Guide 04 of 07
Build the visit you can actually sit through
Dental anxiety is common and it is not a character flaw. Tick what would help, bring the list, and we will put it in your chart.
Sedation, compared honestly
Most anxious patients never need sedation once the rest of the menu is in place. When it is the right answer, these are the three options we offer and what each one actually involves.
| Option | How you feel | Onset and recovery | Escort needed | Usually suits | Sample fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local anaesthetic only | Fully awake and aware. The tooth is numb, nothing else changes. | Numb in 2 to 5 minutes, worn off in 2 to 4 hours | No | Most fillings, crowns and hygiene treatment | Included in the treatment fee |
| Nitrous oxide | Awake, floaty and detached from the noise. You can still talk to us. | Effect in about 5 minutes, gone 5 to 10 minutes after the mask comes off | No, you can drive yourself home | Needle fear, a strong gag reflex, longer appointments | From $75 per visit (sample price) |
| Oral sedation | Deeply relaxed and drowsy. Many people remember very little of the visit. | Taken an hour before, drowsiness lasting the rest of the day | Yes, an adult must bring you and take you home | Severe anxiety, or several procedures in one long visit | From $295 per visit (sample price) |
Fees are samples for illustration on this demo site, not a quote. General anaesthetic cases are referred to a hospital-based colleague; we will tell you plainly when that is the safer route.
What we will not do
Three things you will never hear here
- 1
No lecture about the gap in your records
We are not interested in where you have been. We are interested in what happens next.
- 2
Nothing starts without telling you the cost
Anxiety about the bill is anxiety too, and it is the one we can remove entirely.
- 3
You can stop at any point and reschedule
Leaving halfway through a plan is allowed. It is not a failure and it is not held against you.
Northstar care guides
The rest of the series
Seven guides, written by our doctors and kept free of sales talk. Each one stands on its own.
- TfGuide 01Treatment finderTell us what you notice and see which treatment usually answers it.Open
- EgGuide 02Dental emergency guideWhat to do in the first ten minutes, by symptom, and today's same-day chairs.Open
- FvGuide 03First visit, minute by minuteNinety minutes on the clock, and the three forms that come before them.Open
- IcGuide 05Insurance checkerRead your plan in five fields, then call your insurer with our script.Open
- FaGuide 06Family care by ageWhat the mouth needs at every stage, from the first tooth to a set of dentures.Open
- OcGuide 07Daily oral careThe habits that change outcomes, ranked, plus the ones that barely matter.Open
Tell us what you need before you arrive
Add your comfort list to the notes when you request an appointment, or say it on the phone. It goes in your chart and it stays there.
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