Nervous About the Dentist? You Have Options.
From nitrous oxide to oral conscious sedation, we help you find the right option for dental anxiety, sensitive gag reflexes, or longer procedures — so putting off care isn't your only alternative to feeling uncomfortable.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Boris Zusin, DDS, FAGD, MBA, MS, Diplomate, American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine (ABDSM) · Last reviewed August 21, 2026
You Don't Have to White-Knuckle It
If dental anxiety, a fear of needles, or a sensitive gag reflex has kept you from getting care you need, sedation dentistry is worth an honest conversation. Dr. Boris Zusin completed dedicated training in enteral (oral) conscious sedation at NYU College of Dentistry and belongs to the Dental Organization for Conscious Sedation (DOCS), and we help patients throughout New York City find and coordinate the right sedation option — nitrous oxide, oral conscious sedation, or IV sedation — from our Upper West Side office.
Am I a Candidate?
You may be a good candidate for sedation dentistry if you have dental anxiety or a fear of needles, a sensitive gag reflex or sensitive teeth, difficulty sitting through a longer procedure, or you've avoided dental care for a long time because of how uncomfortable it's made you. We'll talk through your health history and the procedure itself to recommend the right level of sedation and coordinate the referral — or confirm that none is needed.
Sedation Options We Coordinate for You
Sedation dentistry uses medication to keep you calm and comfortable during a procedure — you're not asleep, and in most cases you can still respond to simple instructions, you just don't feel the anxiety (or, often, much of the procedure itself) the way you otherwise would.
Nitrous Oxide (Laughing Gas)
The lightest, most common sedation option — inhaled through a small nosepiece, it takes effect in three to five minutes and wears off within about 15–30 minutes of turning it off. Patients stay fully alert and can drive themselves home afterward. It's a good fit for routine anxiety, sensitive gag reflexes, or patients who just want to take the edge off.
Oral Conscious Sedation
A prescription sedative taken by mouth roughly an hour before the appointment, producing a deeper, more sustained sense of relaxation than nitrous oxide alone — many patients doze off during treatment. An escort to and from the appointment is required, since patients aren't safe to drive.
IV Sedation
For longer, more involved procedures or more significant dental anxiety, IV sedation offers a deeper level of conscious sedation.
How Sedation Is Handled at Zusin Dental
Dr. Boris Zusin completed dedicated training in enteral (oral) conscious sedation at NYU College of Dentistry and is a member of the Dental Organization for Conscious Sedation (DOCS), so we can talk through your anxiety, your health history, and which sedation option genuinely fits your situation. Administering the sedation itself — nitrous oxide, oral conscious sedation, or IV sedation — is referred out to a trusted provider equipped and staffed specifically for it, the same referral-based approach we use for surgical implant placement and root canal treatment. We coordinate that referral and stay involved in your care from consultation through the procedure and any dental treatment that follows.
Is Sedation Dentistry Right for You?
Sedation isn't only for people with a diagnosed phobia. It's a reasonable option if you have a fear of needles or the dentist generally, a strong gag reflex, very sensitive teeth, difficulty sitting still for a longer procedure, or you've simply avoided dental care for years because of how uncomfortable it makes you. It's also useful for genuinely lengthy or involved appointments, independent of anxiety, since it can let us accomplish more in a single visit.
The right option depends on your level of anxiety, how long the procedure will take, and your overall health — we'll talk through it honestly at your consultation rather than defaulting to the same choice for every patient.
Care From a Team That Knows You
Dr. Boris Zusin is an expert in general, cosmetic, implant, and dental sleep medicine, with 30+ years of clinical experience and ongoing continuing education. Lena Zusin, RDH works alongside him to make every visit as warm and comfortable as possible.
“Drawing upon our combined skills refined through years of experience and continued education, Lena and I will do everything possible to ensure that your entire dental experience at our office is as good as possible.” — Dr. Boris Zusin
- Uncompromising clinical excellence
- Meticulous attention to detail
- A gentle approach to dentistry
FAQ: Sedation Dentistry at Zusin Dental, NYC
Dr. Boris Zusin evaluates your anxiety, health history, and the procedure itself to recommend the right sedation option, then coordinates a referral to a trusted provider who administers it — the same referral-based approach we use for surgical implant placement and root canal treatment. We stay involved in your care throughout.
Yes, when administered by a trained provider in an appropriately equipped setting. Nitrous oxide is one of the most widely used and well-established sedatives in dentistry, and oral and IV sedation are dosed and monitored based on your health history. Your medications and medical history are reviewed beforehand, since certain conditions and medications can affect how sedation is dosed.
Not with nitrous oxide or oral conscious sedation — you remain able to breathe on your own and respond to instructions, even if you feel very relaxed or drift off. That's different from general anesthesia, which puts you fully under and is typically reserved for hospital or surgical-center settings.
After nitrous oxide alone, yes — it clears your system within about 15–30 minutes. After oral conscious sedation or IV sedation, no — you'll need someone to drive you home and ideally stay with you for the rest of the day, since the effects take longer to fully wear off.
Sedation dentistry (nitrous oxide, oral conscious sedation, or IV sedation) keeps you conscious and able to respond, even if you're deeply relaxed. General anesthesia puts you completely unconscious and requires more intensive monitoring, typically in a hospital or surgical-center setting rather than a standard dental office.
Both. Nitrous oxide in particular works well for a routine cleaning or exam if anxiety, a sensitive gag reflex, or sensitive teeth otherwise keep you from coming in. Oral conscious sedation is more commonly reserved for longer or more involved procedures.
The sedation itself is billed by the provider administering it, in addition to any fees for the dental procedure. We'll walk you through the expected cost for your specific case at your consultation.
Learn More From Our Blog
Sources
- Sedation Dentistry — Cleveland Clinic
- Nitrous Oxide (Laughing Gas): Uses, Side Effects & Safety — Cleveland Clinic
- Dental Anxiety and Fear — Cleveland Clinic
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