Dental anxiety is real — and more common than most people admit. If the thought of sitting in a dental chair makes you tense, you're not alone, and you won't be judged here. At Alaska Smiles, we recognize that no two patients arrive at the door feeling the same way. The good news: there are options that can make your experience genuinely comfortable. The most common forms of sedation in dentistry are oral and intravenous. It's worth understanding that sedation is not a painkiller — local numbing remains an essential part of your treatment. What sedation does is quiet the anxiety, ease the tension, and make the entire experience far more manageable for patients who need that support. Oral Sedation — For patients who carry real nervousness into an appointment, oral sedation is a straightforward, effective option. Taken in pill or liquid form at a set time before your visit, it produces a calm, settled feeling that takes the edge off without putting you out. It's simple, well-tolerated, and carries very few side effects. IV Sedation — Administered through a small IV line, intravenous sedation allows for a deeper level of relaxation while keeping you conscious and responsive. Unlike general anesthesia, you breathe on your own throughout — no ventilator required. It's particularly well-suited for patients with significant anxiety, a sensitive gag reflex, or longer procedures that benefit from sustained calm. If you have questions about which option might be right for you, we're glad to talk through it honestly. Your comfort through every step of your care is something we take seriously. Reach out to our Anchorage office — we're ready when you are.
• Calm where it counts: Sedation allows you to feel genuinely at ease throughout your visit — and most patients remember very little of the procedure itself. That's not a side effect. For many, it's the point. • More done in fewer visits: When you're comfortable, we can accomplish more in a single appointment — complex or multiple procedures handled efficiently, without asking more of you than necessary. • Precision that benefits everyone: A relaxed patient means steadier conditions for careful, exacting work. The result is treatment that's both more comfortable for you and more precise in execution. • Safe, supervised, and in good hands: Every sedation option at Alaska Smiles is administered and monitored throughout your procedure by Brett Johnson and Andrea Schiller — trained professionals who take that responsibility seriously.
In the hands of a trained, experienced provider, sedation dentistry is safe. At Alaska Smiles, Brett Johnson and Andrea Schiller monitor you carefully throughout your entire procedure — so you can focus on staying relaxed while we focus on keeping you comfortable and cared for.
We offer several sedation options to meet you where you are: nitrous oxide (laughing gas) for mild relaxation, oral sedation for a deeper sense of calm, and IV sedation for patients who need more significant relief. The right choice depends on your level of anxiety and the nature of your procedure — something we're happy to talk through with you honestly before anything is decided.
It depends on the type of sedation we use together. Nitrous oxide and oral sedation will leave you awake but deeply at ease — present, but without the tension. IV sedation may bring you to a light sleep, though you'll still be able to respond if we need you to. Either way, you won't be white-knuckling it through your appointment.
The duration varies by type. Nitrous oxide clears your system quickly — most patients feel like themselves within minutes of the mask coming off. Oral and IV sedation take longer to fully wear off, typically a few hours, so we recommend arranging a ride home and giving yourself the rest of the day to recover comfortably.
"A great and friendly staff.Who are very informative.Took care of a tooth that had broken off asap."
