Oral Surgery for Anxious Patients
 Oral surgery can feel overwhelming, and for patients in Pullman, WA and Lewiston, ID who live with dental fear, that worry is real and valid.
At Oral & Facial Surgery, our board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeons care for anxious patients every week, and we plan for your comfort from the first phone call to the day you head home.
Maybe you put off seeing a dentist for years, had a hard experience as a child, or simply dread the idea of being aware during treatment. Whatever the reason, fear should never stand between you and the care you need, whether that means wisdom teeth removal or a more involved surgery.
Our job is to make the whole experience feel manageable. That means plain explanations, real choices about how relaxed you want to be, and a team that moves at your pace instead of rushing you through.
On This Page
Understanding Dental Anxiety
Dental anxiety is one of the most common reasons people delay oral surgery, even when they know they need it. The fear is not a character flaw, and it is far more widespread than most patients realize. Recognizing what is driving your worry is the first step toward getting past it.
For some patients the fear is about pain. For others it is the loss of control, the sounds and smells of a surgical office, a sensitive gag reflex, or a bad memory from years ago. Naming the specific worry helps us shape your visit so that the part you dread most is the part we address first.
Common Fears We Hear From Patients
The worry that something will hurt is the one we hear most, and it is also the easiest to settle, because we fully numb the area before any treatment begins. Other patients fear feeling trapped, dislike needles, or worry about waking up partway through. Each of these has a straightforward answer, and we walk through all of them before you ever sit in the chair.
Your Comfort and Sedation Options
 Not everyone needs the same level of sedation, and part of easing anxiety is choosing the right fit rather than defaulting to the deepest option. As board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeons, our doctors are trained to offer several levels of comfort and to help you decide which one matches both your procedure and your nerves.
- Nitrous oxide – a light, fast-acting option that wears off quickly and works well for milder nervousness, one of several sedation options our surgeons offer.
- IV sedation – a deeper, twilight-like level of relaxation that suits longer or more involved procedures, which we explain in detail on IV sedation for oral surgery.
- General anesthesia – reserved for complex cases or specific medical needs, which we cover on general anesthesia for oral surgery.
We will talk through the indications and trade-offs of each at your consultation, and the choice is always yours to make alongside us.
Your Board-Certified Oral Surgeons
When you struggle with fear, who treats you matters as much as how. Both of our surgeons are board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeons who trained together at Carle Foundation Hospital, a level-one trauma center, where they handled complex cases around the clock. That depth of training is exactly what lets them stay calm and unhurried with patients who are anything but.
Dr. Stephen W. Holm is a Diplomate of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and served as chief resident during his training, with full background on Dr. Holm’s bio. Dr. Sherdon W. Cordova completed his oral and maxillofacial surgery residency at the same program and went on to serve as an oral and maxillofacial surgeon in the United States Air Force, with more on Dr. Cordova’s bio.
Because both surgeons completed residency-level anesthesia training and hold the anesthesia permits required in Idaho and Washington, your sedation and your surgery stay with the same experienced team, and we never hand either one off to an outside provider.
What to Expect at Your Appointment
We built every step of your visit to remove surprises, because for anxious patients the unknown is usually scarier than the procedure itself. Preparing ahead removes much of the dread, and our For Patients page lays out what to bring, how to handle forms, and what the day looks like.
| 1. |
A relaxed consultation – we listen to your concerns, review your imaging, including a cone beam CT scan when one is needed, and explain your options before we schedule anything.
|
| 2. |
A comfort plan that fits you – together we choose your level of sedation, weighing your medical history and how you tend to handle stress.
|
| 3. |
The day of your procedure – we get you settled, numb the area thoroughly, and begin only once you tell us you are ready.
|
| 4. |
Monitoring from start to finish – the same board-certified surgeon and team watch your comfort and your vital signs throughout, so you are never on your own.
|
| 5. |
Recovery and a ride home – for anything beyond nitrous oxide you will need someone to drive you, and we send you off with written aftercare instructions. |
Many patients tell us the visit was far easier than the weeks of worry leading up to it, and that knowing the plan in advance made all the difference.
The Benefits of Anxiety-Aware Care
The most important benefit of facing your fear with support is simple: you finally get the treatment you have been putting off. Because our surgeons offer the full range of comfort options in-house, from nitrous oxide through IV sedation, you are not sent elsewhere to arrange sedation before a problem like an impacted tooth or an infection can be treated.
