If dental anxiety has kept you away from the dentist, you are not alone, and you do not have to explain yourself when you call. At the Timonium office of Dr. Steven W. Haywood, DDS, comfortable dental care is built into the whole visit: a team that listens first, a spa-like office with paraffin wax hand treatments and aromatherapy, gentle technology, and sedation options including complimentary laughing gas.
This article walks through what a visit looks like for a nervous patient, from the first phone call to the treatment chair, so you know what to expect before you arrive. If you are mainly interested in sedation, see sedation dentistry in Timonium.
Why dental visits feel hard for so many people
Dental anxiety has many sources. For some people it is a painful visit years ago. For others it is the sound of the drill, the feeling of not being in control, a strong gag reflex, or embarrassment about how long it has been since the last checkup. Whatever the reason, the effect is often the same: appointments get postponed, small problems grow, and the treatment that eventually becomes necessary is bigger than it needed to be.
None of that is a character flaw. The goal of comfortable dental care is to remove as many of those triggers as possible, so fear stops being the thing that decides whether you get care.
Care that starts with a conversation
The team’s approach is simple: listen first, then treat. Every visit starts with a conversation, not a drill. Before anything begins, the team walks you through what needs doing, what can safely wait and exactly what it costs, so there are no surprises in the chair.
- You are never rushed. Appointments are scheduled with room to breathe, so you are never rushed and the team is never running behind.
- Nervous? Tell the team. If dental visits make you anxious, say so. The team plans around it, with laughing gas or oral conscious sedation when you need it.
- Familiar faces. You see the same familiar faces at every visit, so you never have to explain yourself twice.
Your first visit also includes a careful exam of your teeth and gums and a look at your general health. Bring a list of your questions and anything you would like the team to know. Learn more on the new patient information page.
A spa-like office in Timonium
The Timonium practice is a warm, spa-inspired space designed around your comfort, from the moment you are welcomed to the moment you leave smiling. Sometimes the little things make all the difference.
A friendly welcome and help with paperwork
When you arrive, friendly team members welcome you. If you need help completing any appointment paperwork, a team member will be happy to help. You can also complete your new patient forms online before your first visit, so there is less to do in the waiting area.
Paraffin wax hand treatments
Soothing paraffin wax hand treatments are offered while you relax in the chair, giving you something pleasant to focus on during your visit.
Aromatherapy
Calming aromatherapy helps ease tension throughout your visit, starting in the waiting area.
A Nespresso station
Help yourself to a fresh espresso or coffee from the Nespresso station while you settle in.
Clean, calm treatment rooms
Each treatment room is equipped with dental technologies that help the team complete treatment quickly and efficiently, and every room is cleaned and sterilized after each patient. Take a look around on the office tour.
Gentler technology for anxious patients
Much of what makes dental procedures feel stressful is the sensation: vibration, pressure, gagging on impression material. Several of the tools at the practice are chosen with that in mind.
- Comfortable fillings. A gentle filling process provided by micro-air technology is available for people of all ages.
- Air abrasion. A thin, steady stream of air and silica removes small areas of decay quickly and quietly, with no heat, pressure or vibration.
- The iTero Element scanner. A detailed 3D image of your teeth in about 2½ minutes, with less tendency toward gagging.
- Digital X-rays. More comfortable than biting down on hard film, with as much as 90 percent less radiation exposure, and images you can see on screen right away.
- DIAGNOdent. A laser that can detect small amounts of decay at the earliest stages, so problems can be treated before discomfort develops.
See all of the practice’s dental technology.
Sedation options when you need more help relaxing
For many people, the thought of a dental visit is stressful, so the team takes an extra-gentle approach with a range of sedation choices.
Laughing gas
Laughing gas is a relaxing sedative offered as a complimentary service. It flows through a comfortable nasal mask, eases anxious feelings within seconds, and is adjusted throughout treatment. You should feel fully alert right afterward and can drive yourself home.
Oral sedation
Oral sedation eases the stress of a visit with a pill taken about an hour beforehand. You remain conscious but calm, and because the effects last several hours, you need a ride. Ask about the practice’s “sedation for life” program.
Read more about the benefits of sedation dentistry.
Fewer new places and fewer new faces
Being sent from office to office is its own source of stress. Dr. Haywood’s practice is full service: general dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, dental implants, Invisalign, holistic care and emergency care are all available in the same Timonium office. Dental implants, for example, are placed and restored right here, so you are treated in a setting and by a team you already know. Dr. Haywood has over 35 years of experience, including a U.S. Air Force advanced residency with internships in oral surgery, orthodontics, endodontics, pediatric dentistry and oral facial prosthodontics.
What patients say
One patient’s Google review describes the office as feeling “more like someone’s home than a sterile office,” and says, after years of being terrified of dental visits: “Not anymore.” As of September 2026, the practice is rated 4.7 from 147 Google reviews.
Tips for your first visit if you are nervous
- Say it when you call. Let the team know you feel anxious so your visit can be planned around it.
- Complete your forms early. Finishing paperwork online means less waiting and less to think about on the day.
- Ask about laughing gas. It is complimentary, and you can still drive yourself home.
- Bring your questions. Write down what worries you, so nothing is left unsaid.
- Arrange a ride if you choose oral sedation. Its effects last several hours.
Frequently asked questions
Will I be asleep during sedation?
No. With laughing gas and oral conscious sedation you stay conscious, just without the stress or anxiety.
Can I tell the team I am anxious before my appointment?
Yes, and please do. If dental visits make you anxious, the team plans around it.
Will I know the cost before treatment?
Yes. The team walks you through what needs doing, what can safely wait and what it costs before anything begins. The practice is out of network with all dental insurance companies: you pay at the time of your visit, the office files the claim so your plan can reimburse you, and HSA and flex plans, CareCredit and Cherry are welcome. See financing options.
Are you accepting new patients?
Yes. New patients are always welcome.
Visit a comfortable dental office in Timonium
If it has been a while, that is fine: the first call is the whole first step. Request an appointment or call (410) 453-9399 to talk through what has made past visits hard. The office of Dr. Steven W. Haywood, DDS is in Timonium Green at 108 W Timonium Rd, Ste 200, Timonium, MD 21093, with a parking lot off Greenspring Dr.
Ready to see your future smile?
Nervous about the dentist? Call the Timonium office and tell the team, so your visit can be planned around it.
