For many people, going to the dentist isn’t just uncomfortable; it’s something they avoid altogether.
One woman who had avoided the dentist for years, living with a cracked tooth and a constant undercurrent of fear, walked into Meredith Davis, DDS, and could barely sit in the chair. Instead of pushing forward, Dr. Meredith Davis slowed everything down.
This patient’s care began with IV sedation, a tool that helped her feel safe and regain control. Today, she no longer needs it.
At Dr. Davis’ practice, sedation dentistry has become a bridge between trauma and healing; one that allows patients to move forward at their own pace.
What is sedation dentistry?
Sedation dentistry uses medication to help patients feel calm, relaxed or fully asleep during dental treatment. The goal isn’t to “knock someone out,” but to create a sense of safety so care can happen without overwhelming fear.
At Meredith Davis, DDS, patients have access to multiple options depending on their needs, age, health history and level of anxiety:
Nitrous oxide (laughing gas): The lightest form of sedation, nitrous oxide helps patients relax while remaining fully awake. Its effects wear off quickly, allowing patients to drive themselves home. Dr. Davis often uses it for cleanings, fillings or for patients with mild anxiety.Conscious (oral) sedation: Taken in pill form, similar to medications such as Xanax, this option provides deeper relaxation while patients remain awake and able to breathe on their own. A driver is required, and it’s often paired with nitrous oxide for added comfort.IV sedation: Administered by an anesthesiologist, IV sedation allows patients to be fully asleep during treatment. It’s typically used for extensive procedures or for patients with severe dental anxiety. Patients require a driver and post-procedure support.Each option exists for one reason: to meet patients where they are.
When fear runs deeper than teeth
Dr. Davis sees patients of all ages, from small children to patients in their 90s. While treating children, the goal is to prevent as much trauma as possible. However, many adult patients carry anxiety that has little to do with dentistry alone.
“Patients in their 50s to 60s typically have the most trauma, … but it all depends on what their previous experiences were,” Dr. Davis said. “Some of my patients have not particularly had a bad [dental] experience before, but as their anxiety [surrounding life] … has increased, sometimes their dental anxiety will also increase.”
One patient cried on the phone when scheduling her first appointment, and she cried during her first visit. Today, that same patient has completed orthodontics, crowns, root canals and extractions, and no longer needs sedation.
“I’ve started calling our office a rehab center,” Dr. Davis said. “I may not be able to make a patient’s trauma better, but [the focus] is to not make it worse.”
A dentist who understands fear firsthand
Dr. Davis’ approach is rooted in her own childhood experience.
“I had a lot of dental anxiety as a kid,” Dr. Davis said. “It had gotten so bad that [my dentist] said he would not treat me anymore.”
That experience actually led her to dentistry.
“When I decided to … become a dentist, my goal was to make [the experience] better, to not be so scary for kids and adults, and to try to undo as much trauma as I could,” Dr. Davis said.
That empathy shapes every interaction in her office, from offering nitrous oxide during routine cleanings to coordinating oral or IV sedation for patients who, otherwise, might not receive care. Some patients eventually move away from sedation altogether. Others will always need it, and Dr. Davis sees nothing wrong with that.
“If that’s what they need to come in, I will do just about anything to help them,” Dr. Davis said.
For Dr. Davis, the reward comes in moments that linger long after the appointment ends.
“When you have somebody that hugs you as soon as you walk in the room because you’ve changed their life, from a dental perspective, you [think], ‘Okay, this is it,’” Dr. Davis said.
Sedation dentistry doesn’t erase fear overnight, but for many patients, it opens the door to something they never thought possible: care without panic, trust without pressure and the freedom to stop running from the chair.
Sometimes, that’s where healing truly begins.
Click here to learn more about Meredith Davis, DDS, or to schedule an appointment today.
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The above story was produced by Multi-Platform Journalist Sydney Heller with Community Impact’s Storytelling team with information solely provided by the local business as part of their “sponsored content” purchase through our advertising team.