Benefits of Sleep Dentistry

Dr. Kevin Mahoney is a board-certified dental anesthesiologist and has been providing the benefits of dental anesthesia, as well as other pain-free dentistry services, to his patients for decades. Those benefits include:

  • Relaxation and patient comfort
  • Effectiveness of dental procedures administered
  • Time-saving - several dental procedures during a single visit

If you are one of the many people in the United States with a dental phobia, Dr. Kevin Mahoney and his highly trained staff can help you have a comfortable dental visit, no matter how old you are.

"By striving to offer the highest quality dental care, I hope to motivate you to choose excellence and to enjoy the long-term benefits of that decision. Fear and anxiety is the number one reason people avoid necessary dental care. I am dedicated to the comfort of those who place their trust in me. Sleep dentistry is an affordable, safe way to better dental health. I am confident I can help you have a comfortable and enjoyable experience."

-Dr. Kevin Mahoney

Special Considerations, Special Care

Dr. Kevin Mahoney is the only dental anesthesiologist in the Erie area certified by the American Dental Association. Dental anesthesia is a safe, effective, and efficient way to administer high-quality, pain-free dental care to those who would avoid or refuse treatment altogether. Dr. Kevin Mahoney has extensive experience working with a wide variety of special needs patients, including:

  • Elderly adults with dementia
  • Uncooperative children
  • Those who can’t get numb from local anesthesia, such as Novocaine
  • Those with dental phobias

Everyone deserves quality dental care, but not everyone deserves the same approach. For many of us, a typical dental visit may not be enjoyable, but it is still tolerable. For others, even routine dental procedures bring an impossible mental or physical hurdle. For these patients, sleep dentistry may be the ideal solution.


Dental Anesthesiologist Erie, PA

Frequently Asked Questions

What is sleep dentistry?

There are many differences between general anesthesia and IV sedation that have a big impact on how the procedures are practiced in sleep dentistry. Many dental offices use the term sleep dentistry when actually talking about IV sedation. This can be confusing because “sleep dentistry” is more similar to and descriptive of general anesthesia.

When under general anesthesia, the certified anesthesiologist manages your breathing through a tube. General anesthesia affects the entire body rather than a localized, specific area. When recovering, patients slowly come out of a sedated state.

A few of the main components of general anesthesia include:

  • You are totally unconscious (asleep)
  • You will not feel pain
  • You will have little to no memory of the procedure

There are several other forms of dental sedation in addition to IV sedation and general anesthesia including oral sedation or the use of laughing gas (nitrous oxide). The dental staff and certified anesthesiologists of Sleep Dentistry will help you determine which procedure best fits your needs and desires.

How long will I be sedated with sleep dentistry?

The amount of time you are sedated depends on the amount of work that needs to be done. We are experts and will be able to approximate the right amount of time to get the most amount of work done, resulting in fewer appointments and less stress. The average timeframe to be sedated is between 1 and 6 hours, although that may vary.

Is sleep dentistry right for me?

Sleep Dentistry is especially perfect for people with dental phobias. The dental staff of Sleep Dentistry Erie has extensive experience in practicing safe dental anesthesia procedures on a wide range of patients.

Multiple factors are taken into consideration when determining if you would make a good candidate for sleep dentistry, such as your overall health, history of allergies, and your anxiety level.

Dental anesthesia works well for people who have:

  • Fear of the dentist
  • Difficulty getting numb
  • A bad gag reflex
  • Very sensitive teeth
  • A limited amount of time for treatment
  • Complex dental problems, including extractions and immediate dentures

Whether you're someone who has a disability that prevents you from receiving traditional dental treatment or you simply hate going to the dentist, our dental staff can help by providing relaxing dental anesthesia treatment.

Is sleep dentistry safe?

Yes, Dental Anesthesia is very safe as long as it's administered by a certified dental anesthesiologist. They are extensively trained in the outpatient setting to make your experience as pleasant as possible.

Are there any other dentists who perform sleep dentistry?

Currently, Dr. Kevin Mahoney is the only doctor to have an unrestricted general anesthesia permit in Erie, PA.

Will sleep dentistry cure my dental phobia?

Sleep Dentistry is not a cure for anxiety or dental phobia. It should be viewed more as a temporary solution. Although some people have reported lessened anxiety after completing a session, this may vary from person to person.

If you or someone you know has a special consideration preventing them from getting the quality dental care they need, schedule an appointment with Dr. Kevin Mahoney online or by calling (814) 833-3505.

