Fear of Dentist & Fear of Dentistry
Modern, safe anesthesia techniques allow the fearful patient to have dental procedures accomplished without the anxiety.
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!
Nearly half of people with dental problems avoid dental care because of their fears and anxiety. However, modern, safe anesthesia techniques allow the fearful patient to have dental procedures accomplished without the anxiety associated with dentistry.
At The Dental Anesthesia Center, we value our patient relationships, making it our priority to deliver the gentle dental care that you deserve from sedation dentists in St. Louis.
Understanding Dental Fear & Phobia
Dental anxiety and fear of going to the dentist are extremely common. It’s estimated that between 9% and 15% of Americans, or 30 to 40 million people, avoid going to the dentist because of this anxiety and fear.
Many people think that “anxiety” and “phobia” are the same thing; however, they are, in fact, different. A person with anxiety will have a sense of uneasiness when going to the dentist. However, a dental phobia, or fear, is a more serious condition. This is an intense dread or fear of going to the dentist. They may have panic attacks and be terrified.
People with dental phobia have a higher risk of gum disease and early tooth loss. They may avoid going to the dentist for years, even decades. As a result, they will put up with pain, gum infections, and even broken or missing teeth.
However, at The Dental Anesthesia Center, we understand this fear and have a comfortable solution for you or your loved one.
Dental Fear Solutions
If you are apprehensive and fearful of dentistry, don’t worry, you are not alone! Many people avoid dental care only to find themselves in a dental crisis suffering needlessly. Does the need for extensive dental care combined with time-consuming visits and overwhelming fear sound familiar? Dr. Michael Hoffmann and Dr. Sean Thoms are general dentists certified by the Missouri Dental Board in General Anesthesia and Deep Sedation. Dr. Victoria Behl is a general dentist who has completed a residency in Hospital Dentistry with additional training in sedation. They understand that fear and have a comfortable solution.
Multiple visits can be eliminated with sedation. Oral health, after years of neglect, can be restored in as little as one visit. Oral sedation, IV sedation, and general anesthesia services are available for all types of dental care, including fillings, crowns and bridges, root canals, gum therapy, implants, cosmetic dentistry, and more. The DIAGNOdent cavity-detecting laser, Velscope light (for cancer screening), and the All-on-Four implant denture are examples of cutting-edge technology. Invisalign Orthodontics and Sleep Apnea appliances are also available.
St. Louis Dental Phobia Dentist
If you or a loved one have not been to the dentist because you suffer from moderate to severe dental phobia, Dr. Michael J. Hoffmann, Dr. Sean M. Thoms, and Dr. Behl are here to help you. At The Dental Anesthesia Center, we value our patient relationships, making it our priority to deliver gentle dental care that you deserve. Call to schedule your appointment at (314) 862-7844.
