Comfort & protection
Sedation & anxious patients
If the dentist is something you dread, you’re far from alone — and it shouldn’t keep you from care. We take dental anxiety seriously, move at your pace, and offer options to help you stay calm and comfortable.
Feather — softness and rest; calm at your own pace.
Care that starts with the fear, not the tooth
For a lot of people the hardest part is walking through the door. We’d rather earn your trust slowly than rush you — and there are real options to make treatment comfortable.
A gentle, unhurried approach
We listen first, explain everything before we do it, agree a signal to pause, and let you set the pace. For many nervous patients, that alone changes the experience.
Options to help you relax
Where it helps, we’ll talk through options to keep you calm and comfortable during treatment — and we’ll be honest about what suits you.
No judgement: however long it’s been, and however the fear started, it’s common and we’ve seen it many times. Where a case needs a level of sedation we don’t provide, we’ll arrange the right referral.
If any of this sounds like you
Dental anxiety takes many forms. It’s worth telling us if you recognise any of these — knowing up front lets us plan the visit around it:
Dental fear or anxiety
From mild nerves to genuine dread that has kept you away for years — either way, we’ll work with it.
A strong gag reflex
There are simple techniques that make treatment far more manageable if you gag easily.
Longer or complex treatment
For a longer appointment, options to stay relaxed can make it far easier to sit through comfortably.
The most useful thing you can do is tell us before your visit. When we know, we can plan the appointment, the pace and the support around you.
What to expect
The first step is a conversation, not a procedure — nothing happens until you’re ready.
- 1Step one
Talk it through
We start by understanding what worries you and your medical history, with no pressure to have anything done that day.
- 2Step two
Agree a plan
Together we choose an approach — the pace, the support, and any options to help you relax — that suits you and the treatment.
- 3Step three
Treatment, supported
We go gently, keep explaining, and pause whenever you need — you stay in control throughout.
- 4Step four
Check in
We follow up on how it went, with aftercare guidance where any sedation was used, and build from there.
What it costs
Any cost for sedation or extra support is explained up front, alongside the treatment itself, so there are no surprises. We’ll talk through what’s involved before you commit to anything.
Health fund rebates
All major Australian funds accepted and claimed on the spot through HICAPS — you settle only the gap.
Interest-free options
Larger treatment can be spread over time rather than paid upfront — just ask.
No surprise additions
Your quote covers the plan agreed. If something changes clinically, we discuss it before it affects the cost.
Benefits
Why consider it
- Can help anxious patients feel more relaxed during treatment.
- May make longer or complex procedures more manageable.
- Options are tailored to your needs and medical history.
- Your dentist will discuss what is suitable for you.
Recovery
Aftercare & recovery
Recovery depends on the type of sedation, so follow the specific instructions you are given.
- Arrange for a responsible adult to accompany you home if advised.
- Do not drive or operate machinery until effects have fully worn off.
- Rest for the remainder of the day and avoid important decisions.
- Follow any advice about eating, drinking and medication.
- Contact the clinic if you feel unwell after your appointment.
General guidance only — your dentist will give you instructions specific to your treatment and circumstances.
Meet your dentist
Dr Sumaiya Pathan
Dr Sumaiya Pathan brings more than 10 years of Australian clinical experience, having cared for patients across both metropolitan and regional communities — from Sydney to Broken Hill and across metropolitan Melbourne. That range matters: it teaches you to be thorough, and to treat the person rather than just the tooth.
She provides the full range of general and cosmetic dental treatments, and is known for a gentle, unhurried approach — taking the time to explain every option clearly, including the option to wait where that is clinically reasonable.
Cover & claiming
We accept all major health funds
We’re a HICAPS practice, so you claim on the spot and settle only the gap on the day. Allura Dental is also a participating nib No Gap dentist and First Choice provider, for eligible nib Extras members. That network is nib’s preferred provider arrangement for dental, so an nib Extras policy goes further here. Eligible children can be bulk-billed under Medicare’s Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS), and interest-free payment options are available.
… and every other Australian fund.
Reviews
See what our patients say
We let our patients speak for themselves — read their unedited reviews on Google.
In line with AHPRA advertising guidelines, we don’t publish ratings or reproduce reviews about clinical treatment on our own site.
Questions
Sedation & Anxious Patients FAQs
I’m terrified of the dentist — can you really help?
Yes — and you’re in good company; it’s far more common than people think. The most important thing is to tell us before your visit so we can plan around it. For many nervous patients, a dentist who listens, explains, and lets them set the pace changes the whole experience — and there are options beyond that if you need them.
What options do you offer to help me relax?
It starts with a genuinely gentle, unhurried approach — explanation, an agreed pause signal, and control over the pace. Where more help is warranted, we’ll talk through the options honestly and what suits you. If a case needs a level of sedation we don’t provide in-house, we’ll arrange the right referral rather than push ahead.
Will I be asleep during treatment?
The gentle, at-your-pace approach we use keeps you awake and in control. Deeper sedation that puts you to sleep is a specialised service; if that’s genuinely what your case needs, we’ll discuss it and refer you appropriately rather than overpromise.
Is it safe?
Any approach we use is chosen around your medical history, which is why we ask about it first, and we explain what’s involved before anything happens. Your safety and comfort guide every decision — and we’ll never talk you into something you’re not comfortable with.
What’s the best first step if I haven’t been in years?
Just book a chat — tell us when you call that you’re nervous, and we’ll arrange a no-pressure first visit where nothing needs to be done except talking it through and, if you’re comfortable, a gentle look. It’s often far easier than people fear.
Related
You may also be considering
Check-ups & Cleaning
A gentle first step back — often just a look and a clean.
Emergency Dentistry
In pain but anxious? Tell us when you call and we’ll be gentle.
Wisdom Teeth & Extractions
Where staying relaxed through the appointment matters most.
Cost & Pricing
How our fees work, health-fund claiming and interest-free options.
This page is general information, not dental advice. Individual suitability — and the results achievable in your case — can only be assessed by a registered dentist in person. Outcomes vary between patients.
Find us
Visit us in Truganina
22 Bradshaw Street, Truganina VIC 3029 · on-site parking · Get directions →
Book Your Visit
Ready when you are.
A consultation, an honest assessment, and a clear price before anything begins — book online, call, or send us a message.