If the thought of sitting in a dental chair makes your stomach tighten, you are far from alone. Dental anxiety is one of the most common reasons people put off the care their smiles need, and at Infinite Dental Wellness in Glendale, we see it every week. The good news is that fear of the dentist is something we know how to work with. Dr. Leon Kiraj and Dr. Liana Muradyan, a USC-trained husband-and-wife team, have built a practice around gentle, judgment-free care, and we have many tools, both simple and clinical, to help you feel calm and in control during every visit. Whatever has kept you away, you can call us at (818) 541-1110 and start fresh.
What Is Dental Anxiety?
Dental anxiety is a feeling of unease, stress, or fear connected to dental visits. It exists on a spectrum. For some people it is mild nervousness before a cleaning. For others it rises to dental phobia, an intense fear that can cause someone to avoid the dentist for years, even when they are in pain. Anxiety is a normal human response, and there is nothing to be embarrassed about. What matters is that avoiding care almost always makes dental problems worse over time, turning small, easily treated issues into larger ones. Our aim is to break that cycle by making each appointment a calm, predictable, and positive experience.
Common Causes and Signs
Understanding where the fear comes from is often the first step in easing it. Many patients trace their anxiety to a specific source, while others simply feel an undefined dread. Common triggers include a painful or negative experience in the past, fear of needles or the dental drill, worry about losing control or feeling helpless in the chair, embarrassment about the condition of their teeth, sensitivity of the mouth, or the sounds and smells of a dental office. Sometimes anxiety is tied to a more general fear of medical settings.
The signs of dental anxiety can be emotional and physical. You might notice some of the following in the days before or during an appointment:
- Trouble sleeping the night before a visit
- A racing heart, sweating, or rising blood pressure in the waiting room
- Feeling tearful, panicky, or short of breath in the chair
- A strong gag reflex or nausea at the thought of treatment
- Repeatedly canceling or postponing appointments
- Avoiding the dentist entirely until pain forces a visit
If any of these sound familiar, please tell us. When we know what you are feeling, we can tailor your care to address it directly rather than asking you to simply push through.
How We Help You Feel Comfortable
At our Glendale dental office, easing anxiety begins long before any instrument is picked up. We take the time to meet with you, listen to your concerns, and build a plan together. We keep you informed about every step so that you can make decisions about your care without surprises. Many patients tell us that simply understanding what will happen, how long it will take, what they might feel, and what recovery looks like, removes most of their fear. The more informed you are, the more relaxed and in control you tend to feel.
Easing Fear Without Medication
- Listening to music or a favorite podcast through headphones to block out clinical sounds
- Agreeing on a hand signal you can raise at any time to pause the appointment
- Slow, deep breathing and other relaxation techniques we can guide you through
- Scheduling your visit for a time of day when you feel least rushed
- Bringing a trusted friend or family member for support
- Breaking treatment into shorter, more manageable appointments
Get Familiar Before Your Appointment
One of the simplest and most effective ways to calm your fears is to visit our office and meet Dr. Leon Kiraj and Dr. Liana Muradyan before your actual treatment. Touring the office, sitting in the dental chair, and having a relaxed conversation lets you become familiar with our team and surroundings. Then, when you return for your cleaning or procedure, you are doing so in an environment that already feels comfortable, with faces you recognize. During this consultation we can walk through exactly what to expect, which helps you mentally prepare. We find that this single, pressure-free visit can dramatically reduce the dread many patients carry.
Aftercare and Building Confidence Over Time
It also helps to be kind to yourself along the way. Many of our patients started exactly where you are now, having avoided the dentist for years, and they are now able to sit through cleanings and treatment with ease. Celebrate small wins, communicate openly with our team about what is working and what is not, and remember that we are partners in your care. There is no rushing and no pressure here. We will move at a pace that feels right for you, appointment by appointment, until visiting the dentist feels routine rather than frightening.
Why Avoiding the Dentist Makes Anxiety Worse
It can feel safer to skip the dentist when you are anxious, but avoidance tends to backfire. A tiny cavity that could have been treated with a quick, comfortable filling has time to grow into something that requires a crown or root canal therapy. Early gum inflammation that a simple cleaning would have reversed can progress into periodontal disease that threatens the bone supporting your teeth. As problems grow, the treatment needed to fix them becomes more involved, which only feeds the fear that kept you away in the first place. Breaking the avoidance cycle early is one of the kindest things you can do for both your health and your peace of mind.
There is also a strong connection between your oral health and your overall well-being. Untreated infection and chronic gum disease have been linked to wider health concerns, and ongoing dental pain affects sleep, eating, concentration, and mood. The longer dental problems go unaddressed, the more they tend to spill over into daily life. Regular, low-key visits keep things small, predictable, and manageable, which is exactly what an anxious patient needs.
