Whether you feel a little nervous or you’ve avoided the dentist for years, we have a sedation option that fits your situation. From nitrous oxide to IV sedation to full hospital-based general anesthesia — we’ve helped patients just like you get the care they need comfortably.
Mon – Thu: 7am – 5pm | Fri: 7am – 2pm | Sat: By Appointment
Not every anxious patient needs the same level of sedation, and not every situation calls for the same approach. We offer a full spectrum of options and will help you figure out what makes the most sense for you before your appointment.
Also known as laughing gas, nitrous oxide is a good fit for patients who are mildly or moderately nervous. A small mask is placed over your nose, and you breathe normally. You stay fully awake and aware, but relaxed.
Use this as a starting point. We’ll help you figure out the right fit when you call — there’s no pressure and no wrong answer.
| OPTION | ANXIETY LEVEL | STAY AWAKE? | CAN DRIVE AFTER? | LOCATION |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrous Oxide | Mild to moderate | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | In-office |
| Oral Sedation | Moderate | ~ Drowsy | Need a driver | In-office |
| IV Sedation | Moderate to high | ~ Conscious, minimal recall | Need a driver | In-office |
| Hospital / General Anesthesia | Severe / Medical need | Fully asleep | Need a driver | Hospital or surgery center |
| Children's Sedation | All levels (pediatric) | Fully asleep | Parent/guardian needed | Hospital or surgery center |
Most dentists don’t have the training or hospital privileges to perform dentistry outside of an office. Dr. Acheson does. He has been providing dental treatment in hospitals since 1979 and is the only general dentist in the greater Sacramento area who can provide all dental services essentially in a hospital environment for both children and adults.
Dr. Soltani also holds hospital privileges at Sutter Medical and Kaiser South Sacramento.
When you’re treated in a hospital, an anesthesiologist is in charge of your sedation. Dr. Acheson focuses entirely on completing your dental care — the same services available in our Rancho Cordova office, just in a fully equipped medical facility.
Dental anxiety is one of the most common reasons people put off care. If any of these sound familiar, sedation may be worth talking through with our team.
If you have a question that isn’t answered here, call us at 916-362-9247 and we’ll talk it through before you commit to anything.
We use a range of safe, established medications depending on the level of relaxation needed. Common options include nitrous oxide (laughing gas), oral sedatives, and IV medications such as midazolam. Our team tailors sedation to each patient’s health history, anxiety level, and the procedure being performed.
For nitrous oxide and local anesthesia only, you can drive yourself. For oral sedation, IV sedation, or general anesthesia, you will need a responsible adult to drive you home and stay with you for the remainder of the day. We’ll call your driver when your appointment is wrapping up. By the following morning, most patients feel rested and back to normal.
It depends on which option we use. With nitrous oxide, you stay awake and aware. With oral and IV sedation, most patients doze and have little or no memory of the procedure, but remain able to respond to verbal prompts — our primary goal is your relaxation and safety. Hospital-based general anesthesia puts you fully under, which is appropriate for patients who need complete sedation for medical or comfort reasons.
Yes. Sedation and local anesthesia work together — sedation helps you relax and reduces anxiety, while local anesthetic ensures the procedure itself is pain-free. We use both together for the most comfortable experience possible.
There is a sedation fee that covers the medication and the monitoring involved. We don’t mark up sedation as a profit center — the fee is designed to cover our actual costs. We’ll give you a clear cost breakdown before your appointment so there are no surprises. If cost is a concern, ask about our in-house membership plan and CareCredit financing options.
Not at all. Dental anxiety is common — many of our patients choose sedation not because something is wrong with them, but because it makes care genuinely more comfortable and manageable. Whether you’re mildly nervous or have significant anxiety that’s kept you from getting care for years, you’re in good company here.
You don’t have to figure that out on your own. Call us at 916-362-9247 and tell us what’s been making dental visits difficult for you. Our team will listen, ask a few questions about your health history, and walk you through the options that make the most sense for your situation — no pressure, no commitment required to have that conversation.
Don’t let anxiety, a difficult experience, or a complicated medical situation keep you from getting care. Call us and let’s figure out the right approach for you — together.
