Putting off a dental visit because the thought of the chair alone makes your chest tighten is more common than most people realize, and it does not mean something is wrong with you. If you have ever canceled an appointment out of pure dread, there is a path forward that does not ask you to just push through the fear.

At Smiles of Fort Myers, we built our sedation dentistry program around patients who need more than a friendly smile and a stress ball to get through a visit. Our team works with you to find a comfort level that actually lets you receive the care you need, supported by monitored IV sedation for patients who want to feel relaxed throughout treatment.

What Sedation Dentistry Actually Involves

Sedation dentistry is designed for patients whose anxiety gets in the way of care. For patients facing extensive treatment, or those whose anxiety makes even a routine cleaning feel unbearable, IV sedation allows you to remain in a relaxed, sleep-like state while our team works, and many patients remember very little of the procedure once it is finished.

The right approach depends on your medical history, the procedure planned, and how your body responds to sedation in general. We walk through all of this with you before your appointment so there are no surprises on the day of treatment. Every patient is different, so your plan is built around your comfort level and the care you need.

What to Expect on the Day of Your Visit

Knowing the sequence of events ahead of time helps take some of the uncertainty out of the process. On a typical IV sedation day, you can expect the following:

• Pre-appointment screening: We review your medical history and confirm you have followed any fasting instructions.
• Monitoring setup: Vital signs are tracked continuously throughout the procedure for your safety.
• Sedation administration: Medication is given gradually so you settle into a calm, relaxed state.
• Recovery time: You rest under observation until you are ready to head home with a designated driver.

 

Once the sedation wears off, many patients are surprised by how much easier the whole experience felt compared with what they imagined beforehand.

Why Our Team Is Suited for This

Dr. Victor Galvan brings an unusual perspective to sedation care at our practice. Before earning his dental degree, he spent a decade working as a registered nurse, including time in a medical ICU, so patient monitoring and safety protocols are second nature to him. He completed the AAID MaxiCourse and the DOCS IV Sedation Course, and he holds Basic Life Support and Advanced Cardiac Life Support certifications along with a Moderate Sedation Permit.

Dr. Claudia Orta rounds out our approach with her own background in oral surgery, periodontics, and restorative dentistry, which means patients who need combined procedures are not bounced between offices to get complete care. Between the two of them, our dentists can plan treatment knowing sedation support is built into the practice rather than treated as a special accommodation.

Dental Anxiety Is More Common Than You Think

A 2021 systematic review in the Journal of Dentistry found about 15 percent of adults worldwide experience dental fear and anxiety. If avoiding the dentist has become a pattern for you, you are far from alone, and there are real, practical options available that do not involve simply gritting your teeth through it. Avoiding care can also allow small problems to grow into larger ones, which can make the next visit feel even more intimidating.

Sedation also opens the door to combining procedures into fewer visits. Patients who might otherwise need several separate appointments for dental implants or other extensive work can sometimes complete more in a single sedated visit, cutting down on the number of times anxiety has to be managed at all.

Start Your Sedation Consultation With Smiles of Fort Myers

We know that choosing sedation dentistry can feel like a big decision, especially if a bad experience in the past is what led to your anxiety in the first place. That is exactly why we spend time upfront discussing your history and your concerns rather than rushing you into a chair. Our goal is for every patient to leave feeling like the visit went better than expected, not worse.

If you have questions about what sedation option might fit your situation, our frequently asked questions page covers many of the details patients ask about most. When you are ready to take the next step, contact our office to schedule a consultation and talk through your options with our team.