You Don’t Have to Be Brave to See an Oral Surgeon: How Dr. Chandler Helps Anxious and Special Needs Patients Get the Care They Need
A lot of people put off oral surgery for years. Sometimes it’s fear of pain. Sometimes it’s a bad experience from the past. For patients with special needs, autism spectrum disorders, or significant medical anxiety, the barrier can feel even higher. The result is that necessary procedures, whether it’s wisdom tooth removal, a dental implant, or a tooth extraction required before orthodontic treatment, get delayed until the problem gets significantly worse.
At Elmhurst Oral Surgery, Dr. Jeffrey W. Chandler, DDS, MD has built his practice around the reality that not every patient walks in feeling calm and ready. His approach and his credentials are specifically designed to help patients who might otherwise avoid care get the treatment they actually need.
Dental Anxiety Is More Common Than Most People Realize
Fear of dental or surgical procedures is not a character flaw, and it is not rare. Many people experience enough anxiety about oral procedures that they delay or entirely avoid getting help. For some, it stems from sensory sensitivities. For others, it is rooted in a previous difficult experience, fear of needles, or a general feeling of losing control in a medical setting. For patients with special needs, including those with cognitive or developmental disabilities, the unfamiliar environment and physical sensations of a surgical office can make the experience genuinely overwhelming without the right support in place.
When these patients avoid care, the consequences are real. Impacted wisdom teeth cause pain and infection. Missing teeth lead to bone loss over time. Teeth that need to be removed before braces hold up orthodontic treatment for months or longer. The goal at Elmhurst Oral Surgery is to remove the barrier so patients can move forward.
Deep Sedation and General Anesthesia: What Dr. Chandler Offers
Dr. Chandler specifically focuses his practice on providing deep sedation and general anesthesia for patients who are fearful or who require it for medical reasons. This is not a secondary service added as an afterthought; it is a central part of how he practices.
His training supports this. Dr. Chandler completed his oral and maxillofacial surgery residency at SUNY Downstate Medical Center and Kings County Hospital in Brooklyn, a full hospital-based program that included anesthesia training as part of the curriculum. He also holds an MD degree from SUNY Downstate and completed an additional internship year in General Surgery. That medical background means Dr. Chandler understands how sedation interacts with a patient’s broader health picture in a way that a dentist without an MD credential simply cannot.
His surgical team includes certified oral and maxillofacial surgical assistants who assist specifically with IV sedation administration. Online reviews for the practice note directly that the staff are particularly well-suited for nervous patients, elderly patients, and those with special needs.
What Sedation Looks Like in Practice
For anxious patients, sedation options at Elmhurst Oral Surgery allow for procedures to be completed while the patient is comfortable and largely unaware of the process. Deep sedation and general anesthesia are both available, depending on what the patient’s situation requires. Patients are monitored throughout by trained staff, and the clinical environment at the office is set up specifically for sedation-based procedures.
For patients with special needs who may struggle with cooperating for a procedure while awake, this approach allows Dr. Chandler to complete the necessary treatment safely in a single appointment, rather than requiring multiple difficult visits.
The Procedures That Bring Anxious Patients In
Three procedures in particular bring anxious and special needs patients to Elmhurst Oral Surgery:
Wisdom Tooth Removal
Wisdom teeth are the most common reason patients are referred to an oral surgeon, and they are also among the most anxiety-provoking. Impacted wisdom teeth, meaning teeth that are partially or fully trapped beneath the gumline, require surgical extraction and cannot be handled by a general dentist. For patients who are already fearful of routine dental visits, the idea of a surgical extraction is often enough to cause prolonged delay. With sedation, the procedure is completed while the patient is comfortable, and recovery is managed with clear post-operative instructions from Dr. Chandler’s team.
Dental Implants
Dental implants are a multi-step process that requires surgical placement of a titanium post into the jawbone. The procedure is performed under local anesthesia in most cases, but for patients with significant anxiety or special needs, sedation makes the process manageable. Dr. Chandler’s dual credentials and hospital training make him well-equipped to handle implant cases that involve additional complexity, including bone grafting.
Orthodontic-Related Extractions
Orthodontists frequently refer patients to oral surgeons before beginning braces or clear aligner treatment when teeth need to be removed to create space or when impacted canines or other teeth need to be addressed surgically. For younger patients, teens, and patients with developmental disabilities, this can be a significant source of anxiety. Dr. Chandler’s experience with this patient population and his sedation options make him a reliable referral for orthodontists across the west suburbs.
What Patients and Families Say About the Experience
Reviewers on the Elmhurst Oral Surgery website and on third-party platforms consistently mention the staff’s warmth and Dr. Chandler’s ability to put patients at ease. One patient described the office as staffed by “the best people, always with a smile and helpful.” Another noted that Dr. Chandler “explains everything he is doing throughout the process”. The practice’s own stated mission is to blend advanced surgical skills with genuine empathy and the patient feedback reflects that this is not just language on a website.
For patients who have been putting off a referral because of anxiety, or for families navigating oral surgery for a loved one with special needs, the combination of Dr. Chandler’s credentials, his specific focus on sedation, and the positive and calm environment his team maintains makes Elmhurst Oral Surgery a practice worth calling.
Ready to Talk About Your Options?
Dr. Chandler’s office serves patients from across Chicagoland. Same-day emergency appointments are available for patients in pain. Most major insurance plans are accepted.
Call (630) 833-0395 or visit elmhurstoralsurgery.com to schedule a consultation. You can also pre-register online before your first visit.