Tremor, rigidity, and medication timing all change dental care with Parkinson’s. What patients and caregivers should know.
Parkinson’s disease affects dental care in more ways than most people expect, and the barriers are practical rather than unsolvable. At The Dental Anesthesia Center in Clayton, our doctor-owned practice provides dental care under sedation and general anesthesia for patients who cannot be treated comfortably or safely in a traditional setting, including many people living with movement disorders.
Always a great experience. Carrie does a wonderful job keeping my smile healthy and bright. Dr. Thoms is always very nice and professional. They make going to the dentist much less stressful!
Response from the owner:Thank you for the great feedback! We're so glad Carrie and Dr. Thoms have made your visits comfortable and enjoyable.
I’ve had wonderful experiences at this dental office. The team is professional, the care is top-notch, and appointments run smoothly. I’ve never had to wait long in the waiting room. I highly recommend them!
Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind words and recommendation! We’re so glad to hear you’ve had such positive experiences with our team. We truly appreciate your support!
I love coming to the Dental CENTER , all the ladies are so nice and they keep you up to date. Dr. Belah is great and Carrie are so good. They do a great job.
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re thrilled to hear you’ve had such a positive experience with our team. We’ll be sure to share your appreciation with Dr. Behl, Carrie, and the rest of the team!
Dr. Hoffman is a friendly individual and readily answers can't questions you may have. His office staff are all friendly. One in particular,Meaghan, has learned to put up with the grumpy old guy from Illinois. I would recommend you give these people a try for your special needs relative.
Response from the owner:Thank you for the kind words and recommendation! We’re so glad to hear you’ve felt welcomed and well cared for by Dr. Hoffman and our team. And we’ll be sure to let Meaghan know she’s doing a great job putting up with our “grumpy old guy from Illinois!”
The Best Dental Office In St Louis! Thanks for keeping my pearly whites shining! … back again and they always do a great job and make me feel comfortable! They have an exceptional staff who are friendly and also very good at their jobs!!
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for the wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear that you always feel comfortable and well cared for. Our team truly appreciates your kind words!
The practice is top notch. Could not ask for better care. Wish dental care was more affordable.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind words! We’re grateful for your feedback and are proud to provide high-quality care in a supportive environment.
The best staff for dealing with my level 3 non verbal autistic son. Very understanding and supportive.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind words! We’re so glad our team could provide a supportive and understanding experience. Your feedback means so much to us!
Dr Thoms is the best. He and his team are very attentive and extremely dedicated to the dental care for our special needs son
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for your kind words! We truly appreciate your recognition of Dr. Thoms and our team. Providing compassionate, attentive care is at the heart of what we do!
We brought our 1.5 and 3.5 year old daughters here for cleaning / check ups. Our dental hygienist Laina was amazing...made them feel so comfortable. They had a great time and keep asking when they can go to the dentist again. Dr. Hoffman was great too and made everything super quick and not stressful. Great place for kids in addition to adults!
Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind words! We’re so glad to hear your little ones had such a positive experience. We’ll be sure to share your compliments with Laina and Dr. Hoffman! 💙
Every person in the office is so personable. That first off makes you comfortable. But then the methods used to clean my teeth, particularly. I don't feel a thing, and it's the first time in my life that I haven't. And I have a lot of anxiety about dental work, and I really do not feel a thing when my teeth are being cleaned
Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind words! We’re so glad our team could help make your experience comfortable and relaxing. It means so much to know you felt at ease with your care!
I came here with my 18 year old daughter who has an immense fear of Doctors and Dentist , The kindness and understanding without any judgement we received from Dr.Thom was just unbelievable. The work he did on my daughter was life changing for her . I would recommend him to anyone . Just amazing, kind talented Doctor.
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for your heartfelt words! It means a great deal to our team to know that you felt welcomed, understood, and cared for. We’re especially grateful you shared how meaningful your experience was.
We met Dr. Shawn in Sept 2023 and in December, he removed our adult nonverbal son's wisdom teeth. Not gonna hold you, general anesthesia is billed incrementally (by the minute/quarter-hour) and is a heavy financial investment. I love this clinic because it really is a safe space for special needs families. There's a huge calm that accompanies knowing your dependent person is getting healthy. Dr. Shawn is exceptional. We drove 6 hours to get here so we'll choose a local practice for routine sedation cleanings down the road. I hope to see more neurodivergent acceptance built locally in our state's dentistry like this team has here. Meanwhile we are so grateful for this practice and grateful our son was in Dr. Shawn's care.
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for sharing your heartfelt words. We’re honored to be a place where families feel safe, supported, and understood. Your trust in Dr. Thoms and our team truly means so much to us.
Dr. Thoms and Robin are excellent in their care, concern, and support. Dr. Thoms explains everything and takes his time. If I have questions or concerns, he is easy to talk to and listens well.Robin is right there by my side throughout procedures. Her technical skills and professionalism are impressive. She is terrific!
Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind words! We’re so glad Dr. Thoms and Robin made you feel heard, supported, and cared for. We’ll be sure to share your wonderful compliments with them—they’ll mean so much!
Individualized care, expertise in general anesthesia, and attention to detail are why we keep returning for our son.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind words and continued trust in our team! We’re grateful to be part of your family’s care and truly appreciate your confidence in us.
