If you have been putting off years of dental work, we can change your life. Imagine not being afraid of the dentist and being able to accomplish all of your dental needs in as little as one or two appointments. You will be able to smile with confidence and chew your food without pain.

Dr. Voget’s team has been trained at the University of Washington Dental Fears Clinic to assess your feelings about coming to the dentist and to help you cope with dental care. Our goal is to make coming to the dentist comfortable enough that you will continue coming in and improving your dental health. Here are some of the techniques we use to work with fearful clients:

Oral Sedation
By simply swallowing the proper dosage of sedative medication, you can relax until you are just to the point of falling asleep without actually sleeping. Before starting any treatment, we review your medical history and get clearance from your physician. On the day of the appointment, you will take medication, and a companion will bring you to and from the office. We will give you an additional amount of medication upon your arrival. During treatment, we monitor you very closely while you are relaxing the time away. Many patients feel no discomfort whatsoever during and after treatment. An added bonus is that most people have little or no memory of the visit.

Nitrous Oxide
We can administer nitrous oxide (otherwise known as laughing gas), through a mask that you wear on your nose. Nitrous oxide helps you to feel relaxed and calm, and helps some people to slow down their breathing. The good thing about nitrous oxide is that it does not stay in your system after you are finished using it, so you are able to function normally after your dental visit.

Distraction
Some of our clients prefer to be distracted from any noise or sights that might go on during a dental visit. For them, we offer headphones so that they can listen to music, or video goggles so that they can watch and listen to videos. For many people, distraction is the best way to feel comfortable.

Relaxation
At the Dental Fears Clinic at the University of Washington, Dr. Voget learned methods of helping people cope with their fears without the use of distractions or medications. By focusing on your body and its reactions, you are able to relax your muscles and control your breathing naturally. We also use biofeedback to help clients keep their heart rates down on their own. Finally, we might suggest using guided imagery to place yourself mentally in a more comfortable place, which in turn will help your physical relaxation.

Online Form
We have also prepared an online form to help us address any special concerns you might have about dentistry. You may download this form, print it, and bring the completed form with you to your first visit. With the information and feedback you provide, we can provide the care you deserve for the needs you have. Please click here (in Microsoft Word format.)