If you’ve been avoiding dental care due to fear or anxiety about pain, sedation dentistry at The Dental Anesthesia Center can transform your experience.
Many people have anxiety or fear of going to the dentist because of painful experiences in their past. Therefore, it’s a common issue that prevents many individuals from seeking necessary dental care.
At The Dental Anesthesia Center, we specialize in providing a comfortable and pain-free experience for all our patients, especially those with special needs or heightened anxiety. A frequent question is: “Do you feel pain with dental sedation?”
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!
Understanding Dental Sedation
First, it’s important to understand what sedation dentistry is and how it works. Dental sedation involves using medication to help patients relax during dental procedures. It’s often referred to as “sleep dentistry,” although that term isn’t entirely accurate because patients are usually awake, except in cases of general anesthesia. The levels of sedation range from minimal, where you are awake but relaxed, to deep sedation, where you are on the edge of consciousness but can still be awakened.
Types of Dental Sedation and How They Work
The primary goal of dental sedation is to manage anxiety and discomfort, making your dental visit as painless as possible.
Nitrous Oxide (Laughing Gas): This is a minimal sedation technique in which you breathe nitrous oxide combined with oxygen through a mask placed over your nose. The gas helps you relax and can be controlled by the dentist to ensure your comfort.
These methods help you relax, significantly reducing your perception of pain. Although local anesthetics are still used to numb the treated area, sedation ensures you remain calm and less sensitive to discomfort.
Oral Sedation: Oral sedation involves taking a prescribed pill, usually an hour before your procedure. The medication makes you drowsy, but you remain awake and can respond to instructions. Depending on your needs, the dosage can vary to provide minimal to moderate sedation.
IV Sedation: Intravenous (IV) sedation is administered through a vein, allowing the dentist to adjust the level of sedation continuously. This method provides a deeper level of sedation, making you less aware of the procedure.
With IV sedation, you reach a state of deep relaxation. Many patients report not remembering the procedure or feeling any pain. Local anesthetics are also used in conjunction with IV sedation to ensure a pain-free experience.
General Anesthesia: This is the deepest level of sedation and is used for extensive dental work or patients with severe anxiety or special needs. You will be completely unconscious and unaware of the procedure.
Under general anesthesia, you are completely unconscious and will not feel any pain during the procedure. This level of sedation is typically reserved for complex dental surgeries or patients with extreme dental anxiety or special needs.
Benefits of Sedation Dentistry at The Dental Anesthesia Center
At The Dental Anesthesia Center, we understand that each patient has unique needs and anxiety levels. Our experienced team is dedicated to providing personalized care through sedation dentistry, ensuring your visit is as comfortable and stress-free as possible. Here are some benefits:
Reduced Anxiety: Sedation helps alleviate the fear and anxiety associated with dental procedures.
Pain-Free Procedures: Combined with local anesthesia, sedation ensures a pain-free experience.
Efficient Treatment: Sedation allows more dental work to be completed in one visit, reducing the need for multiple appointments.
Comfort for Special Needs: Sedation dentistry benefits patients with special needs or those with difficulty staying still.
Our goal is to provide exceptional care in a relaxed and pain-free environment. Don’t let dental anxiety prevent you from achieving a healthy, beautiful smile. Contact us today to learn more about our sedation options and schedule your appointment.
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The first two board-certified Dentist Anesthesiologists in the state of Missouri.
