For some people, the hardest part of dental care is simply walking through the door. If fear, a strong gag reflex, or past bad experiences have kept you away, sedation dentistry can change that. It lets you get the treatment you need while feeling calm and comfortable, often barely aware of the appointment at all. At Reston Serenity Smiles, Dr. Majid Dastgir offers a full range of sedation, from light laughing gas to IV sedation, so that anxiety never has to stand between you and a healthy mouth.
This page explains each sedation option, what IV sedation is actually like, how we keep you safe, and how to prepare. If you have been putting off care because of nerves, call or text 571-313-8415 and tell us. We plan the whole visit around your comfort.
Dental anxiety is common, and nothing to be embarrassed about
Dental anxiety is one of the most common fears there is, and it affects people of every age and background. It is not a character flaw, and you will never get a lecture from us about it. For many people the fear started with one uncomfortable experience years ago and simply grew from there. Others are bothered by the sounds, the numbness, or a sense of not being in control.
The problem is that avoiding the dentist tends to make things worse. Small problems that could have been a quick filling turn into bigger ones that need more treatment, which feeds the fear further. Sedation, combined with a team that takes the time to explain each step and never rushes you, breaks that cycle. The goal is not just to get you through one appointment, but to make dental care something you can keep up without dread.
You are not alone in this. We regularly see patients who have avoided care for years, who feel their heart race in the waiting room, or who have a gag reflex that makes even a cleaning feel impossible. None of that surprises us, and none of it changes how we treat you. Tell us what you are worried about and we will build the visit around it.
Our sedation options, from lightest to deepest
Different situations call for different levels of sedation. We offer three, and at your consultation we recommend the lightest one that will keep you comfortable for the treatment you need.
Nitrous oxide (laughing gas)
Nitrous oxide is the lightest form of sedation. You breathe a mix of nitrous oxide and oxygen through a small mask over your nose, and within minutes you feel relaxed and a little floaty while staying fully awake and able to respond. Its biggest advantage is that it wears off almost immediately once the mask comes off, so you can usually drive yourself home and get on with your day. It is ideal for mild anxiety or a strong gag reflex.
Oral conscious sedation
Oral conscious sedation uses a prescribed medication taken before your appointment. It produces a deeper sense of calm than nitrous, and many patients remember little of the visit afterward, though they remain conscious and able to respond. Because the medication lingers, you will need someone to drive you to and from the appointment. It suits moderate anxiety or longer procedures.
IV sedation
IV sedation is the deepest level we offer and the one that sets us apart in the Reston area. The medication is delivered through a small IV, which lets us control the depth of sedation precisely and adjust it throughout the appointment. Most patients enter a deeply relaxed, dreamlike state and remember little or nothing of the procedure, yet are still able to breathe on their own and respond if needed. It is the option of choice for severe anxiety, complex or lengthy treatment, or patients who want several procedures done in one visit rather than spread across many.
Which option suits which patient
The right level depends on how much anxiety you feel, the treatment you need, and your health history. As a rough guide:
- Mild nerves or a gag reflex: nitrous oxide is often enough.
- Moderate anxiety or a longer visit: oral conscious sedation.
- Severe anxiety, complex work, or several procedures at once: IV sedation.
You do not have to figure this out on your own. At your consultation we talk through your fears and your treatment, review your medical history, and recommend the option that fits.
What IV sedation is actually like, before, during, and after
Before: we review your health history and medications, explain what to expect, and give you clear instructions, including not eating for a set period beforehand and arranging a ride home. You will not drive yourself after IV sedation.
During: we place a small IV, usually in your hand or arm, and the sedation begins to work quickly. You drift into a deeply relaxed state. Time seems to pass in what feels like minutes, and most patients have little or no memory of the treatment afterward. Throughout, we monitor you closely and can adjust the sedation at any point.
After: the effects wear off gradually, so you will feel groggy for the rest of the day. Your ride takes you home, you rest, and most patients feel back to normal by the next morning.
Is sedation safe?