The dental anesthesia center is hands down the best dental office I have ever been to. I neglected my teeth for years due to severe dental anxiety. I had work done under anesthesia with doctor hoffman who did an amazing job. Doctor Behl is not only a fantastic dentist but one of the nicest people I have ever met. The dental hygienists are both thorough and gentle. Stop your search and just go here
Response from the owner:Thank you for your incredibly kind words! We’re so glad our team could help make your experience comfortable and positive. We truly appreciate your trust and recommendation!
I had a great experience at the Dental Anesthesia Center. The reception area Personnel the Doctor-Dentist and one of his assistants all helped to make sure I was comfortable, informed and ready to get it done! Thank you Dental Anesthesia Center team!! CB
Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind words! We’re so glad our team could help make your experience comfortable and reassuring. We truly appreciate your 5-star review!
Their staff was truly caring and respectful in everything they did. The dentist explained what they found in the initial tests, asked us questions about our 82 year old sister, then explained the options that would give the best results.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your thoughtful feedback. We’re grateful for the opportunity to provide compassionate care and appreciate you taking the time to share your experience.
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.
Devon’s has received his dental services here for several years. The staff are always pleasant. Dr. Hoffman unmatched. His bedside manner is always welcoming. Devon receives amazing care and support based on his assessed needs. Feedback and instruction is clear and detailed. Follow-up is greatly appreciated. I appreciate their acceptance of differences and assurance that Devon will be taken care of.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind words and continued trust in our team! We’re grateful to be part of Devon’s care and truly appreciate your thoughtful feedback.
Why Parkinson’s Makes Dental Care Harder
The movement symptoms are the visible part. Tremor, rigidity, slowed movement, and the involuntary movements that can accompany long term medication use all make holding a position difficult, and dental work depends on holding a position.
Less visible, and often more consequential, is what happens to oral health over time. Reduced dexterity makes thorough brushing and flossing genuinely difficult. Some Parkinson’s medications contribute to dry mouth, which increases the risk of dental decay, while other patients experience the opposite problem, with saliva pooling because swallowing has slowed. Difficulty swallowing also means that reclining in a dental chair with water and debris in the mouth poses a greater risk than for other patients. Dentures may fit and function less predictably as muscle control changes.
The result is a familiar pattern. Oral health declines gradually, appointments become harder to schedule, appointments get postponed, and the gap between what is needed and what is possible widens.
What Changes When Sedation Is Planned
Sedation and general anesthesia can directly resolve the movement problem. Under anesthesia, involuntary movement is not a factor; treatment that would have taken several difficult visits may be combined into fewer appointments, and the stress that often worsens tremor is removed from the equation.
Getting there safely depends on planning specific to Parkinson’s rather than generic planning.
Medication timing is the central issue. Parkinson’s medications work on a tight schedule, and missing doses can lead to a significant return of rigidity and difficulty moving. The usual instruction to stop eating and drinking before anesthesia has to be reconciled with a medication schedule that cannot simply be paused. This gets worked out in advance, in writing, rather than improvised the morning of.
Some medications interact. Certain drugs used for nausea and sedation work against dopamine and can worsen Parkinson’s symptoms, and some Parkinson’s medications interact with particular pain medications. This is precisely why the full medication list, including doses and timing, matters more here than almost anywhere else.
Blood pressure needs watching. Parkinson’s can affect the body’s automatic regulation of blood pressure, so drops on changing position are common and are monitored throughout.
Swallowing and airway protection. When swallowing is already impaired, protecting the airway during treatment becomes a deliberate part of the plan rather than an assumption.
Recovery may take longer. Older patients and those with more advanced disease can be more prone to confusion after anesthesia, which is one reason recovery is observed rather than hurried, and why having a familiar person present afterward helps.
Coordinating With the Neurologist
For patients with more advanced Parkinson’s, or those with deep brain stimulation devices, the anesthesia plan is often built in consultation with the treating neurologist. That coordination takes a little time up front and prevents most of the problems that would otherwise arise later. If the evaluation suggests a hospital setting would serve the patient better, we will say so.
What Caregivers Can Bring
A written medication schedule with exact times and doses. The neurologist’s name and contact information. Notes on which parts of the day are typically better, since scheduling during a patient’s stronger hours is often possible. Any history of difficulty with previous anesthesia. Guardianship or power of attorney documentation if applicable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Usually there is a way to keep the schedule intact, and it is planned specifically for each patient rather than following a single rule. Never adjust the schedule on your own before checking.
Parkinson’s adds considerations, particularly around medications, swallowing, and blood pressure. Whether those considerations are manageable in an office setting depends on the individual, as determined by the evaluation.
Rarely. Treatment options narrow as problems advance, but there is usually something meaningful that can be done, and a plan is better than continued avoidance.
Consider Contacting Us Today
Parkinson’s takes enough away without taking dental care with it. If appointments have become something your family dreads or has quietly stopped scheduling, there is another way to approach this.
Call The Dental Anesthesia Center at (314) 862-7844, Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., or Friday, 7 a.m. to 3pm, or request a consultation through our contact form. We are at 950 Francis Place, Suite 305, in Clayton, serving patients throughout the St. Louis area.
