Dental Fear Is Common, and Avoiding Care Can Cost You More Than You Think
If you’ve been putting off a dental visit because the thought makes your stomach tighten, you are far from alone. Fear of the dentist is one of the most common reasons adults delay care. It’s also one of the most expensive habits to keep, in comfort, in time, and in money.
At Smile Glen Ellyn, our team has spent years helping nervous patients take that first step back into the chair. Our founder, Dr. Thomas Gibbs, built the practice around fear-free, judgment-free care. Dr. Jessica Gibbs, a dentist in Glen Ellyn, IL, and our team carry that approach forward every day. This article looks at what avoidance really costs and how a sedation dentist in Glen Ellyn can make care manageable again.
Ready to protect your oral health with sedation dentistry for a calm, comfortable visit? Call our Glen Ellyn dental practice at (630) 858-8800 to schedule your consultation with Dr. Gibbs.
How Common Is Dental Fear?
More common than most people assume. A 2025 study in the Journal of the American Dental Association surveyed a demographically representative sample of 1,003 U.S. adults. About 72.6% said they were afraid of going to the dentist. Roughly 45.8% described their fear as moderate, and 26.8% called it severe.
Researchers who use clinical anxiety scales report lower figures, often in the range of 12% to 15% of adults with significant dental anxiety. The numbers differ because “some fear” and “anxiety that interferes with care” are measured differently. Either way, the takeaway is the same: if the dentist makes you uneasy, you have plenty of company, and there is nothing to be embarrassed about.
The Real Costs of Avoiding the Dentist
1. Your Oral Health Pays First
Fear and delay tend to feed each other. In a New Zealand national oral health survey, dentally anxious adults had more oral disease and were less likely to have seen a dentist in the previous 12 months. They also reported a poorer oral health–related quality of life.
A study of 140 dental patients in Appalachia found that dental fear was the only significant factor associated with delaying care. After adjusting for tobacco use, pain, and time since the last visit, fearful patients had about 3.8 times the odds of having delayed care. It was a small sample from one region, but it matches what dentists see every day.
2. Small Problems Become Bigger Ones
A cavity that could be handled with a simple filling can turn into a root canal or an extraction. Gum inflammation that could be managed with a cleaning can progress to periodontal disease. Waiting rarely makes treatment easier, and it often makes it longer and more involved.
3. The Financial Cost Climbs
Delayed care usually means more complex, more expensive treatment. The pattern shows up nationally too. CareQuest Institute reported 1.8 million hospital emergency department visits for non-traumatic dental conditions in 2019, costing an estimated $3.4 billion. Most hospital ERs aren’t equipped to fix the underlying dental problem, so these visits are costly and often only a stopgap.
4. You May Leave Insurance Benefits Unused
Many dental plans run on a calendar year, and unused benefits typically don’t roll over. With the end of the year a few months away, October is a good time to check what you have left. Our team can verify your benefits before your visit so there are no surprises. See our dental insurance and financing page for details.
5. The Worry Itself Takes a Toll
Dread in the days before an appointment, and guilt about how long it’s been, are costs too. With World Mental Health Day on October 10 and National Dental Hygiene Month underway, it’s a good moment to remember that your oral health and your peace of mind are connected.
Why Anxious Patients Choose a Sedation Dentist in Glen Ellyn
Sedation dentistry exists so that fear doesn’t have to be the thing standing between you and care. It isn’t only for people with a diagnosed phobia. Patients often ask about it when they:
- Have put off dental visits for years out of fear or embarrassment
- Have a strong gag reflex
- Are difficult to numb
- Need a lot of treatment completed in one visit
- Have had a traumatic dental experience in the past
- Feel a racing heart or dread leading up to appointments
Our approach is to match the level of sedation to your anxiety and the treatment you need, rather than defaulting to the lightest or deepest option available.
Your Sedation Options at Smile Glen Ellyn
- Nitrous oxide (“laughing gas”). Breathed in through a small nasal mask, it takes the edge off mild to moderate nervousness. It wears off quickly after the mask comes off, and most patients are comfortable driving themselves home. It suits cleanings, fillings, and shorter restorative work.
- Oral conscious sedation. A prescribed pill, taken before your appointment, leaves you deeply relaxed and drowsy. Most patients stay conscious and able to respond but remember little of the visit. You will need a driver, since the effects can last several hours.
- IV sedation. Delivered directly into the bloodstream, IV sedation allows the depth of sedation to be adjusted in real time throughout the procedure. It is typically recommended for severe dental phobia, complex oral surgery, or extensive treatment in one visit. You will need someone to drive you home and stay with you afterward.
Illinois regulates sedation by level. According to the Illinois State Dental Society, dentists need no permit to provide nitrous oxide. Moderate sedation requires a Permit A, and deep sedation or general anesthesia requires a Permit B, both issued by the state. When you are choosing a sedation dentist, it is reasonable to ask about training, permits, and how your vital signs will be monitored. Our team is happy to walk you through all of it.
What to Expect at a Sedation Appointment
- Consultation: We review your medical history, current medications, and anxiety level to recommend the right option.
- Pre-Visit Instructions: Depending on the type of sedation, you may need to arrange a driver, avoid food and drink for a set time, or take a prescribed pill beforehand. We give you exact instructions.
- Monitoring During Treatment: Your vital signs are monitored throughout, and sedation is adjusted as needed for your comfort and safety.
- Recovery: You rest in our office until you’re stable enough to go home with your driver, and you leave with clear post-care instructions.
For many patients, the first appointment is simply a conversation. You can tell us what scares you, and we’ll build a plan around it.
How Much Does Sedation Dentistry Cost in Glen Ellyn?
Cost depends on the type of sedation and how long your appointment runs. Nitrous oxide is generally the most affordable. Oral conscious sedation typically costs more, and IV sedation is the most involved because of the continuous monitoring it requires. Dental insurance sometimes covers sedation when it is medically necessary, such as for complex oral surgery, but it rarely covers sedation requested only for comfort.
The cost of sedation is often smaller than the cost of the emergency treatment that avoidance can lead to. Call us for an estimate based on your treatment plan, and we’ll go over financing options if you need them.
Why Patients Choose Smile Glen Ellyn for Sedation Dentistry
- Care Built Around Anxious Patients. Sedation is a core part of how we practice, not an add-on.
- A Judgment-Free Team. Whether it’s been one year or fifteen since your last visit, we won’t lecture you.
- Comfort-Focused Technology. We use modern anesthetics, dental lasers, and a syringeless “Wand” delivery system to keep treatment gentle.
- A Convenient Downtown Location. We are a Glen Ellyn dentist at 26 North Park Boulevard, and we welcome patients in Wheaton, Lombard, Glendale Heights, Carol Stream, and Winfield, IL.
Ready for a Calm, Comfortable Visit? Talk With Our Glen Ellyn Dentist
You don’t have to keep putting off care because of fear, a bad past experience, or embarrassment. Call Smile Glen Ellyn at (630) 858-8800 or request an appointment online to talk through your sedation options with Dr. Jessica Gibbs and our team.
Smile Glen Ellyn is located at 26 North Park Boulevard, Glen Ellyn, IL 60137. Smile Glen Ellyn welcomes patients from Glen Ellyn, Wheaton, Lombard, Glendale Heights, Carol Stream, Winfield, and throughout DuPage County.