Periodontitis shows very few signs in the early stages so many people do not realize that they have a problem.
Our adult daughter has cerebral palsy and requires being fully sedated when having anything done. The DAC was such a positive experience. Dr Hoffmann and his staff were kind and did great explaining things. As a mom, I had a lot of questions about how certain things would be done as usually she’s in her chair when getting examined at her local dentist and they had everything under control including transferring from her chair to the dentist chair and keeping her secured in the dentist chair as well as keeping her neck and legs comfortable. Many thanks to them!
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for your kind words. We’re grateful for your trust and happy to hear that you had such a positive experience with our team. Our goal is always to provide compassionate, attentive care in a safe and comfortable environment. We truly appreciate you taking the time to share your experience.
TWENTY YEARS! That is how long our special needs son has been seeing Dr Hoffman and his dedicated team! Our son suffers from an intellectual disability, is non-verbal, and is unable to cooperate for dental cleaning, x-rays, or other routine dental work. He requires general anesthesia. It is such a blessing to avoid a hospital setting just for dental work.
The team is always well staffed, friendly, personable and very professional. Every single year we have been supported by a deeply caring team who are dedicated to patients with a very wide range of disabilities and needs. They have shared useful dental advice and tools (3 sided toothbrushes, blocks to hold open their mouth for daily at-home care, etc.) which improved our son’s daily dental care. We always receive a call back the day after to check his recovery-even on weekends!
Highly recommended and so appreciative to have this team supporting our ever long road of raising a special needs son.
Response from the owner:Wow — thank you for sharing such a heartfelt review! We are so grateful for your trust and for allowing our team to be part of your family’s journey over the years. It means so much to us to know that our care and support have made a difference. We truly appreciate your kind words and recommendation!
We've been coming to Dr.Hoffman for twenty years. There's a reason we keep coming back! He's great. His staff is great. He's double boarded as an MD (Anesthesia) and DDS!!! Our son with special needs needs sedation for even a cleaning. You get what you pay for. He's expensive and... we know he's getting the best care!
Response from the owner:Thank you for trusting our team over the years and for your kind words about Dr. Hoffmann and our staff. We truly value your confidence in the care we provide!
Omg!! This place is Amazing! The people who work here are so very nice and understanding. I love this team
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for your kind words! We truly appreciate your support and are grateful to have such wonderful patients.
Searching for a new dental clinic is challenging for someone who has
dental anxiety, fear, and traumatic experiences in a dental chair. The staff and doctors at the Dental Anesthesia Center were immediately very welcoming. Dr. Thoms put together a very detailed plan to repair and replace the previous work that I had in the past that was now causing problems. Putting my faith in him was the best thing that I could have done for my situation. I am more than completely satisfied with all of the extensive dental work that I’ve had with Dr.Thoms. I had my fourth sleep dentistry experience yesterday and I’m very happy with my results. I highly recommend this practice and truly want to give them more than five stars! Thank you for giving me back my health and confidence.
Response from the owner:We know it isn’t always easy to find a dental office where you feel at ease, so your words mean the world to us. We’re so glad you feel comfortable with our team and truly appreciate your trust and recommendation!
Periodontal diseases do not affect only adults, they can also be found in adolescents and children. Periodontitis, or gum disease, is a group of inflammatory and infectious diseases which affect the tissues around the teeth. It is caused by microorganisms which settle down on the tooth’s surface and the destructive immune response to combat them. The disease can be diagnosed by inspecting the soft gum tissues surrounding the teeth and evaluating the X-ray film of the teeth.
Research shows that younger people tend to develop severe types of gingivitis. Children and adolescents with immune deficiencies and type 1 diabetes are more susceptible to the disease.
1. Chronic Gingivitis
Gingivitis is a type of periodontal disease. If it is not treated in time it can develop into periodontitis. If an adolescent complains about bleeding, redness or swelling of the gums the parents can presume that he is suffering from chronic gingivitis. They should consult a St. Louis pediatric dentist immediately.
2. Aggressive and/or Chronic Periodontitis
Earlier it was known as adult periodontitis. Now the word adult has been replaced by chronic because the disease can occur in the early teenage years and keep growing throughout the person’s teens. Chronic and aggressive periodontitis affects the incisors and the first molars. Its most important characteristic is bone loss. It is interesting to note that minimal dental plaque can be seen when the teeth of a patient suffering from this disease are examined.
3. Generalized Aggressive and Chronic Periodontal Disease
The characteristics of this type of periodontal disease are quite similar to the chronic and aggressive type. But this is a more severe form of the disease and affects the whole mouth. Inflamed gums, major calculus and plaque accumulation are some of the symptoms of the disease.
When a person is affected by a severe form of the periodontal disease, his gum structure may undergo a change. The gums may become weak and the teeth may become loose. Sometimes they may even fall out.
Preventive Measures
Prevention is key and treatment can be successful if the disease is diagnosed in the early stages. So the St. Louis pediatric dentist must thoroughly examine the adolescent’s teeth twice a year.
Innumerable bacteria are present in the mouth. Some of them are essential for the digestion of food. If the bacteria settle down in the cavities or the open gum pockets they can cause diseases. Proper oral hygiene is important for a healthy mouth which is free from painful diseases.
A person should brush his teeth at least twice every day. He should direct the bristles of the toothbrush underneath the gum line. This will prevent the formation of subgingival plaque.
In addition, regular flossing and using an antiseptic mouthwash are important.
Periodontitis shows very few signs in the early stages so many people do not realize that they have a periodontal disease. By the time they visit the dentist the disease is already in an advanced stage. So, timely diagnosis and treatment is important.
Schedule Your Visit
Your child’s initial oral examination will include a visual examination, charting, diagnosis and treatment recommendations. We work hard to make your child feel at ease by providing exceptional patient care in a relaxed, convenient atmosphere. Depending on your child’s circumstances, we will discuss if sedation or anesthesia is right for your child.
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The first two board-certified Dentist Anesthesiologists in the state of Missouri.
