Friendly, Compassionate Care
Comfortable care for anxious patients, long surgical phases, and complex full-mouth cases — led by a board-certified prosthodontist with USAF-accredited IV-sedation training.
When the Visit Itself Is the Problem
If the thought of dental work makes you anxious — if you've avoided treatment for years because the appointment itself is the obstacle — if you have a strong gag reflex, a history of bad experiences, or you simply can't sit still for long visits — sedation dentistry is the path forward.
Dr. Andrus and his staff are committed to patient comfort, and they go out of their way to make sure patients feel at ease for their care. They are known for their friendly and caring chairside manner, and they always take the time to fully explain patients' options and treatments and to answer any questions they have.
For patients who need it, the practice offers a range of sedation options — from drug-free anxiety reduction through pre-appointment planning, all the way to IV sedation and an in-house CRNA / dental anesthesiologist for the most complex cases.
Sedation & Comfort Options
The appropriate level of sedation depends on the procedure being performed, medical history, treatment length, anxiety level, and overall patient comfort needs. Most patients fall somewhere along a spectrum — from simple relaxation techniques to advanced anesthesia support for complex surgical care.
Not every patient requires medication. Dr. Andrus emphasizes communication, predictability, pacing, and pre-appointment planning to reduce anxiety through understanding and trust before treatment even begins.
Medication taken before the appointment helps patients remain awake but deeply relaxed during treatment. Commonly used for moderate dental anxiety, longer restorative visits, strong gag reflexes, or patients who struggle with traditional dental appointments.
Medication delivered through an IV allows sedation levels to be adjusted continuously throughout treatment. Frequently used for surgical procedures, implant placement, full-arch treatment, and patients with significant dental anxiety.
For medically complex patients or advanced surgical rehabilitation, the practice coordinates dedicated anesthesia services through in-house CRNA and dental anesthesiology support to provide an additional level of monitoring and patient safety.
We also offer small comfort touches like weighted blankets and the option to break treatment into shorter visits when that's a better fit for the patient.
How Sedation Works at This Practice
Sedation starts before the medication does. At your consultation we review:
This is what dentists call iatrosedation — the drug-free piece of anxiety reduction. For some patients it's all that's needed.
On the day of treatment, sedation is administered per the agreed plan — a pill on arrival for oral sedation, an IV line in the arm for IV sedation, or care from the in-house anesthesiologist for the deepest levels. Throughout the procedure, vital signs are monitored continuously (pulse oximetry, blood pressure, heart rate). Most patients describe the experience as feeling like the appointment was much shorter than it actually was.
After the procedure, you stay in the recovery area until you're alert enough to be discharged with your driver. Written post-op instructions cover what to expect for the next 24 hours (drowsiness, food/medication restrictions, when sedation effects fully clear). For oral sedation patients, a follow-up call the next day confirms you're feeling well. For IV sedation patients, a clinic check-in within the first week is standard.
What Sets Dr. Andrus Apart
Dr. Andrus completed the U.S. Air Force Advanced Education in General Dentistry residency at Eglin Air Force Base, which included formal hospital-based training in IV sedation, nitrous oxide/oxygen sedation, and TMJ treatment.
For patients with significant dental anxiety, the practice walks through the appointment step-by-step before treatment begins — explaining what to expect, how sedation works, and how the visit will progress. The goal is to replace uncertainty with predictability and control.
Sedation protocols, monitoring procedures, recovery systems, and discharge standards follow the same structured safety principles used in hospital-based surgical environments.
Dr. Andrus takes pride in what he does. His quality of work is remarkable.
Dr. Andrus Answers
Sedation dentistry uses medication to help anxious patients relax during dental procedures. It ranges from light sedation (a pill that makes you drowsy) all the way to deep sedation (delivered by an anesthesiologist). For most patients, a moderate level — oral conscious sedation or IV conscious sedation — is more than enough for any dental treatment, including full-arch implant work.
Most adults are candidates. We review your medical history, current medications, and any prior reactions to dental anesthesia at the consultation. Patients with significant medical complexity (heart conditions, sleep apnea, certain medication interactions) may need additional medical clearance or may be better candidates for the in-house CRNA / dental anesthesiologist option.
Not with oral or IV conscious sedation. You'll be deeply relaxed but able to respond to questions and follow instructions. Most patients have little or no memory of the procedure afterward — that's normal and expected. For deeper sedation (general anesthesia), the in-house dental anesthesiologist handles the medication while Dr. Andrus focuses on the dentistry.
Oral sedation effects typically last 4-6 hours. IV sedation effects wear off faster (within 1-2 hours of stopping the medication) but you'll feel groggy for several hours afterward. Plan to spend the rest of the day at home with someone available to help — no driving, no operating machinery, no major decisions until the next morning.
Yes — with the right protocols. We follow all local, state, and OSHA standards for sedation administration: pre-sedation medical clearance, intra-operative monitoring (pulse oximetry, blood pressure, heart rate), reversal medications on hand, and post-sedation discharge protocols. The biggest risks come from skipping pre-appointment planning or ignoring patient medical complexity — neither of which we do.
Patients with significant dental anxiety often benefit most from a combination: pre-appointment iatrosedation (the planning conversation), oral sedation the morning of the visit, and IV sedation during the procedure itself. The pre-appointment piece is often the most underestimated — knowing what's going to happen reduces anxiety dramatically before any drug is administered.
Anxious About Dental Treatment?
Schedule a comprehensive oral evaluation with Dr. Andrus. We'll talk through your concerns, review the right sedation level for your case, and walk you through the visit step-by-step before any treatment begins.
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