Beyond the immediate health gain, getting through one calm visit with our team often makes future dental care feel less frightening. A single well-managed experience can reset years of dread, and you leave with the problem solved and a little more trust in the chair than you walked in with.
There is also real value in keeping your care in one place. Because our surgeons handle both the sedation and the surgery, you are not juggling referrals or repeating your fears to a new face at every step.
Why Anxious Patients Choose Our Team
 Patients across the Lewiston/Clarkston and Moscow/Pullman regions choose us because the entire visit is built around the nervous patient, not in spite of them. We reserve a dedicated block of time for each procedure rather than stacking appointments back to back, so no one feels rushed, and we treat every question, even the ones patients apologize for asking, as a normal part of the visit.
The continuity behind that calm matters too. Your sedation and your surgery stay with the same board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon, who holds anesthesia permits in both Idaho and Washington, so there is no outside anesthesia provider and no gap in who is responsible for your comfort.
A concern we hear often is whether the team will be patient with real fear. Our patient reviews answer that directly: one patient who arrived terrified shared that the staff eased her worries, numbed her without the pain she feared, and had her in and out in roughly fifteen to twenty minutes. Stories like hers are the reason we work the way we do.
Cost and Insurance
Cost matters, and we want to be straight with you about it. The price of sedation-supported oral surgery depends on the procedure itself, the level of sedation you choose, and the time involved, so the most accurate number comes from an in-person consultation rather than a phone estimate.
Many dental and medical plans cover a portion of surgical and sedation care, especially when it is medically necessary. Our team is glad to review your coverage and walk through your insurance and financing options, and flexible payment options are available for qualifying patients. We would rather help you plan than let cost become one more reason to put off care.
Schedule a Comfortable Consultation
You do not have to face this alone. Call our Lewiston, ID office at 208-743-1640 or our Pullman, WA office at 509-330-5020 to get started. You can also request an appointment online anytime. Our Lewiston office is at 444 Thain Rd, Lewiston, ID 83501. Our Pullman office is at 1256 Bishop Blvd Suite I, Pullman, WA 99163. If you have questions before booking, reach us through our Contact page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it normal to feel this anxious about oral surgery?
Yes. A large share of adults feel real fear before oral surgery, and many of our patients have postponed care for years. Telling us about your anxiety ahead of time is helpful rather than embarrassing, because it lets us adjust your visit and discuss whether a support person or other measures would help.
Will I feel pain during the procedure?
No. We fully numb the area before we begin, so most patients feel pressure or movement rather than pain. With nitrous oxide or IV sedation added, many people remember little of the procedure at all.
How do you decide which sedation option is right for me?
The decision comes down to the procedure and your comfort level. A quick, simple treatment paired with mild nerves may only call for nitrous oxide, while a longer surgery or higher anxiety often points toward IV sedation. We weigh your medical history and preferences with you before anything is scheduled.
Will I need someone to drive me home?
After nitrous oxide alone you can usually drive yourself, because it clears quickly. For IV sedation or any deeper option, you must arrange for an adult to drive you home and stay with you for the rest of the day. The level of sedation you choose decides which applies.
Can I take anti-anxiety medication before my visit?
Sometimes, but only when our surgeon reviews and approves it based on your health history. Do not take anything on your own beforehand. Raise it at your consultation, and we will tell you what is safe alongside your planned sedation.
What happens if I panic during treatment?
We stop. You stay in control the entire time, and a raised hand is all it takes for us to pause. Our team watches for signs of distress and will slow down, talk you through it, or adjust your comfort level as needed.
Why should I choose your surgeons for oral surgery in Pullman or Lewiston?
Both surgeons are board-certified, completed residency-level anesthesia training, and hold anesthesia permits in Idaho and Washington, so your comfort and your surgery stay with one team. Just as important, the practice is set up around unhurried, judgment-free care for nervous patients.
Does insurance cover sedation?
Often, at least in part, particularly when sedation is tied to a medically necessary surgery. Coverage varies by plan, and you can find the specifics on our insurance and financing options. Our team is glad to confirm your benefits before treatment so you have a clear picture of any out-of-pocket cost up front. |
