If you have been avoiding this search for months, you can stop bracing yourself. We are not here to tell you how bad things are. We are here to tell you what happens next, if you decide you are ready, and we promise: no judgment, no lecture, and no pressure.
Thousands of people who haven’t been to the dentist in years walk through our doors at Dentique every month. Some haven’t been in two years. Some, twenty. They all had one thing in common before they called us: they were scared. And they were all relieved once they did.
You are not broken. You are not unusual. According to a 2025 study in the Journal of the American Dental Association, nearly 73 percent of American adults report some form of dental fear, and more than 40 percent have not seen a dentist in the past year. You are not the exception. You are, quietly, the majority.
There are three reasons people stay away, and all of them are understandable. The first is fear of judgment. Not fear of pain, though that is real too. Fear that a dentist or hygienist will look at your mouth and make you feel ashamed for how long it has been. The second is a past experience that left you scared to go back. A rough appointment years ago, a dentist who was not gentle, a procedure that went badly. The third is cost anxiety: not knowing what you will owe and being afraid to find out.
And here is the thing nobody talks about: the longer you put it off, the bigger the shame spiral gets. You tell yourself you will go “soon,” and soon turns into a year, and a year turns into five. That is not a character flaw. That is how avoidance works.
The good news is that coming back is much easier than you think. And the first step is smaller than you are imagining right now.
Here is the honest picture of what a returning patient visit looks like at Dentique. There are no surprises in this process, and nothing moves forward without your full agreement at each step.
Your first visit starts with paperwork, yes, but more importantly it starts with a conversation. We want to understand your health history, any concerns you have, and what has kept you away. No one on our team will ask you to justify the gap or make you feel embarrassed for it.
We take digital X-rays and do a careful visual exam of your teeth, gums, and jaw. This is not painful. We go at your pace. If at any point you need to stop, you stop. The exam gives us a clear picture of where things stand today.
After the exam, we walk you through exactly what we found, what it means, and what the options are. There is no pressure to do everything at once. We prioritize what is urgent, what can wait, and what you can plan for over time. For patients who need support with anxiety, we also discuss help for dental anxiety at this step.
If you agree to treatment that same day, we proceed carefully and check in with you throughout. Many returning patients choose to schedule treatment for a future visit, and that is completely fine. The phrase we hear most often: "I worked at my pace, and it was so much better than I expected."
If the thought of sitting in the dental chair still fills you with dread even after reading this, sedation dentistry changes everything. You do not have to feel every poke, every vibration, every moment of the appointment. You have options, and they are safe, proven, and available for any procedure at Dentique, including routine cleanings.
If you have been embarrassed about your teeth for years and the anxiety is what has been keeping you away, this section is specifically for you.
Dentique offers both levels of sedation, so whether your anxiety is mild or severe, there is an option that fits your situation. Our team is trained and certified in both, and we will help you choose based on your needs, your health history, and the procedure involved. To explore the full details, visit our page on sedation options at Dentique.
| Nitrous Oxide (Laughing Gas) | Oral Sedation | |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | Inhaled through a small nose mask. Takes effect in minutes, wears off in minutes. | A pill taken about an hour before your appointment. |
| How it feels | You stay awake and aware but feel calm and comfortable throughout. | You feel deeply relaxed. Many patients describe it as feeling "like floating" from start to finish. |
| Right for you if | Anxiety is mild to moderate, and you want to drive yourself home after. | Anxiety is significant and you want to feel as little as possible during the appointment. |
Sedation Dentist, Downers Grove & Lemont
There are three things that set Dentique apart for returning patients, and they are worth stating plainly.
First: we offer both nitrous oxide and oral sedation, so you are not limited to one option. Whether your anxiety is mild or significant, we can match the sedation level to what you actually need.
Second: Dr. Shuaipaj and the Dentique team are trained and certified in sedation dentistry. When you sit in that chair, you are in the hands of a dentist who has specifically invested in being equipped for patients with dental anxiety, whatever their level. Dr. Shuaipaj sees patients who haven’t been to the dentist in years every week. This is a core part of what we do, not an exception.
Third: we operate on a no-judgment policy, and we mean it. One patient said we “didn’t judge me at all, even though I was terrified and I knew my teeth were bad.” Another described the team as “patient and gentle and they didn’t lecture me once.” These are not marketing phrases. They are what people say after they experience it. 4.9 stars across 222 Google reviews.
