Inhaltsverzeichnis
You are in the right place
If you are reading this page, you have already taken the hardest step.
Dental anxiety affects more people than you might think: studies show that up to 60% of Germans feel uneasy about visiting the dentist. Around 10 million people in Germany avoid the dentist out of fear — some for years or even decades. There is nothing to be ashamed of.
At our practice in Munich-Oberfoehring, we meet dental anxiety with understanding, patience, and a clear promise: You set the pace. No pressure to treat, no time pressure, no reproaches — no matter how long it has been since your last dental visit. We listen, explain every step, and together find the approach that works for you.
Whether gentle relaxation with nitrous oxide, a relaxed twilight sedation, or general anaesthesia on our dedicated anaesthesia days — we have the right solution for every level of anxiety.
Where does dental anxiety come from?
Dental anxiety (dental phobia) has many faces and many causes. Understanding them is the first step to overcoming them:
- Traumatic experiences: A painful procedure in childhood, the feeling of not being taken seriously, or a treatment that felt rushed — such experiences leave a deep mark.
- Loss of control: Lying in the treatment chair, opening your mouth, surrendering to another person — the feeling of having no control is the core trigger of anxiety for many people.
- Needle phobia: Fear of the anaesthetic injection is one of the most common reasons for dental anxiety. Modern techniques such as computer-controlled anaesthesia make injections much gentler today.
- Shame: Those who have not seen a dentist for a long time often feel ashamed of the condition of their teeth — and therefore continue to avoid visits. A vicious cycle that we can break together.
- Sounds and smells: The sound of the drill, the typical "dentist smell" — sensory stimuli can trigger anxiety reactions that are hard to control.
Our approach: We take every fear seriously — whether mild discomfort or full-blown phobia. There is no "too sensitive" in our practice.
Our three paths to anxiety-free treatment
Depending on your personal anxiety level and the planned treatment, we offer three sedation methods — from light relaxation to deep sleep:
Nitrous oxide sedation — Relaxed and awake
You breathe a mixture of nitrous oxide and oxygen through a small nasal mask and within 2–3 minutes feel pleasantly relaxed and mildly euphoric — while remaining fully conscious. After the treatment, the effect wears off within minutes. You can drive yourself home afterwards.
Ideal for: Mild to moderate anxiety, short procedures, patients who want to stay in control, children.
Twilight sedation — Deep relaxation
Through an intravenous line, you receive a sedative that puts you into a pleasant twilight state. You remain responsive but deeply relaxed — and will remember little to nothing of the treatment afterwards (anterograde amnesia).
Ideal for: Moderate to severe anxiety, longer treatments (1–3 hours), multiple procedures in one session.
General anaesthesia — Completely pain-free sleep
On our anaesthesia days, an experienced specialist anaesthetist administers the general anaesthesia and continuously monitors all vital signs. You sleep peacefully and are completely unaware of the entire treatment — including extensive surgical procedures.
Ideal for: Severe dental phobia, extensive procedures (implants, multiple extractions), patients with disabilities.
Sedation methods compared
Which method suits you? This overview helps with orientation — we will discuss the final recommendation together during your consultation:
| Nitrous oxide | Twilight sedation | General anaesthesia | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consciousness | Awake, relaxed | Twilight state | Asleep |
| Pain sensation | Reduced (+ local anaesthesia) | Greatly reduced | Completely eliminated |
| Memory | Yes | Little to none | None |
| Onset of effect | 2–3 minutes | A few minutes | Immediate |
| Recovery time | 5 minutes | 30–60 minutes | 1–2 hours |
| Able to drive after | Yes | No (companion required) | No (companion required) |
| Ideal for | Mild anxiety, short procedures | Moderate anxiety, longer treatments | Severe phobia, extensive surgery |
| Suitable for children | Yes, especially well | Limited | When indicated |
| Insurance covers | No (self-pay) | Partially (private insurance) | Possible with medical indication |
Your first appointment with us
We know: The first step into a new dental practice takes courage. That is why we have designed the first appointment to cause as little anxiety as possible:
- Arrive and breathe: Our team welcomes you warmly and leads you to a quiet consultation room — not the treatment room.
- A conversation at eye level: We sit down together and listen. What makes you anxious? What have you experienced? What do you wish for? There are no "stupid" questions.
- No pressure to treat: At the first appointment, there is no treatment — unless you explicitly request it. The goal is to get to know each other and build trust.
- A shared plan: We discuss your dental situation, explain the options, and together create a treatment plan at your pace.
- Stop signal: You receive an agreed hand signal that allows you to interrupt any treatment at any time — without explanation, without discussion.
Many of our anxious patients say: "The initial conversation alone already helped."
CEREC + Sedation: More in fewer sessions
For anxious patients, every dental visit is a challenge. That is why it is especially valuable when we can accomplish as much as possible in as few sessions as possible.
As a CEREC-certified practice, we have the technology to digitally design and fabricate ceramic crowns and inlays right in the practice — in a single session. Combined with twilight sedation or general anaesthesia, this means:
- No temporary restorations, no second appointment
- Extensive restorations under sedation in one session
- Fewer anxiety-triggering dental visits overall
This combination of digital technology and sedation is offered by only a few practices in Munich — it is one of our greatest advantages for anxious patients.
Anaesthesia days at our practice
For extensive treatments under general anaesthesia, we offer dedicated anaesthesia days. On these appointments, an experienced specialist anaesthetist is on-site at our practice and attends exclusively to you:
- Pre-consultation with the anaesthetist: Individual health check and detailed explanation of the anaesthesia.
