If nerves, a strong gag reflex or a long list of overdue work has kept you away from the dentist, sedation can make treatment manageable. Shield Dental Care is a Burke practice a short drive west of Springfield, and Dr. Pejman Ghorbani offers three depths of sedation there, from laughing gas through a pill taken beforehand to sedation given by IV. This page is written for people coming from Springfield, where the practical question is often less about the medicine and more about the logistics: who brings you, how long the day takes, and how many trips the treatment needs. For everything else we do for Springfield households, start at our dentist for Springfield, VA families page.
The three options, briefly
Each level relaxes you more deeply than the one before it, and each changes what you can do afterward. Local anesthetic is still used to numb the tooth itself; sedation deals with the anxiety and the awareness.
- Nitrous oxide. Breathed through a small nose mask and switched off at the end. It clears within minutes, so most adults can drive themselves back to Springfield.
- Oral sedation. A prescribed pill taken before the appointment. You stay conscious but drowsy and may remember little. Someone else has to drive.
- IV sedation. Given through a vein so the level can be adjusted during treatment. It is the deepest option the practice offers and also requires a driver.
Our full guide to sedation dentistry covers the medications, safety screening and who each level suits in much more depth.
Planning the ride: the part Springfield patients ask about most
With oral or IV sedation, you cannot drive, and you should not take a rideshare or taxi home alone either, because you need a responsible adult with you until the drowsiness passes. The American Dental Association treats sedation as a continuum, which means a person's response is never entirely predictable, and that is why the escort rule is not optional (ADA Guidelines for the Use of Sedation and General Anesthesia by Dentists).
From most of Springfield the trip is short. Outside rush hour, it takes about 5 minutes to drive over from the shops at Old Keene Mill in West Springfield, roughly 11 minutes from Springfield Town Center and around 15 minutes from North Springfield. That matters for your companion: a short drive means they can drop you off, run errands nearby, and be back when we call, rather than sitting in the waiting room for the whole appointment. Old Keene Mill Road carries you almost straight to the office, and Rolling Road and the Fairfax County Parkway work well from the Newington and Saratoga side.
A few practical points for the day:
- Choose a companion who can stay with you at home for the rest of the day, not just drive.
- Book a morning slot if you can. Fasting instructions are easier to follow before breakfast than through an afternoon.
- If your companion works on a federal schedule at Fort Belvoir or the NGA campus, a Friday or Saturday morning may be easier to cover. The office keeps hours until 2 PM on both days; ask whether one of those slots fits your procedure.
- Plan no work, no driving and no important decisions for the rest of that day.
Fewer trips by doing more in one visit
For many patients the biggest advantage of sedation is that several procedures can be grouped together. Someone who needs a deep cleaning, two fillings and a crown preparation may, depending on the case, be able to have much of it done in one longer sedated appointment instead of four short ones. That means one companion, one day off and one drive from Springfield. Whether grouping is sensible depends on your health and the work involved, and Dr. Ghorbani will tell you if splitting it is safer. Our article on combining dental procedures under sedation explains the trade-offs.
Treatments that people from Springfield most often pair with sedation include deep cleaning for gum disease, wisdom teeth removal near Springfield, root canal therapy and dental implants for Springfield patients.
What your first appointment looks like
The first visit is a conversation and an exam, not sedation. Dr. Ghorbani reviews your medical history, your medicines and allergies, and what has made past dental visits hard for you. Bring a written list of everything you take, including supplements and sleep aids, because some interact with sedatives. If you have sleep apnea, a heart or lung condition, or are pregnant, say so at the start. You leave with a recommendation for a sedation level, a plan for the treatment itself, and written instructions for the day.
That first trip does not need a companion, which makes it an easy appointment to fit in after work or on a weekend morning.
On the day and the evening after
Wear loose, comfortable clothes with sleeves that roll up easily for IV sedation, leave jewelry at home, and arrive with your companion. Afterward you go home to rest. With nitrous oxide, you are usually back to normal before you reach the car. With oral or IV sedation, expect to feel sleepy for several hours; many people nap through the afternoon. Our article on how long dental sedation lasts walks through recovery hour by hour.
Call 911 if the person recovering is hard to rouse or is struggling for breath, or if their face swells and the swelling creeps toward the eye or neck. The same goes for uncontrolled bleeding or a high fever after any dental procedure.
Paying for sedation
Whether a plan covers sedation depends on the plan and on why the sedation is needed; some pay only when it is judged medically necessary. Many Springfield households carry federal or military dental coverage, and the rules differ between plans. Give the front desk your plan name and member details, and they can help you find out what applies before the appointment is set. If your coverage resets in January, read how FEDVIP and TRICARE dental work for Springfield families to see how Open Season timing can shape a larger treatment plan.
Ready to talk it through?
You do not have to decide on a sedation level before calling. Tell us what worries you and what you need done, and we will set up a first visit that needs no driver. Our number is (703) 250-5072, or you can send a booking request any time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I take an Uber home from Springfield after oral or IV sedation?+
Not on your own. You need a responsible adult with you, both for the ride and for the hours afterward, because the drowsiness does not end when you leave the chair. A companion can ride with you in a rideshare if neither of you drives.
How early should my companion plan to arrive?+
Ask the team when you book, since it depends on the procedure. Because the drive from most of Springfield is short, many companions drop the patient off and come back when we call them.
Can I drive myself after nitrous oxide?+
Usually yes. Nitrous oxide clears within minutes once it is switched off, and most adults are fit to drive back to Springfield after a short recovery in the chair.
Do I need sedation just for a cleaning?+
Most people do not, but some patients with strong anxiety use nitrous oxide even for routine care. If a cleaning is what you are dreading, mention it, and we will discuss whether a light option makes sense.
Is the Burke office the only location?+
Yes. Shield Dental Care has one office, at 6505 Sydenstricker Rd in Burke, and Springfield patients are seen there.