Livewell Dental sedation dentistry treatment room, Fairfax Station, VA

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Sedation Dentistry

Q: What types of sedation are available at Livewell Dental?

Three options are available: IV sedation (deepest level of in-office relaxation, ideal for significant anxiety or complex treatment), nitrous oxide (lighter, wears off quickly, no downtime needed), and comfort-first techniques including warmed anesthetic, distraction methods, and a gentle delivery approach that makes injections virtually undetectable for most patients.

Sleep through your visit with IV sedation or nitrous oxide

Guided by Dr. Akhavan, board-certified anesthesiologist

Comfort built around you, not a one-size protocol

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703-690-0102

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Your Dental Care Should Be About You.

The heart of Livewell is built around patients. In-house dental lab, genuine hospitality, and a team that truly cares about you. This is what it means to be looked after from start to finish.
Whether you are visiting for a routine cleaning or a full smile transformation, you will feel seen, supported, and cared for every step of the way.

Because Fear Shouldn't Stand Between You and Your Health

If dental anxiety has kept you from the chair for years, you know it affects more than your smile. It affects how you feel when you look in the mirror, whether you avoid certain foods, and the quiet worry that sits in the back of your mind when something does not feel right. That is why we have built an experience designed for comfort from the moment you walk in.

It affects more than your next appointment. Dental anxiety left untreated keeps people away for years, and problems that could have been caught early compound into much bigger ones.

Most anxiety goes unaddressed. Not because solutions don't exist, but because most practices don't invest in building an environment where truly nervous patients feel safe enough to show up.

The right experience changes everything. When you know what to expect, who's beside you, and that you're in control, showing up becomes possible. And that's where better oral health begins.

Patient who overcame dental anxiety with sedation dentistry at Livewell Dental, Fairfax Station, VA

Dr. Chris Kim at Livewell Dental, Fairfax Station, VA

The Difference You'll Feel Before We Even Start

Dr. Chris knows dental fear firsthand, he had a painful, phobia-inducing dental experience as a child. That’s why he’s spent years refining techniques to make injections virtually undetectable:

Warming the anesthetic to body temperature

Using special distraction methods

Perfecting gentle delivery so patients often don’t feel a thing

Meet Dr. Chris

Dr. Melody Akhavan, board-certified anesthesiologist and sedation specialist at Livewell Dental

Meet Dr. Melody Akhavan, Your Sedation Specialist

For many patients, the idea of “going under” can feel intimidating. That’s why having someone like Dr. Melody Akhavan by your side makes all the difference. With more than 20 years of experience in anesthesia for dental and medical procedures, she has a calm, reassuring way of making even the most nervous patients feel safe, heard, and cared for.

Dr. Akhavan earned her medical degree from the State University of New York School of Medicine, completed her internship in Internal Medicine, and went on to a Residency in Anesthesiology at Winthrop University Hospital, where she served as Chief Resident. She is skilled in all forms of anesthesia, from gentle sedation to general anesthesia, and takes the time to tailor each plan to your specific health needs, comfort level, and treatment.

Her care starts well before your procedure, with a thorough preoperative assessment, and continues until you’re fully awake and feeling well afterward. Her goal is simple: to make your experience as smooth and worry-free as possible, so you can focus on your health, not your fears.

In addition to serving as Anesthesiologist and Assistant Chief of Anesthesiology at Kaiser Permanente earlier in her career, Dr. Akhavan is now President and Lead Anesthesiologist at Capital Anesthesia Associates. We are truly honored to have her caring for our patients.

When she’s not in the operating room, Dr. Akhavan enjoys spending time with her husband and three children, traveling, and giving back through non-profit work.

Wake Up With Your Smile

High Level of Comfort

For some, comfort items and gentle techniques are enough. For others, true peace of mind comes from knowing they can sleep through their treatment and wake up with a healthier smile.

IV Sedation

IV Sedation – The deepest level of relaxation available in a dental office. Perfect for those with severe anxiety, complex treatment plans, or anyone wanting everything done in one visit.

Nitrous Oxide

A lighter option that eases tension and wears off quickly—no downtime needed.

Uncompromising Excellence

Livewell Dental team and patient care gallery, Fairfax Station, VA

Ready to Experience the Livewell Difference?

We welcome patients who value doing things right the first time, with intention, purpose, and partnership. If you have been looking for something different, this is it.

Experience The Livewell Difference

Hear From Our Patients

Who is a good candidate for sedation dentistry?

Sedation dentistry is a good fit for patients with dental anxiety or phobia, anyone who needs several procedures completed in one visit, patients with a strong gag reflex, or anyone who simply prefers to have no memory of the treatment. Dr. Chris will discuss which option makes the most sense based on your health history and what is planned for your visit.

What types of sedation are available at Livewell Dental?

Three options: IV sedation (deepest level of in-office relaxation, ideal for significant anxiety or complex treatment), nitrous oxide (lighter, wears off quickly, no downtime needed), and comfort-first techniques including warmed anesthetic, distraction methods, and a gentle delivery approach that makes injections virtually undetectable for most patients.

Will I be unconscious with IV sedation?

Most patients have little to no memory of the procedure with IV sedation. You will be in a deeply relaxed state and monitored the entire time by Dr. Melody Akhavan. You will need someone to drive you home and should plan to rest for the rest of the day.

How long does recovery take after IV sedation?

Most patients feel alert within a few hours. You will need a designated driver and should avoid operating machinery for the rest of the day. Nitrous oxide wears off within minutes and typically requires no downtime at all.