- Professional monitoring: Continuous monitoring of heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, and respiratory function.
- Recovery phase at the practice: After the treatment, you remain in our protected recovery area until you have fully recovered.
- Efficient planning: Under general anaesthesia, multiple treatment steps can be combined in one session — implants, dental prosthetics, surgical procedures.
Anaesthesia days can be arranged individually. Contact us — we will organise the appointment to suit your needs.
Costs and insurance coverage
The costs for sedation procedures vary depending on the type and duration of treatment. Here is an overview of the reimbursement situation:
Statutory health insurance (GKV)
General anaesthesia is covered by statutory insurance when there is a medical indication:
- Allergy or intolerance to local anaesthetics
- Extensive surgical procedures (e.g. multiple wisdom teeth)
- Patients with physical or mental disabilities
- Children under certain conditions
Nitrous oxide and twilight sedation are generally self-pay services and are not covered by statutory insurance.
Private health insurance (PKV)
Private insurers frequently reimburse sedation procedures — depending on the policy. We recommend checking with your insurer before treatment. We are happy to provide a cost estimate for your private insurance.
Instalment payments
For all sedation procedures, we offer instalment payment plans to spread the costs over several months. The fear of costs should not be a reason to forgo pain-free treatment.
For children and adolescents
Dental anxiety often begins in childhood — which makes a positive first experience all the more important. For young patients, nitrous oxide sedation is particularly suitable:
- Gentle and non-invasive (just a small nasal mask)
- The child remains awake and responsive
- The effect wears off within minutes — no long recovery time
- Ideal for fillings, dental cleanings, or minor procedures
For more extensive treatments, general anaesthesia can also be the safest and most stress-free option for children — especially when cooperation is still difficult due to age.
More about our children's treatment: Paediatric dentistry
Why choose Dr. Dickel's practice for anxious patients?
At our practice in Munich-Oberfoehring, we have deliberately set ourselves up for the treatment of anxious patients:
- Three sedation levels: Nitrous oxide, twilight sedation, and general anaesthesia — the right solution for every anxiety level.
- Anaesthesia days with specialist anaesthetist: Professional anaesthesia care directly in our practice.
- CEREC technology: Fewer sessions through digital same-day restorations under sedation.
- Professional expertise: Member of the DGI (Implantology), DGZMK (Dental, Oral and Maxillofacial Medicine), and DGÄZ (Aesthetic Dentistry).
- Compassionate team: We take our time, work at your pace, and respect your boundaries.
- Stop signal: You can interrupt the treatment at any time — without discussion.
The first step is the hardest — and you have just taken it by reading this page. Call us or book a no-obligation introductory appointment online. We look forward to seeing you.
Kosten im Überblick
| Leistung | Preisrahmen | Hinweis |
|---|---|---|
| Nitrous oxide sedation | Self-pay service | Not covered by statutory insurance. Costs vary depending on duration. Private insurance frequently reimburses. |
| Twilight sedation (IV sedation) | Self-pay service | Not covered by statutory insurance. Private insurance reimburses partially or fully depending on the policy. |
| General anaesthesia | Insurance-covered with indication | Statutory insurance covers when medically indicated (allergy, surgery, disability, children). Otherwise self-pay. |
Nitrous oxide sedation
Self-pay service
Not covered by statutory insurance. Costs vary depending on duration. Private insurance frequently reimburses.
Twilight sedation (IV sedation)
Self-pay service
Not covered by statutory insurance. Private insurance reimburses partially or fully depending on the policy.
General anaesthesia
Insurance-covered with indication
Statutory insurance covers when medically indicated (allergy, surgery, disability, children). Otherwise self-pay.
Private health insurers frequently reimburse sedation procedures — depending on the policy. We are happy to provide a cost estimate for your private insurance.
We offer instalment payments for all sedation procedures. The fear of costs should not be a barrier to pain-free treatment.
Risiken und Sicherheit
All three sedation procedures are among the safest methods in modern medicine. As with any medical procedure, side effects may occur, but they are usually mild and temporary.
Nausea after sedation/anaesthesia
Occasional (10–30% with general anaesthesia)
Prophylactic medication, arriving on an empty stomach, standing up slowly.
Fatigue and drowsiness
Common after twilight sedation/general anaesthesia
Normal reaction, subsides within a few hours. Companion needed for the journey home.
Sore throat after intubation
Occasional with general anaesthesia
Mild and temporary (1–2 days). Lozenges and warm drinks help.
Local irritation (nitrous oxide)
Rare
Adjustment of the nasal mask, dose reduction.
Paradoxical reaction (agitation instead of relaxation)
Very rare
Immediate adjustment of medication, possible switch to a different sedation method.
Allergic reaction to medication
Very rare
Thorough medical history taken before treatment, emergency equipment available in the practice.
At our practice, we minimise risks through individual health checks before every sedation, continuous monitoring by trained staff or the specialist anaesthetist, and a protected recovery area in the practice.
Qualifikationen und Zertifikate
DGI — German Society for Implantology
Membership
DGZMK — German Society for Dental, Oral and Maxillofacial Medicine
Membership
DGÄZ — German Society for Aesthetic Dentistry
Membership
CEREC Certification — Digital CAD/CAM dental restoration
Certified
2012
State examination in dentistry
University
Häufige Fragen
Ready to take your first step?
Book an appointment for a personal consultation at our practice in Munich Oberföhring.