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

Why You Should Choose Sleep Dentistry with Dr. Kevin Mahoney

Posted on February 25th, 2022 at 1:25 PM
Why You Should Choose Sleep Dentistry with Dr. Kevin Mahoney

At Sleep Dentistry, we cater our services to you. Our goal is to provide you with quality dental care, while also keeping your comfort as our top priority. Whether you love the dentist, or whether you’re someone who gets tense just thinking about your next appointment, we center our care around giving you peace of mind. 

Dr. Kevin Mahoney has over 34 overs of dental care experience. He loves being able to provide quality care to the patients in Erie, however, he knows that patient comfort is a core element of a positive patient experience. At Sleep Dentistry, our team has experience with all different types of patients. Our sedation dentistry services and focus on relaxation dentistry practices set us apart from others. 

We help ease dental anxiety for all patients

Pediatric dental care

Dental checkups happen much more frequently for children in their growing stages as they reach their dental milestones. On average, children are required to visit the dentist once every six months. That can be quite the challenge if your little one gets anxious around the dentist. At Sleep Dentistry, we realize that dental health is important, however, we also strive to provide services during your visit that will make it easy and comfortable. 

At Sleep Dentistry, we offer therapy dogs for anxiety relating to the dentist’s office. Our therapy dogs, or should we say “dogtors”, are trained in providing affection and support to patients who experience dental anxiety. Dogtor Gizmo and his brother Gadget are the in-office therapy dogs at Sleep Dentistry and they make sure our patients feel peaceful during their visits. There have been plenty of times that our Dogtors have made visiting the dentist a relaxing, and even enjoyable, experience.

Special needs patients

At Sleep Dentistry, we’re used to adapting our dental treatments to accommodate the needs of our patients. We do this for everyone who walks through the door at Sleep Dentistry, including special needs dental patients. We’ve worked with patients who have autism, ADHD, Alzheimer’s, Down syndrome, and more. We provide thorough communication during visits, physical accessibility, as well as comfort and safety measures during treatment care. 

For special needs individuals with low-income status, it may be difficult to pay for dental care. We offer financial assistance for dental services to all of our patients and work with you to determine a suitable plan for you.

Cosmetic dentistry

Sometimes patients may want to improve and enhance their smile, but dental anxiety can get in the way of achieving the smile they desire. Sleep Dentistry is here for all who have difficulty going to the dentist. Dr. Kevin Mahoney is a board-certified dental anesthesiologist, and his focuses are in family and cosmetic dentistry. Before the beginning of any cosmetic dental treatment, Dr. Mahoney can administer a safe sedative or general anesthesia, which allows for more dental work to be completed in a smaller time frame.

Nothing should be holding you back to achieve the smile of your dreams. That’s why we offer many services that help our patients feel comfortable during their visits. We offer a smile makeover treatment, a lifetime whitening program, and tooth restoration services within our cosmetic dentistry solutions.

Orthodontic dentistry

Orthodontic treatments can lead you to a healthier smile, but these treatments often take many visits that can be stress-inducing for patients with dental anxiety. Our Dogtors are always happy to see our orthodontics patients and provide them with the utmost comfort during their time in our office. Getting braces installed may provide minor discomfort to your teeth and mouth. Sleep Dentistry provides topical anesthesia, sedation, and anesthesiology so that your visit is quick, easy, and painless. 

Dental therapy dogs for dental anxiety in Erie, PA

Our dental therapy dogs can provide comfort and ease stress

The Dogtors are in the office! Our dental therapy dogs, Gizmo and Gadget, have been comforting patients in the Erie area for a few years now. These Dogtors help us provide quality relaxation dentistry to our clients. Therapy dogs have been proven to help patients who have dental anxiety. They can decrease blood pressure, lower anxiety, and aid in positive interactions within typically stressful environments.

Many of our patients love the added sense of familiarity, comfort, and companionship that’s provided by our therapy dogs. Whether you want both Dogtors in the room with you, for the whole treatment, or just for a little while, we are willing to provide dental care that adapts to your needs. Stop in and meet the Dogtors during your next appointment!

Relax in our in-office spa room

Sleep Dentistry is happy to offer a relaxing spa room as an additional benefit to our patients. It may sound odd that a dental office offers an in-office spa room, however, our commitment to our patient’s comfort has led us to provide a variety of services that benefit their experience. Our spa room allows clients to spend time relaxing right before their appointment. We offer massage chairs and paraffin wax, which can be used safely on hands. Schedule a session in the spa room for your next dentist appointment!

Your best choice for dental services in Erie, PA

Sleep Dentistry with Dr. Kevin Mahoney provides top-notch dental services in Erie, PA, all with you in mind. Our focus on patient care and comfort creates an ideal environment for anyone with dental anxiety and/or phobias. Sleep Dentistry is one of its kind, being the only dentistry in Erie, PA that offers sedation services. The next time you’re struggling with making your yearly check-up, consider Sleep Dentistry with Dr. Kevin Mahoney. We promise to provide an experience tailored to you.

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