New Patients: (317) 333-6788

Existing Patients: (317) 890-4455

10935 East Washington Street
Indianapolis, IN 46229

Smilling couple

Blog

Eliminate anxiety with sedation dentistry from your Indianapolis dentist

Dental anxiety is a very real and potentially serious condition. An estimated 75 percent of American adults are thought to have some type of dental fear. There are many terms for the condition, ranging from mild to serious, including odontophobia, dentophobia, dentist phobia, or dental phobia. 

Some patients experience slight apprehension when visiting the dentist. Those with more extreme dental stress may avoid seeking professional dental care at all costs. The cause of these fears may be direct or indirect. 

Direct experience, the most common reason for dental anxiety, occurs when a patient has personally had a traumatic or painful interaction with a dental professional. 

Indirect experiences may develop for various reasons, such as:

Dr. Matthew Church Providing Sedation Dentistry
  • Stereotyping of dental professionals in the mass media, including depictions of painful procedures.
  • “White coat syndrome” resulting from a prior negative experience with any healthcare provider or institution that is triggered in any clinical setting.
  • Second hand stories from another individual who has had an uncomfortable dental experience.
  • Perceived lack of control, particularly for patients who may have a sensitive gag reflex, discomfort in close spaces, or confinement issues.

Dr. Matthew Church and our friendly team at Washington Street Dentistry understand that our patients may have varying levels of anxiety. We are committed to providing patient-centered care. We involve patients in their treatment plans, and offer a state-of-the-art, welcoming, and comfortable setting. Our goal is to make each patient, from children to mature adults, feel relaxed and safe. 

With convenient hours and organized appointment management, we seek to reduce the stress in our patients’ busy lives. Using advanced technologies, such as digital imaging, an intraoral camera, rotary endodontics, and diagnodent, we are able to diagnose and treat patients with more comfort.


CALL OUR OFFICE FOR MORE INFORMATION

New Patients: (317) 333-6788

Existing Patients: (317) 890-4455


For patients who require extensive dental procedures or who have dental anxiety, we offer two forms of sedation dentistry at our office in Indianapolis:

  • Nitrous oxide – also called laughing gas. Sedation is inhaled through a mask over the patient’s nose. The gas provides a feeling of relaxation and overall wellbeing, which wears off quickly when the mask is removed.
  • Oral sedation – a prescription medication in the form of a pill, usually similar to valium. Oral conscious sedation allows a patient to feel calm and slightly sleepy during treatment.

A comprehensive consultation with Dr. Church will determine which sedation option is the best. Appointments may be requested online or by calling (317) 333-6788.

Share this Article


Back to Sedation Dentistry Page

Washington Street Dentistry
Dr. Matthew Church

Dr. Matthew Church image
A graduate from the University of Kentucky, Dr. M Church has an extensive amount of skill and expertise in the field of professional dentistry. With over 20 years of experience, he is a firm believer in providing his patients with the best possible care for their dental concerns. Whilst being educated and experienced in a multitude of dental services, Dr. Church is particularly proficient in the areas involving Invisalign, for which he is a certified provider, cosmetic dental services, and dental implants.

Dr. Church invests both time and resources in educating and maintaining his standard of quality in terms of his service. He undertook and graduated from the Misch International Implant Institute Surgical Program and maintains active membership with the American College of Oral Implantology. He is a Fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists.

patient
Testimonial

Google reviews

Washington Street
Dentistry 4.7 out of 5 based
on 52 Google reviews

Every experience I’ve had here has been awesome!! I refer everyone I know! I been going her about 3yrs or more now. Wouldn’t change for anything. You will not go wrong. Dr. Church is AMAZING, very humble and a pleasure at ALL times.. Along with the staff! Great team!!

For your general, cosmetic, and emergency dental needs, visit

Washington Street Dentistry

in Indianapolis.