Sedation dentistry
If the dentist makes you nervous, tell us.
We offer nitrous oxide and oral sedation in our Naples office, and we won’t rush you through anything.
Sedation dentistry in Naples, FL
Being nervous is common. It shouldn’t keep you from care.
If a dental visit makes you uneasy, you’re far from alone. The trouble is that the longer care waits, the more involved, and costly, it tends to become.
Tell Dr. Marino or Dr. Marquez how you feel when you book. We’ll talk through what worries you, and if it helps, we can use nitrous oxide or oral sedation so you’re calm while we work. Whether you just need the edge taken off or something deeper for a longer visit, there’s an option for it.
Your options
Two ways to take the edge off.
For mild to moderate anxiety
Nitrous oxide
Also known as laughing gas
A mild sedative you breathe in through a comfortable mask over your nose. It works within minutes. You feel calm and relaxed, but you stay fully conscious and can talk with us the whole time.
- A small mask rests over your nose
- You breathe normally and relax within minutes
- You stay awake and responsive throughout
- It wears off within minutes after the mask comes off
- You can drive yourself home afterward
Best for: mild to moderate anxiety, and routine or shorter visits like cleanings and fillings, when you want to feel relaxed but stay alert.
For moderate to severe anxiety
Oral sedation
A prescription medication: Halcion (triazolam)
A well-established sedative you take by mouth before your appointment. It relaxes you more deeply than nitrous oxide. You stay conscious, but you may feel drowsy.
- We prescribe the medication before your appointment
- You take the pill about one hour before your visit
- You feel deeply relaxed and may feel drowsy
- You stay conscious, in a calm, comfortable state
- Many patients remember little or nothing of the visit
Bring a companion. Someone must drive you to and from your appointment.
No driving for the rest of the day. No driving, operating machinery, or making important decisions.
Plan to rest. The effects can last several hours after your appointment.
Best for: moderate to severe anxiety, longer visits, anyone who has avoided the dentist out of fear, and bigger treatment like implant placement or multiple extractions.
Side by side
Which option is right for you?
Nitrous oxide
- Anxiety levelMild to moderate
- How it’s givenNose mask
- ConsciousnessFully alert
- RecoveryMinutes
- Drive afterward?Yes
- Memory of the visitFull
Oral sedation
- Anxiety levelModerate to severe
- How it’s givenPill, 1 hour before
- ConsciousnessDeeply relaxed
- RecoverySeveral hours
- Drive afterward?No — companion required
- Memory of the visitLittle to none
Not sure which is right? We’ll talk it through at your visit and recommend what fits your situation. Your comfort comes first.
Who it helps
Sedation may be right for you if…
The dentist makes you anxious
You feel nervous or afraid about dental visits, even a routine cleaning.
You’ve been putting care off
If anxiety has kept you away, we can start at a pace that feels manageable. Nobody here will lecture you.
You have a strong gag reflex
It makes dental work uncomfortable or hard to get through.
You need a lot done
Multiple extractions, implant placement or a full-mouth restoration, and you want to be comfortable the whole way through.
A past visit went badly
A difficult experience somewhere else has made you wary of going back.
It’s hard for you to get numb
For some people, local anesthesia alone doesn’t feel like enough. Sedation helps you relax while we make sure you’re numb.
Why Altamar
The same dentists, every visit, at a pace that works for you.
No new faces
You see Dr. Marino or Dr. Marquez, the dentists who own the practice. You won’t have to explain your fears to someone new each time.
Time to go slowly
Appointments here aren’t rushed. If you need a pause, you get one.
In your language
Both doctors see patients in English and Spanish, and Dr. Marquez also speaks Portuguese. It’s easier to say what scares you in the language you think in.
Cost and benefits
Paying for sedation.
Whether your dental benefits cover sedation depends on your plan. Either way, we’ll tell you the cost in advance.
Have dental benefits?
You can still use them here. Altamar doesn’t participate in insurance networks, so you pay Altamar directly — our team submits your claim, and any reimbursement your plan owes goes straight to you.
Spreading out the cost
We accept CareCredit and HFD financing for all treatment, including sedation.
Altamar Smile Club
No benefits? The membership includes your preventive care for the year, plus 20% off fillings, root canals, crowns and oral surgery.
- Individual$360/yr
- Periodontal$460/yr
- Family, 2–4 members$560–$860/yr
The Smile Club is a discount membership, not insurance. It can’t be combined with dental insurance or any other discount, including CareCredit, and it’s valid only at Altamar Dental Studio.
See Smile Club DetailsQuestions patients ask
Sedation dentistry FAQ
Is sedation dentistry safe?
Nitrous oxide and oral sedation both have long, well-established safety records. Before we recommend either one, we review your full medical history and the medications you take, and we monitor your vital signs throughout your visit.
Will I be asleep?
No. With either option you stay conscious. Nitrous oxide keeps you fully alert but relaxed. Oral sedation relaxes you more deeply; you may feel drowsy and remember little of the visit afterward, but you are not unconscious.
How long do the effects of oral sedation last?
The effects of Halcion can last several hours after your appointment, so plan to rest for the remainder of the day. Don’t drive, operate machinery or make important decisions until it has fully worn off, which is typically by the next morning.
Can I eat before my sedation appointment?
For oral sedation, we usually recommend a light meal a few hours before your appointment, and we’ll give you specific instructions when we schedule your visit. For nitrous oxide, no special preparation is needed.
Do dental benefits cover sedation?
It varies by plan. You can use your benefits here: Altamar doesn’t participate in insurance networks, so you pay Altamar directly — our team submits your claim, and any reimbursement your plan owes goes straight to you.
We’ll give you the cost in advance. Smile Club members get discounted rates, and CareCredit and HFD financing can be used for sedation too.
Can I combine nitrous oxide with oral sedation?
In some cases, yes. For patients with significant anxiety who need a longer visit, using both can be the most comfortable option. If it may be right for you, we’ll discuss it at your consultation.
Let’s talk about what worries you.
Call us, or mention it when you book. We’ll take the time to understand your concerns and plan your care around your comfort.