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!
Very nice very convenient for me great people working
Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind words! We’re so glad you had a positive experience with our team. We truly appreciate your 5-star review!
Although it is tempting to kiss your growing baby on the lips, you might want to fight the temptation. There is evidence that kissing a baby on the lips may increase a baby’s risk for dental cavities.
In fact, mothers who use the same utensils and drink from the same glass may increase their child’s likelihood of developing a cavity.
Passing Bacteria Can Cause Cavities
According to recommendations made by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, if you share bacteria with your baby, you might be doing them harm. The bacteria called streptococcus mutans present in a mother’s mouth might cause damage to their growing youngster.
When you pass streptococcus mutans from your mouth to your child’s through transmission, you increase the chances that they will develop dental problems. Vertical transmission, or sharing vectors of contamination like spoons, glasses, or bowls, transfer harmful bacteria that the mother is carrying into a baby’s mouth, when they might not be capable of warding it off.
Tooth decay is the result of an infection in someone’s mouth that can be transmitted from one mouth to another in the same manner as a bacteria, or viral infection spreading from person to person.
The higher the amount of MS that a mother has in her mouth, the higher the risk she poses to transfer it to her baby. Behaviors as seemingly benign as kissing a baby on the mouth might be the vector that promotes cavity formation in a baby.
What that Means for Mother and Baby
The first thing to know is that limiting the amount of germ sharing from mothers to babies, by not kissing a baby on the mouth or sharing utensils, is an excellent way to prevent the potential that you can be passing harmful bacteria along to your baby. It also means that a mother should pay close attention to her oral health to limit transmission bacteria to her baby.
Reduce the risk of transmission by doing the following:
As a mother, pay close attention to your oral care and oral care habits, which includes visiting the dentist regularly and flossing and brushing appropriately.
Maximizing your oral care and paying close attention to the oral health of your growing child.
When pregnant, make sure to have your dentist evaluate your oral health for preventative and or therapeutic maintenance.
Take extra precaution to wipe down and sanitize your baby’s pacifier, not just when it is dropped, but frequently, to avoid bacterial buildup.
As a mother, you want the best for your child. You want your child to establish good oral habits that will last them a lifetime. Although it may be hard at first, limiting contaminating your child’s mouth with foreign bacteria from other sources, even your lips, is essential.
St. Louis Pediatric Dentist
If you have any questions concerning your child’s oral care, contact The Dental Anesthesia Center. We value our patient relationships, making it our priority to deliver gentle dental care that you and your child deserve.
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The first two board-certified Dentist Anesthesiologists in the state of Missouri.