Where To Find Us

Address: 3915 Caughey Rd, Erie, PA 16506

Recent Posts

More Than a Dental Anesthesiologist: Why To Choose Dr. Kevin Mahoney

Posted on April 30th, 2020 at 11:49 AM
More Than a Dental Anesthesiologist: Why To Choose Dr. Kevin Mahoney

As a practicing dental anesthesiologist specializing in family and cosmetic dentistry, Dr. Kevin Mahoney has never seen a situation quite like COVID-19. Regardless, he continues to see to his patients' unique needs, delivering quality dental care tailored to the individual — just as he has for over three decades. If you're looking to establish a routine appointment schedule once government closure mandates lift, you can trust Dr. Mahoney to provide for you safely and capably.

For emergency dental care

Oral health closely correlates to overall health, so when a dental emergency arises, it’s important to get care fast. Sleep Dentistry with Dr. Kevin Mahoney offers same-day appointments to patients and non-patients alike, to address severe pain or swelling of the mouth or jaw, infections and abscesses, or broken or cracked teeth, crowns, or fillings. Don’t fret about payment or lack of insurance — between our work with insurance carriers and our monthly payment plans, our office makes a coordinated effort to ease your financial burden.

If dental fear or phobia is preventing you from getting the urgent dental care you need, do not let it. Dr. Mahoney is the only dentist in the Erie area licensed to administer general anesthesia, characterized by a deep state of unconsciousness. You’ll feel no pain and have no memory of the emergency procedure, but the relief you feel afterward will be something to remember going forward. 

For routine dental care

Of course, trips to the dentist shouldn’t just be reserved for emergencies. It’s recommended that dental visits occur every 6 months, or at least annually — by monitoring the health of the teeth, gums, and mouth consistently, there is a lesser chance of dire situations popping up in the first place! Furthermore, by seeing you more frequently, we can hone in on achieving your best smile through our array of cosmetic (aka aesthetic) dentistry services.

We understand that even routine dental procedures like bonding and fillings can be stressful or difficult for folks with anxieties, phobias, or special needs. For these patients, Dr. Mahoney can administer sedation or general anesthesia before he performs his work, getting more done in fewer visits. He also collaborates with the compassionate canine, Dogtor Gizmo — a certified dental therapy dog who's happy to sit or snuggle with you during your procedure. Dogtor Gizmo is wonderful with children and special needs patients.

It is these efforts to reinforce calm and reduce stress that set Dr. Mahoney apart.

dr kevin mahoney sleep dentistry procedure

Kind words from our patients

We know that deciding on one dentist can seem overwhelming when there are so many options available. We encourage you to choose the dentist best for you — who you’re both comfortable with and who delivers the care you need. In the meantime, here are a few examples of why our patients feel we’re the best for them.

From our Google Reviewers (5.0 stars, 13 reviews)

“Friendly, Professional, Compassionate, Experienced”

— 5 star review from Glenn Henry (Local Guide)

“Dr. Kevin Mahoney and staff have always made me feel at ease. I quite often call myself ‘Chicken Little’ when it comes to dentistry. The Sleep Dentistry is a bonus, the main reason I started to go there. They are very professional, friendly and informative. Thank you for making my visits stress free!”

— 5 star review from Kim Tavernese

From our Facebook Reviewers (4.3 stars, 52 reviews)

“The only phobia I have bigger than spiders and needles is going to the dentist, and I must say in all my years of going to a dentist, Dr. Mahoney has made that phobia go away. I was not put to sleep [when I] didn't need to be, I had my teeth cleaned and 2 fillings done all the same day and I felt no pain and never felt the needles. Dr. Mahoney has mastered his craft and makes you feel so comfortable and anxiety free, if there were 6-star [reviews], Dr. Mahoney definitely would have got one from me!!!”

— 5 star review from Butchie Knight

“My 6-year-old had some major problems with his teeth and needed surgery, [but] he was scared of the dentist ... When we finally thought we found an answer and had scheduled a surgery, the coronavirus outbreak made his surgery get cancelled and hope was lost. Of course my son's tooth took a turn for the worse. We got into [Dr. Mahoney’s] office the same day that we called them and the next morning my son had his surgery. WHAT A LIFE SAVER! Extremely satisfied with the service not to mention sanitary conditions in the office as well!”

— 5 star review from Katie Payne

If you, a friend, or a relative need emergency dental services during the COVID-19 outbreak, call Dr. Mahoney’s office at (814) 833-3505 to arrange a same-day appointment. When routine dental care is allowed to resume, please get in touch with us! We will be seeing new patients after previously scheduled appointments are fulfilled. 

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