If you have been away from the dentist for two years, this page is for you. If it has been five years, it is for you. If it has been ten, fifteen, or twenty or more years, it is absolutely for you. There is no gap too long to come back from. We have seen it all, and we have helped people with every version of “it’s been a while.” This page is for you if:
If any of those feel familiar, you are in the right place.
At Dentique, a new patient exam and professional cleaning is $560. If you prefer to start with just the exam, it is $418. No hidden fees. No treatment is scheduled without a clear cost breakdown and your explicit agreement. Most major insurance plans are accepted.
For context, the national average for a comprehensive dental exam alone ranges from $150 to $350. Dentique’s new patient fee includes a full exam with digital X-rays and a professional cleaning in a single appointment, which is a more complete picture of your oral health at a transparent, all-in price.
If cost is a concern, we have options to make care accessible. We accept most major insurance plans. If you do not have insurance or want to explore payment options, we offer flexible payment plans that can spread the cost of care over time. For specifics on what sedation adds to your appointment cost, visit our sedation cost breakdown page. If you have dental insurance and are not sure whether it applies, you can see which plans we accept on our insurance page.
| New Patient Service | Price at Dentique |
|---|---|
| New Patient Exam + Cleaning (with digital X-rays) | $560 |
| New Patient Exam Alone (with digital X-rays) | $418 |
| National average (comprehensive exam only) | $150 to $350 |
"I love this place. Everybody is so nice. From the receptionist, to the hygienist to the dentist. Was my first time at the Lemont office. It's nice to feel at ease, like the people taking care of you actually care!!! That was as important to me, if not more, than the dental work itself. Top notch all the way around."
"Dr Xhelo, is the best and all the staff are great! Miss Patience has a lot patience. Joanna and Danna are great answering thtxte phones and costumer service. Love this dental office best Dr and I have been to a lot of dentist and had such a bad experience. I am so Glad to have found Dr Xhelo treatment with him and his assistant I had great experience."
"Great service! Very friendly and helpful staff they make you feel comfortable & at ease. Dr. Shuaipai is wonderful!"
"Came here to get implant best price stayed great staff made me feel at home."
No. Dentists and hygienists see patients who haven’t been in years every single day. It is one of the most common situations in a dental office, and Dr. Shuaipaj’s team operates on a strict no-judgment policy. You will not be lectured about the gap, asked to explain yourself, or made to feel ashamed. Patients consistently describe their experience here using phrases like “didn’t judge me at all.” You come in where you are. That is enough.
Your first visit back starts with a conversation and a health history review. From there, we take gentle digital X-rays and do a careful visual exam of your teeth and gums. Most patients do not have any treatment performed on the first visit unless they specifically request it and agree to it. The appointment runs 60 to 90 minutes. You will leave with a clear picture of where things stand and a recommended plan, with no pressure to do everything at once. We go at your pace throughout.
Yes. Nitrous oxide (laughing gas) and oral sedation are both available for routine cleanings at Dentique. You do not have to be having a complex procedure to qualify for sedation. If the thought of a hygienist working on your teeth makes you anxious, sedation is an option for that visit too. See our full guide to sedation options at Dentique for details on each level.
Yes, when administered by a trained and certified dental professional. Dr. Shuaipaj and the Dentique team are certified in sedation dentistry, and both nitrous oxide and oral sedation have established safety profiles with decades of clinical use. During any sedation procedure, your vital signs are monitored throughout the appointment. According to NIH StatPearls clinical data, oral sedation has a wide margin of safety and is proven effective for managing dental anxiety. The team reviews your health history and any medications you take before recommending a sedation level.
Plan for 60 to 90 minutes for a comprehensive first visit. If your teeth need a deep cleaning rather than a standard prophylaxis cleaning, the appointment may run longer. We build extra time into returning patient appointments intentionally, so you are not rushed, there is time to answer your questions, and the team can work at a pace that feels comfortable. You will know how long to expect before you arrive.
Sedation costs vary by level. Nitrous oxide is the more affordable option. Oral sedation costs more, depending on the procedure and duration. Most dental insurance plans do not cover sedation costs, though some do for medical necessity. If cost is a concern, flexible payment plans are available. Full pricing details are on our sedation cost breakdown page.
You have already done the hardest part. You searched. You read. You found out that what you were imagining might not be as bad as you feared.
The next step is a conversation. Just a conversation. No commitment, no pressure, no judgment. You call or fill out the form, we schedule a time that works for you, and you come in at your pace. That is it. Dentique has two locations: Downers Grove and Lemont, Illinois.
Still gathering information? These next pages were written for readers just like you.
Sedation Overview
Anxiety Help
First Visit
What to Expect
Get the smile you deserve today!