Reviewed by Dr. Nicole M. Berger, DDS — South Florida Smile Spa, Pompano Beach, FL
If you are reading this page, there is a good chance you have put off a dental visit because of how it makes you feel. That is far more common than most people realize, and it is not something you need to explain or apologize for. At South Florida Smile Spa in Pompano Beach, Dr. Nicole M. Berger, DDS and our team plan every visit for anxious patients around one goal: that you feel in control from the first phone call to the last appointment.
Quick answer
A dental anxiety dentist helps fearful patients get care by changing how the visit works, not just what is done. At South Florida Smile Spa in Pompano Beach, your first appointment starts with a conversation rather than a procedure. Dr. Nicole M. Berger, DDS explains each step before it happens, stops whenever you signal, and lets you set the pace. When talking it through is not enough, several levels of sedation are available in house: nitrous oxide, oral sedation and IV sedation. There is no judgment about how long it has been since your last visit.
You Are Not Alone
Dental Anxiety Is Common, and It Is Not a Character Flaw
Dental anxiety is one of the most common reasons adults put off care. It shows up in different ways: fear of pain or needles, a gag reflex that makes every visit feel like a battle, the feeling of losing control while lying back in the chair, embarrassment about the state of your teeth, or the memory of one bad appointment years ago.
Whatever the source, it tends to follow the same cycle. Fear leads to avoidance, small problems grow into bigger ones, the treatment needed becomes more involved, and the next visit feels even more daunting. The way out is not to push through on willpower; it is to change what the visit is like, so that coming in stops feeling like a test.
Does This Sound Like You
Signs Dental Anxiety Is Affecting Your Care
You may benefit from an anxiety-focused approach if you:
- Feel your heart rate climb just booking or thinking about an appointment
- Cancel or reschedule visits repeatedly
- Wait until something hurts before calling a dentist
- Had a painful or upsetting experience in the past that still stays with you
- Have a strong gag reflex that makes impressions, X-rays or cleanings hard
- Feel embarrassed about your teeth or how long it has been
None of these mean you are a “difficult patient.” They mean the visit needs to be set up differently.
Our Approach
How We Make Visits Easier, Before Any Sedation
For many patients, the biggest difference comes from how the appointment is run:
- Conversation first. Your first visit starts with talking, not treatment. Tell us what worries you and what has happened before.
- No surprises. We explain what we are about to do before we do it, including what you will feel and hear.
- A stop signal. We agree on a signal, such as raising your hand, and we stop whenever you use it. Breaks are always available.
- Your pace. Treatment can be split into shorter visits, starting with whatever feels most manageable.
- Fewer triggers. Digital scanning with our iTero scanner replaces traditional impressions, which helps if you have a strong gag reflex.
- Comfort checks. We make sure you are fully numb before starting and check in with you as we go.
When You Need More
Sedation Options for Anxious Patients
When talking it through and taking breaks is not enough, Dr. Berger offers several levels of sedation in our Pompano Beach office:
- Nitrous oxide — minimal sedation: a mild, fast-acting gas breathed through a nose mask. It takes the edge off and wears off within minutes, so you can drive yourself home.
- Oral sedation — either a single pill taken at home (minimal sedation) or a combination of medications given in our office (oral conscious sedation, a moderate level). You stay awake but relaxed, and will need a driver.
- IV sedation — moderate sedation delivered through a vein and adjusted throughout the visit, for severe anxiety or longer procedures. Many patients remember little of the appointment.
All of these keep you conscious and breathing on your own; none is general anesthesia. Compare them side by side on our sedation dentistry page.
Your First Visit
What Happens at Your First Appointment
- The phone call. Tell our front desk you are nervous. It changes how we schedule and prepare for your visit, and you can ask any question before committing to anything.
- Arriving. We sit down and talk first: what worries you, what has happened before, and what you want from your care.
- The exam. Dr. Berger examines your teeth and gums and takes the X-rays she needs, explaining what she is doing at each step.
- The plan. Dr. Berger explains what she found, what is urgent and what can wait, and whether sedation would help for the next step.
- Your decision. Nothing is done without your agreement. You leave with a plan and a clear idea of what comes next.
Who You Will See
Meet Dr. Nicole M. Berger, DDS
Dr. Berger has practiced dentistry since 2004 and has built much of her career around helping fearful patients feel at ease. She graduated with high honors from Florida International University, earned her dental degree at the University of Maryland, Baltimore College of Dental Surgery, and completed a general practice residency at Montefiore Medical Center in New York, with advanced training in conscious sedation and general anesthesia.
She holds a Florida Board of Dentistry conscious sedation permit at the moderate-sedation level and personally administers and monitors every sedation appointment in our office. Two CPR-certified dental assistants are in the room throughout every sedation visit for additional monitoring.
If It Has Been a While
When It Has Been Years Since Your Last Visit
Many anxious patients arrive after a long gap: five years, ten, sometimes more. We see it often, and there is no lecture waiting for you. The first priority is finding out where things stand and dealing with anything painful or urgent. From there, the rest of your care can be spread over a pace that works for you.
Our team checks what your dental insurance may cover and explains financing options with monthly payments, so cost does not become one more reason to wait. Visit our new patient page or call (954) 785-1100.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a dentist really help with dental anxiety?
Yes. Much of dental anxiety comes from feeling out of control, surprised or rushed. Changing how the visit is run — explaining each step, agreeing on a stop signal, working at your pace — makes a real difference for most patients, and sedation is available when it is not enough.
What if I have not been to a dentist in years?
That is more common than you think, and you will not be judged for it. We start by finding out where things stand and taking care of anything urgent, then plan the rest at a pace that suits you.
What if I panic in the middle of treatment?
Use the signal we agreed on and we stop. You can take a break, talk it through, or continue another day. For patients who expect this to happen, sedation can be planned into the visit.
Can I be sedated for a simple cleaning or checkup?
Yes. Nitrous oxide works well for cleanings and shorter appointments and wears off within minutes. For stronger anxiety, oral or IV sedation may be recommended. Dr. Berger will talk through the options with you.
I have a strong gag reflex. Can you help?
Yes. We use digital scanning in place of traditional impressions, take breaks as needed, and sedation can help settle a strong gag reflex for longer procedures.
Will I be asleep with sedation?
No. All of our sedation options keep you conscious and breathing on your own, though with oral conscious and IV sedation many patients remember little of the visit.
How do I get started?
Call our Pompano Beach office at (954) 785-1100 and tell us you are nervous. You can ask questions by phone before you book anything.
Nervous about calling?
You do not have to commit to anything. Call us, tell us you are anxious, and ask whatever you need to before you book.
South Florida Smile Spa · Dr. Nicole M. Berger, DDS · 572 E McNab Rd, Suite 102, Pompano Beach, FL 33060 · (954) 785-1100