Our dentists are the first two dental anesthesiologists board-certified in deep sedimentation in Missouri.
If your child needs to have a dental procedure, the objective is to minimize the hurt and trauma that can be associated with dental treatments. If dentist visits go smoothly early on in their lives, children are much more likely to develop good oral habits well into adulthood. One frequently asked question is whether or not to use Novocaine to numb the mouth before dental sedation.
Our adult daughter has cerebral palsy and requires being fully sedated when having anything done. The DAC was such a positive experience. Dr Hoffmann and his staff were kind and did great explaining things. As a mom, I had a lot of questions about how certain things would be done as usually she’s in her chair when getting examined at her local dentist and they had everything under control including transferring from her chair to the dentist chair and keeping her secured in the dentist chair as well as keeping her neck and legs comfortable. Many thanks to them!
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for your kind words. We’re grateful for your trust and happy to hear that you had such a positive experience with our team. Our goal is always to provide compassionate, attentive care in a safe and comfortable environment. We truly appreciate you taking the time to share your experience.
TWENTY YEARS! That is how long our special needs son has been seeing Dr Hoffman and his dedicated team! Our son suffers from an intellectual disability, is non-verbal, and is unable to cooperate for dental cleaning, x-rays, or other routine dental work. He requires general anesthesia. It is such a blessing to avoid a hospital setting just for dental work.
The team is always well staffed, friendly, personable and very professional. Every single year we have been supported by a deeply caring team who are dedicated to patients with a very wide range of disabilities and needs. They have shared useful dental advice and tools (3 sided toothbrushes, blocks to hold open their mouth for daily at-home care, etc.) which improved our son’s daily dental care. We always receive a call back the day after to check his recovery-even on weekends!
Highly recommended and so appreciative to have this team supporting our ever long road of raising a special needs son.
Response from the owner:Wow — thank you for sharing such a heartfelt review! We are so grateful for your trust and for allowing our team to be part of your family’s journey over the years. It means so much to us to know that our care and support have made a difference. We truly appreciate your kind words and recommendation!
We've been coming to Dr.Hoffman for twenty years. There's a reason we keep coming back! He's great. His staff is great. He's double boarded as an MD (Anesthesia) and DDS!!! Our son with special needs needs sedation for even a cleaning. You get what you pay for. He's expensive and... we know he's getting the best care!
Response from the owner:Thank you for trusting our team over the years and for your kind words about Dr. Hoffmann and our staff. We truly value your confidence in the care we provide!
Omg!! This place is Amazing! The people who work here are so very nice and understanding. I love this team
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for your kind words! We truly appreciate your support and are grateful to have such wonderful patients.
Searching for a new dental clinic is challenging for someone who has
dental anxiety, fear, and traumatic experiences in a dental chair. The staff and doctors at the Dental Anesthesia Center were immediately very welcoming. Dr. Thoms put together a very detailed plan to repair and replace the previous work that I had in the past that was now causing problems. Putting my faith in him was the best thing that I could have done for my situation. I am more than completely satisfied with all of the extensive dental work that I’ve had with Dr.Thoms. I had my fourth sleep dentistry experience yesterday and I’m very happy with my results. I highly recommend this practice and truly want to give them more than five stars! Thank you for giving me back my health and confidence.
Response from the owner:We know it isn’t always easy to find a dental office where you feel at ease, so your words mean the world to us. We’re so glad you feel comfortable with our team and truly appreciate your trust and recommendation!
While it’s usually a very safe product, there are times when children can have reactions and side effects from using Novocaine. Knowing what they are and what to look for is very important. Typically, the side effects aren’t serious but rather something to keep an eye on.
What is Novocaine?
Novocaine, technically known as procaine, is a local anesthetic commonly used in dental procedures to numb a specific area of the mouth. It works by blocking nerve signals in your body, which helps to reduce pain during dental treatments. Novocaine is often chosen for its rapid onset and relatively short duration of effectiveness, making it ideal for procedures that don’t require prolonged numbness.
Is Novocaine Safe?
Novocaine is generally safe but can cause reactions. Inform the dentist about past use and your child’s medical history to ensure safety.
Allergies
There are instances when children are allergic to Novocaine, and the allergy can range from mild irritation to severe. If your dentist is going to use Novocaine, let them know if your child has had it before. That way, they know what to watch for. If they have used it in the past without any problems, there is very minimal risk that they are allergic.
Central Nervous System Reactions
Sometimes, novocaine interferes with the functioning of someone’s central nervous system. Your dentist should know the complete history of your child’s medical conditions and single out any chronic issues that can interfere with Novocaine use. The dentist will also want to know if they take any medications regularly.
Novocaine or Oral Sedation?
In most instances, Novocaine is an easy fix that helps to eliminate the potential for discomfort and pain. If your child has any pre-existing conditions, however, then Novocaine might not be a good idea. Also, if the treatment is extensive, then you might want to consider another course, like oral sedation.
There are several ways to sedate your child, some of which come with minimal risk and may be better overall if the dental procedure is more involved. The best way to decide what is right for your child is to discuss all the options available with your dental provider. They will be able to provide you with the pros and cons associated with using various things, from Novocaine to oral sedation.
Novocaine is great for minor dental procedures as long as your child doesn’t react to it. To minimize the potential for side effects, talk with your dentist, bring in a copy of any medical history that might be of concern, and know precisely what medications your child is currently on. If your child does react to Novocaine, it is essential to put it in their medical files going forward.
St. Louis Sedation Dentistry
Your initial oral examination at The Dental Anesthesia Center includes a visual examination, charting, diagnosis, and treatment recommendations. We will also take x-rays, which include the panoramic x-ray for proper diagnosis of the anterior (front) and posterior (back) teeth and the bite-wing x-ray series for proper diagnosis of proximal decay of posterior teeth.
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The first two board-certified Dentist Anesthesiologists in the state of Missouri.
