Outstanding customer car for our 15 yrs old Autistic Granddaughter. Rebekah really helped put our minds and ease and helped us plan the next visit when it came to reservations we had on the cost of this treatment, and future ones. This is expensive, but worth it knowing they help special needs kids, teens and adults. Sedation dentistry team handle everything great! Thank you Dr. Thoms and the team!!
Response from the owner:Thank you for your thoughtful review. We’re so glad our team could provide a supportive and reassuring experience while helping you plan for future care. It means a great deal to know you felt informed and cared for every step of the way. We truly appreciate your kind words and the trust you’ve placed in us.
Dr Thoms specializes in dental anesthesia for patients with Special Needs. My daughter has been a patient of his for many years. His experience, depth of knowledge and understanding the needs of Special Needs patients is excellent. He presents clear and detailed information for his procedures and treatment options along with expectations during aftercare. Follow up instructions include a personal phone call from him as well as additional calls from his office staff. I highly recommend Dr Thoms and definitely give him 5 stars.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind words and for taking the time to share your experience. We’re grateful for the trust families place in our team and are committed to providing thoughtful, individualized care with clear communication every step of the way. Your recommendation means a great deal to us!
My hygienist, DeLaina Joost, takes excellent care of my teeth with her advanced skills, gentle touch and great “chair side” manner. She is a consummate professional, and such a compassionate person. I look forward to my visits at DAC!
Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind words! We’re so glad to hear you had a positive experience with our team and appreciate you taking the time to share your feedback.
I want to thank everyone at the Dental Anesthesia Center for taking care of me yesterday—Meaghan helped me get the forms filled out correctly and in on time, Daisy for guiding me in and getting me out safely, Dr. Hoffman for taking care of my teeth and dealing with my really terrible gag reflex, and EVERYONE who helps make this happen. I don't know all of your names, but I do know that it takes all of you working together to make my dental care possible and have good results.
I'm always nervous when I first arrive, even though every procedure has had a good outcome. I've never had any pain or excessive bleeding as a result. The one thing I realized yesterday is that all of you are warm, friendly, positive, you have what is called a good vibe, which helps me a great deal.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind words and for taking the time to share your experience. We’re so glad our team could help you feel comfortable and supported throughout your visit. Providing a safe, positive environment is very important to us, and your feedback means a great deal. We truly appreciate your trust in our care!
Dr. Thoms and his entire staff at The Dental Anesthesia Center have been absolutely wonderful!! They're all so kind and knowledgeable. I would give them 10 stars if I could!!!
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for your kind words! We truly appreciate you taking the time to share your experience. It means a lot to hear this feedback.
Traumatic Dental or Healthcare Experiences
One of the most common root causes of dental anxiety is past medical care experiences. These can come in two forms. The first is one that is specific to dentistry. An example might be somebody that suffered a painful surgery at a young age or had a dentist make a traumatic mistake at some point. The second form is general medical care. This type of trauma is characterized by a person who had a negative experience with some sort of doctor and now feels anxiety in all healthcare settings, including the dentist office.
Trauma to the Head or Neck
Those that experience significant trauma to the head or neck often become sensitive about any treatment that comes above the shoulders. The result is that when a dentist enters those areas with sharp tools, the patient has an involuntary fight or flight response. Though the dentist is safe and has good intentions, that person’s body will tell them to run away because it does not want to get hurt again.
General Anxiety, PTSD, and Other Mental Health Condition
Unlike the previous two causes, this one is not based on experience. Instead, it is a more general category for people with mental health conditions. One of the most prominent of those problems is general anxiety, which affects people throughout their lives. They tend to experience discomfort, a rising heart rate, heavy breathing, and many more symptoms in a variety of situations. One of them is often going to the dentist. For PTSD, people that have suffered traumatic events are often extremely sensitive to noises and touching, both of which are prevalent at the dentist.
Personal Space Sensitivity
Whether somebody is diagnosed as claustrophobic or is simply uncomfortable with being touched, they will have personal space issues at the dentist. The reason is that oral care requires hands-on treatment, such as putting hands in your mouth, from a medical professional. These kinds of activities will make a person with personal space sensitivity extremely uncomfortable.
Trust Issues
A common theme among children and victims of abuse is not trusting people. This effect is especially relevant in a dental office, where professionals use sharp tools to clean your teeth. If you have trust issues, you might think that the dentist is trying to hurt you, or at least is not competent enough to keep you safe.
Now that you know what the most common root causes of dental anxiety are, you might be able to make peace with your issues. Sometimes all it takes to get over that hump is understanding your feelings. Still, this knowledge might not help your anxiety enough. In this case, you may want to consider dental sedation to make your treatment easier and stress-free. To learn more about the benefits of dental sedation or to schedule an appointment, give us a call at (314) 862-7844.
