Services
Sedation Dentistry
If dental visits make you anxious, you are in good company here. We plan your comfort before we plan any treatment.
About half of all Americans dread going to the dentist. If that includes you, we want you to know two things. First, nothing about your history or your teeth will surprise us. Second, we have built this practice around what we call Fear-Less Dentistry, and helping nervous patients feel settled is something we do every day.
Who sedation dentistry helps
Many of the patients we care for have put off dental visits for years. Some had a bad experience at another office. Some have trouble getting numb. Some are facing extensive dental work and feel overwhelmed by the thought of it. Whatever brought you here, the pattern is the same: avoiding the dentist quietly makes small problems bigger, and the anxiety grows with them. Comfort-focused care breaks that cycle.
What to expect
Your first appointment is a conversation, not a procedure. You sit down with Dr. Balaban, talk through what worries you, and go over your health history. From there, we discuss the comfort options that suit your situation, from simple pacing changes, like breaking treatment into shorter visits, to relaxation options we review with you in person. Nothing is decided without you, and nothing happens on the first visit that you have not agreed to.
During treatment, we check in with you regularly and stop whenever you need a break. Patients are often surprised by how uneventful the visit feels once a plan is in place.
Why patients choose Smile Arts Dental
Dr. Alex Balaban is a member of DOCS, the Dental Organization for Conscious Sedation, and has been practicing dentistry for more than 15 years. He has treated many patients who had not seen a dentist in a long time, and the office is set up for exactly that kind of fresh start: a warm, supportive team, a comfortable modern space, and no lectures about the past.
A calmer way back to the dentist
You do not have to feel ready. You just have to come in and talk with us. Request an appointment, tell us you are nervous, and we will take it from there.
Common questions
Will I be unconscious? +
No. The options discussed at a typical consultation keep you conscious and responsive. Lighter options leave you relaxed and fully aware; deeper conscious options leave you drowsy, lightly aware, and often with little memory of the visit. Which is appropriate depends on your health history and the treatment planned.
Do I have to decide on sedation before my first visit? +
No. Just tell us dental visits are hard for you when you book. The first appointment is a conversation with Dr. Balaban about what has gone badly before and what would help. Many patients find that the conversation alone removes most of the dread.
I have not seen a dentist in years. Will that be a problem? +
It will not, and you will not be lectured about it. Patients returning after a long gap are this practice's most common new arrivals. The first visit is about an honest picture of where things stand and a plan that moves at your pace.
What makes Smile Arts Dental different for anxious patients? +
The practice was founded on the idea of Fear-Less Dentistry. Dr. Balaban is a member of DOCS, the Dental Organization for Conscious Sedation, and treating fearful patients, patients who fear needles, and patients who have had trouble getting numb is a normal part of every week here.
Related care