Sedation dentistry is very safe when it is planned around your health history and monitored properly, which is exactly how we approach it. Before recommending any option, we review your medical history and the medications and supplements you take, because those can affect which sedation is appropriate. During sedation we monitor your vital signs continuously and keep you under close watch from the moment it begins until it wears off.
We also match the depth of sedation to what you actually need. There is no reason to go deeper than necessary, so many patients do very well with nitrous or oral sedation and never need IV. If you have a medical condition and are unsure whether sedation is safe for you, bring it up at your consultation. We would rather answer every question than have you worry.
Preparing for a sedation appointment
We give you personalized instructions, but in general, for oral and IV sedation:
- Do not eat or drink for the period we specify before your appointment.
- Arrange for a responsible adult to drive you home and stay with you afterward.
- Wear comfortable, loose clothing.
- Tell us about every medication and supplement you take.
- Take your regular medications only as we direct.
Nitrous oxide is the exception: because it clears so quickly, you can usually eat normally beforehand and drive yourself home, unless we tell you otherwise.
Recovery and aftercare
After nitrous oxide, you are clear-headed within minutes and can carry on with your day. After oral or IV sedation, plan to rest for the remainder of the day and avoid work, driving, and important decisions until the next morning. Have your ride arranged and, ideally, someone to keep you company at home. We send you home with simple aftercare instructions and are a phone call away if you have any questions.
Treatments we can do under sedation
Almost any dental treatment can be done with sedation, and it is especially helpful for:
- Longer or complex procedures like dental implants or several treatments in one visit
- Root canal treatment and extractions
- Deep cleanings for gum disease
- Routine care that anxiety has made impossible to face
Sedation also lets us combine treatments that would otherwise take several visits into one, which is a real advantage if getting to the dentist is difficult for you. For patients with a strong gag reflex, sedation can make impressions, X-rays, and back-tooth work far more manageable than they would be otherwise.
Whatever you need done, we will tell you honestly whether sedation is the right call and which level makes sense. It is a tool to make necessary care comfortable, not something we add to every visit by default.
Why anxious patients choose us in Reston
Offering sedation is only half of what makes a nervous visit go well. The other half is a team that treats your anxiety as normal, explains everything before it happens, and never makes you feel rushed or judged. Because Reston Serenity Smiles is a single-location practice, you see Dr. Dastgir each visit and build the kind of trust that makes future appointments easier, with or without sedation.
We care for anxious patients from Reston, Herndon, Great Falls, Vienna, Oakton, McLean, Sterling, Ashburn, and Chantilly, along with the surrounding Northern Virginia communities. If nerves have kept you away, you are exactly who we built this care around.
What sedation costs, and whether insurance covers it
The cost of sedation depends on which option you choose and how long your treatment takes, since deeper sedation and longer appointments involve more time and monitoring. Nitrous oxide is the most affordable, while IV sedation costs more because of the medication and monitoring involved.
Dental insurance sometimes covers sedation when it is medically necessary, for example for a covered surgical procedure, but often does not cover it for routine care. We verify your specific benefits, give you a written estimate before treatment, and offer flexible payment plans through Cherry. See our insurance and financing page for details.
Frequently asked questions
Will I be unconscious during sedation?
Not with the options described here. Nitrous and oral sedation keep you awake but relaxed, and even with IV sedation most patients remain able to breathe on their own and respond, while remembering little of the visit. This is different from general anesthesia.
Will I feel any pain?
Sedation keeps you calm, and we still use local anesthetic to numb the area, so you should not feel pain during treatment. Many patients are surprised by how little they remember afterward.
Can I drive myself home?
After nitrous oxide, usually yes. After oral conscious sedation or IV sedation, no. You must arrange for a responsible adult to drive you home and stay with you as the sedation wears off.
Is sedation safe if I have a health condition?
Often yes, but it depends on the condition. We review your full medical history and medications before recommending any option, and we plan sedation around your health. Bring your questions to the consultation.
Does insurance cover sedation?
Sometimes, when it is medically necessary for a covered procedure, but often not for routine care. We check your specific benefits and give you a written estimate before treatment.
How do I get started if I am anxious?
Just call or text 571-313-8415 and tell us you are nervous. We will plan a low-pressure consultation, talk through your options, and go at your pace.