Advantages of Pediatric Oral Sedation

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The best part about oral sedation for dental treatment is that it has few side effects.

Sedation dentistry is one of the best tools that pediatric dentists have at their disposal. For kids who are very anxious and either don’t want to open their mouths or can’t sit still when required, oral sedation is an excellent and low-risk option. The best part about oral sedation is that it differs from IV and other forms of sedation because your child is awake the entire time.

Pediatric Oral Sedation
Great place. Dr Thoms was wonderful, and checked in later in the day to see how I was doing—despite being about to catch a flight, he wanted to make sure I was alright. The nurses were lovely and very accommodating. Thanks for making my wisdom teeth removal under anesthesia so “painless”!
My dental appointment was absolutely amazing! Dr. Behl and Laina performed a thorough examination and cleaning! I couldn’t have asked for a better experience!
Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind review! We appreciate your feedback and are glad you had a positive experience.
I highly recommend the Dental Anesthesia Center. The best dental care, knowledgeable, efficient, state of the art facilities, friendly, painless, AWESOME! Laina is my hygienist and she is very thorough!! Dr Hoffmann has always done my dental work and he is truly amazing, I never feel a thing!
Response from the owner:Ann, Thank you so much for your kind review! I'm glad to hear that you have had such a pleasant experience! The Dental Anesthesia Center
Dr. Hoffman and his staff are very good at making the experience for my special needs son, as easy and non stressful as possible for him. It's not easy handling him sometimes but Dr. Hoffman has compassion and grace towards my son and takes his time and doesn't rush thru. I appreciate him and his staff as always and highly recommend this office especially when you need that extra care with dental needs.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind words and recommendation. We appreciate your trust in our team and are grateful to be part of providing a positive experience for families in our care.
We had a very positive experience with Dental Anesthesia Center. Dr. Thoms and his entire staff were kind, patient, and understanding throughout the entire process. My child has special needs, and as an anxious mom, I truly appreciated how compassionate and reassuring everyone was. We were referred to Dr. Thoms by our child’s dentist, and they took the time to explain everything while genuinely wanting to do what was best for my son. Communication was excellent throughout the procedure, which helped ease a lot of my anxiety. The office staff, including the ladies who handled the payment process, were just as kind and helpful, and I never felt pressured when discussing treatment or costs. The cost was more than we anticipated and definitely an unexpected expense, but my child’s needs always come first. Most importantly, my son seemed very comfortable afterward, did not appear to be in pain, and was eating an hour after the procedure. I don’t give perfect scores lightly, but I would absolutely recommend Dr. Thoms and his team to other families, especially parents of children with special needs.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your thoughtful review and kind words. We’re grateful for the opportunity to provide care and appreciate you trusting our team. Wishing you and your family all the best!

Few Side Effects

The best part about oral sedation is that it has very few side effects. Dizziness, headache, nausea, and sometimes mouth dryness are about as complex as symptoms get for some children. As with any medication, an allergic reaction may occur, but oral sedation is a nearly side-effect-free alternative to other dental sedation methods.

Oral sedation usually lasts long enough to get through simple procedures. Once the medication wears off, your child will be ready to go home.

Safe and Problem-Free

Even though oral sedation is, for most children, problem-free, your pediatric dentist will be trained to know what signs to look for to spot trouble. Throughout the procedure, your child will be closely watched for any signs of issues.

The most common medications for children are Chloral Hydrate, Triclofos Sodium, and Midazolam. The medications are just enough to take the edge off and allow your little one to sleep but not enough to cause genuine concern.

There is no such thing as sedation that doesn’t come with any side effects or risks, but oral sedation for kids is about as safe as possible. Except for rare allergic reactions, your child will be comfortable throughout their procedure and ready to go home without any negative recollection of their dental procedure.

Oral Sedation for Your Child

At The Dental Anesthesia Center, we work hard to make you feel at ease by providing exceptional patient care in a relaxed, convenient atmosphere. We believe patients should have sufficient information to make educated decisions about their oral health, treatment options, and choice of sedation dentists in St. Louis.

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The first two board-certified Dentist Anesthesiologists in the state of Missouri.

Updated: December 2, 2025

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