental anxiety is incredibly common, affecting nearly 36% of people. Many of our patients at Aesthetic Smile Reconstruction have shared the same concerns. I’m Dr. Sutera, and I want you to know that dental anxiety shouldn’t stop you from getting [...]
Few questions carry more quiet anxiety than when a patient looks at me before a procedure and asks, “Will I remember this?” I hear it often in my Boston practice, usually spoken softly, almost apologetically. There’s a real fear there—not [...]
Last Updated: December 2025 | Medically Reviewed by: Dr. Charles Sutera, DMD, FAGD If you’re searching “why sedation didn’t fix my dental pain,” you’re likely feeling confused, frustrated, or even betrayed. You chose sedation dentistry to avoid pain—so why are you [...]
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 [...]
