Is it really possible to sleep through your entire dental visit? The answer is YES — thanks to sleep dentistry, also known as sedation dentistry. If you or your child suffers from severe dental anxiety, a sensitive gag reflex, or special needs, this approach can completely transform your experience at the dentist.
At The Dental Anesthesia Center in St. Louis, we help patients feel safe, comfortable, and unaware of their procedures. Here’s what you need to know about the benefits of sleep dentistry and how it works.
What Is Sleep Dentistry?
Sleep dentistry involves general anesthesia or deep sedation to help patients sleep through dental procedures. This means you’ll be completely unconscious — unaware of sounds, sights, smells, or sensations.
Children who cannot tolerate traditional dental care
Can You Really Sleep Through Your Appointment?
Yes. Under general anesthesia, you’ll be fully asleep, and a licensed dental anesthesiologist will monitor you throughout the entire procedure. When you wake up, the dental work is done — and you’ll likely have no memory of it.
Benefits of Sleep Dentistry
Comfort: No pain, no anxiety, and no awareness during the procedure
Efficiency: Multiple treatments can often be completed in one visit
Safety: Monitored by highly trained sedation specialists
Accessibility: Allows patients with special needs or medical conditions to get care
Common Misconceptions About Sleep Dentistry
“It’s not safe.” → At The Dental Anesthesia Center, board-certified professionals administer general anesthesia in a controlled, licensed medical setting.
“It’s only for extreme cases.” → We use sleep dentistry for a wide range of patients, from those with mild anxiety to those needing full-mouth restorations.
“I’ll be groggy for days.” → Most patients recover on the same day with guidance from our clinical team.
Who Provides Sleep Dentistry?
Unlike most general dental offices, our St. Louis practice is licensed to provide general anesthesia in-office. Our team includes board-certified dental anesthesiologists who ensure a smooth, safe, and stress-free experience from start to finish.
Best Dentists in St. Louis. Really a great dental experience. I have used this office for regular dental care, cavities, crowns, and cosmetic dentistry. Teeth look great.
Response from the owner:Christopher we apologize for the belated response. We are very pleased to hear you have a great dental experience with our office! Thank you for your kind words. We look forward to seeing you at your next dental appointment!
Dr. Behl!
I cannot recommend Dr. Maris Behl enough. If you have dental anxiety, she is truly the kind of dentist you hope to find. If teeth could be wrapped in pillows and protected by flying unicorns, Dr. Behl would somehow make it happen.
I have significant anxiety around dental procedures and have needed deeper sedation for dental work in the past. From the beginning, Dr. Behl took the time to listen to my concerns and made me feel genuinely heard rather than dismissed or rushed. She created such a sense of trust and safety that I was eventually able to have my dental work done with only nitrous instead of full sedation, which is something I honestly didn’t think I would be comfortable doing.
During my crown placement, she explained what she was doing throughout the procedure, which made an enormous difference in keeping me calm. She also took the time to address a filling that had been bothering me for what felt like forever — and she actually fixed the problem.
What stands out most about Dr. Behl is how safe I feel in her care. She is compassionate, patient, communicative, and incredibly attentive to how her patients are feeling. For someone with dental anxiety, that combination is invaluable.
Finding a dentist I trust this much has completely changed my experience with dental care. I am incredibly grateful to Dr. Behl and would recommend her without hesitation, especially to anyone who has dental anxiety or has struggled to feel comfortable receiving dental treatment.
Response from the owner:Thank you for such incredibly kind words! We’ll be sure to pass this along to Dr. Behl. We’re pretty sure the flying unicorns are going to be the part she remembers most! 🦄💙 We’re so glad our team could help make your experience a more comfortable one.
Dr Thoms and his team are phenomenal. No question, the absolute best possible option for my child when he needed work done while sleeping (age based). While this option is not inexpensive, this set up of have anesthesiology in-house allowed us to get his mouth healthy when a traditional pediatric dentist could/would not. I am a parent that asks a lot of questions on behalf of my toddler’s care and at no point did I feel judged for this, nor was I rushed during my evaluation process during the consultation. Although the procedure is not one I would like to repeat for my child, my husband and I were both so pleased with how well Dr. Thoms communicated and how he clearly cared for our son’s wellbeing (both physical and emotional during a less than comfortable visit). Cannot recommend the back of house team more highly.
My one detraction is the FOH staff (not everyone) were not nearly as pleasant. I would like to communicate that while their day-to-day is very routine for them, being in that office as a parent is very scary for some people in their office and a little bit of kindness goes along way. I do recall, having a very pleasant conversation with Rebecca, but otherwise everyone else was on the apathetic side, in my personal opinion. That said you’ll notice that I still am leaving a five star review because the dental staff really just knocked out of the park, but as a parent I want to encourage you to look past any rudeness you may experience over email or on the phone because Dr. Thom’s is really that excellent.
Response from the owner:Thank you for taking the time to share such thoughtful feedback. We’re grateful to hear that our team provided compassionate, attentive care and took the time to answer your questions throughout the process. We also appreciate your comments regarding your experience with our front office team and will certainly share your feedback. Your kind words mean so much to us!
Why Choose The Dental Anesthesia Center?
Over 30 years of experience in sedation and sleep dentistry
Specialized in care for special needs, pediatric, and high-anxiety patients
One of the only Missouri practices licensed for in-office general anesthesia
Trusted by families and physicians across St. Louis and beyond
Want to Sleep Through Your Dental Visit?
If you’re looking for a better way to receive dental care that removes fear, discomfort, and stress, sleep dentistry might be right for you.
