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Sedation Dentistry · San Diego, CA
Dental anxiety keeps millions of people from getting care they need — and then small problems become big ones. Our City Heights office offers nitrous oxide (laughing gas) and oral sedation options to help anxious patients get comfortable so we can actually help them. No judgment; just practical help.
Hablamos español. Nói tiếng Việt.
Options we offer
We offer the sedation options appropriate for a general dental practice. We are honest about what we can provide in-office versus when a specialist referral is needed.
Nitrous oxide is a safe, fast-acting gas inhaled through a small mask over the nose. It produces mild relaxation and a sense of calm within minutes, without putting you to sleep. You can still respond, breathe normally, and communicate — but the edge is off. It wears off quickly after the mask is removed, so most patients can drive home.
For patients who need deeper relaxation, we can prescribe a mild anti-anxiety medication taken by mouth before the appointment. You will need someone to drive you home. Oral sedation keeps you conscious and able to respond, but significantly reduces anxiety and often leaves you with little memory of the procedure.
Regardless of whether sedation is used, we always use local anesthetic to completely numb the area being treated. Sedation addresses anxiety; local anesthesia ensures you feel no pain. Both together give anxious patients the most comfortable experience possible.
From patients who feel queasy in the waiting room to patients who have avoided the dentist for a decade — we see it regularly and we are not surprised or dismissive. The first step is telling us at booking so we can set the appointment up correctly.
We go at your pace. If you need a moment, you get one. We explain each step before we do it. If something is uncomfortable, we stop and address it. Anxious patients especially benefit from knowing that they are in control.
We offer nitrous oxide and oral sedation — the standard for a general dental practice. Patients who need IV sedation or general anesthesia for dental work require a specialist, and we will refer appropriately and coordinate.
Anxiety is amplified when there is a language barrier. Our team speaks Vietnamese and Spanish, so anxious patients can communicate what they need without fumbling for words.
For extremely anxious patients, we sometimes recommend starting with a low-stakes appointment — just a cleaning — to build trust before moving to treatment. A positive first visit makes every visit after it easier.
Anxious about dental care?
Tell us at booking and we will set up the appointment with the right sedation and extra time. No judgment — just practical help.
We are at 5296 University Ave in City Heights — next to Vien Dong Supermarket. If you are coming in for oral sedation and cannot drive yourself, we are accessible by MTS Route 7 and other buses, and our front desk can help you plan logistics. Let us know at booking if you will need sedation so we can allow extra time.
Common Questions
Nitrous oxide and oral sedation at our City Heights office. Bilingual team, no-rush approach, patient-paced from start to finish.
5296 University Ave, Suite I · San Diego, CA · Next to Vien Dong Supermarket