Gentle Techniques and Mercury-Free Technology
Much of dental fear is rooted in the expectation of pain, so comfort is built into everything we do. When numbing is needed, we apply a topical anesthetic first so the area is already numb before anything else, and we administer local anesthetic slowly and gently to minimize any pinch. We never rush. If you need a break at any point, we stop, let you rest, and continue only when you are ready. Our hand-signal agreement means you are always in control of the pace, which removes the feeling of helplessness that troubles so many anxious patients.
Modern technology also makes visits calmer and shorter. Digital X-rays capture clear images in seconds with very little radiation, and intraoral images let us show you exactly what we see so nothing feels hidden or mysterious. As a mercury-free practice, we use tooth-colored, biocompatible materials for fillings and restorations, which many patients find reassuring. Efficient, precise tools mean less time in the chair and a more comfortable experience overall.
- Topical numbing before any injection, applied gently and given time to work
- A clear hand signal you can raise to pause treatment at any moment
- Frequent check-ins and the freedom to take breaks whenever you need them
- Digital X-rays and intraoral imaging so you understand every step
- Mercury-free, tooth-colored materials for natural-looking results
- Shorter, focused appointments when that helps you stay relaxed
Helping Anxious Children and Seniors
Dental anxiety is not limited to adults. Children who have a frightening early experience can carry that fear for years, which is why we work hard to make every young patient's visit positive, gentle, and even fun. We explain things in simple, friendly language, move at a comfortable pace, and celebrate cooperation so kids learn that the dentist is nothing to dread. Building that trust early sets the stage for a lifetime of confident dental care.
Older adults can feel anxious too, sometimes because of past experiences with very different dental techniques, or because of worries about the condition of their teeth after years away. We meet every senior patient with patience and zero judgment. Whether you need a cleaning, a new filling, periodontal care, or help with dentures or a bridge, we will take the time to make the experience comfortable and to rebuild your confidence one visit at a time.
Same-Day Emergencies for Anxious Patients
Sometimes anxiety leads people to wait until a small problem becomes a painful emergency. If that happens, please do not feel embarrassed; just call us. We reserve time in our schedule for same-day emergencies so you are never left suffering or waiting for relief. We will get you out of pain first, treat you with the same gentle, unhurried care we give every patient, and then help you build a plan to keep small problems from turning into emergencies again. Many of our most loyal patients first came to us during a stressful emergency and stayed because they finally found a dental home where they feel safe.
A Calm Environment Designed Around You
The atmosphere of a dental office has a real effect on how anxious patients feel, so we have worked to make ours warm and welcoming rather than cold and clinical. From a friendly greeting at the front desk to an unhurried pace in the treatment room, every part of the visit is meant to put you at ease. You are encouraged to ask as many questions as you like, to tell us what has worried you in the past, and to let us know what helps you relax. Some patients feel calmer with a blanket, a focus point, or simply a clear explanation of what comes next. Whatever helps you feel safe and in control, we want to know about it so we can build it into your care.
Above all, you will never be judged here for the condition of your teeth or for how long it has been since your last visit. We see patients every day who have been nervous about dental care, and our only goal is to help you feel comfortable and cared for. When you are ready to take that first step, we will meet you exactly where you are and move forward together at a pace that feels right for you.
Why Choose Infinite Dental Wellness
Patients across Glendale and the surrounding San Fernando Valley and Los Angeles communities choose Infinite Dental Wellness for a reason. We have earned a 4.9-star rating from more than 300 reviews, and our husband-and-wife team, Dr. Leon Kiraj and Dr. Liana Muradyan, are both USC-trained dentists who bring a shared commitment to gentle, thorough, and honest care. Our practice is mercury-free, we welcome patients of every age from young children to seniors, and we reserve time for same-day emergencies so you are never left waiting in pain. From the moment you walk in, our goal is to make you feel informed, respected, and at ease.
We want quality dental care to be within reach, so we work hard to keep treatment affordable and transparent. Infinite Dental Wellness accepts all PPO dental insurance plans, and our team is happy to review your benefits with you, estimate your out-of-pocket costs before treatment begins, and answer any questions about coverage. Please note that we do not participate in Medi-Cal or Denti-Cal. If you do not have insurance, ask us about your options when you call. We will always discuss the cost of recommended treatment up front so there are no surprises.
Our office is conveniently located in Glendale, making it easy for families throughout the area, including Burbank, La Crescenta, Montrose, Eagle Rock, and the greater Los Angeles region, to reach us. We offer appointment times designed to fit busy schedules, and our warm, welcoming environment is built around your comfort.