Gag Reflex Dentist

Whether you have a minor or severe gag reflex, we are here to work with you to make your dental visits more comfortable.

There is no doubt that many people are a bit anxious before getting into the dentist’s chair. For those patients who have strong gag reflexes, just the thought of being in the dentist’s chair is enough to trigger one.

Schedule an Appointment – Call (314) 862-7844

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The Dental Anesthesia Center: Sedation and Sleep Dentistry

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Whitney S.

I cannot say enough wonderful things about The Dental Anesthesia Center and Dr. Thoms. My 7-year-old, who has autism, recently had dental work done here and the experience exceeded expectations. The staff was incredibly kind, patient, and understanding of his needs. They took the time to make him and us feel comfortable, never rushed, and explained everything. I am so grateful for this office and the team that made my son's dental care possible. I would recommend The Dental Anesthesia Center and Dr Thoms to any parent, especially those with children who have special needs. They truly go above and beyond. ❤️

Response from the owner:Thank you so much for your thoughtful review and kind words! We’re truly grateful for your trust in our team and Dr. Thoms. Knowing your visit was a positive and comfortable experience means the world to us — it’s exactly what we strive for with every patient and family. 💙

Joy H.

Very patient with elderly patients. Very good experience.

Response from the owner:Thank you for sharing your feedback! We’re pleased to know the visit was a positive experience.

Carla B.

My son has been a patient of Dr Michael Hoffman since he was 5 years old. He is now 21 years old. My son has diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder and therefore I am cautious of who I select as a treatment provider. Dr. Hoffman’s office is professional, kind and I know they have his best interest at heart. I highly recommend Dr. Hoffman and staff to anyone seeking dental care.

Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind words and recommendation! We truly appreciate your trust in our team over the years.

Paul

Super experience. Gentle and empathetic. All round care is great. Staff are wonderful.

Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind review! We’re so glad you had a great experience with our team.

Nancy S.

We are forever grateful for Dr Hoffman and his wonderful staff for having the vision of how to get necessary dental work done for patients who are dealing with autism and cannot tolerate it without dental anesthesia. We have been taking our adult daughter there once a year for the last four years. Thanks to Dr Hoffman’s vast knowledge and expertise, our daughter has been able to get wisdom teeth removed, cavities filled, teeth cleaned and detailed X-rays to know exactly what needed done. The Dental Anesthesia Center is a great service to the community. Thank you so much for helping us.

Response from the owner:hank you so much for your thoughtful review and kind words about our team! We truly appreciate your trust in us and are honored to provide care in a way that helps make dental treatment more comfortable and accessible for all patients. Your feedback means a great deal to our entire staff.

Of course, the worst possible solution is to avoid going to the dentist at all. Delaying dental treatment because of a strong gag reflex is a common reason that many people face the risk of serious health concerns.

For some people, their gag reflex may be easily triggered when visiting the dentist or doctor for a routine checkup or procedure. For others, their gag reflex may be so sensitive that they can’t even swallow a pill. If you are in this situation, don’t worry, there are several methods you can try to prevent your gag reflex from interfering with your oral and physical health.

Whether you have a minor or severe gag reflex in St. Louis, we will work with you to make your dental visits more comfortable.

How Is The Gag Reflex Triggered?

The best way to reduce the effects of your gag reflex is to understand what triggers it. There has been a long debate in the scientific community about whether physical or psychological factors play a more significant part in producing a gag reflex. The truth is, it is a combination of both of those things.

The gag reflex, otherwise known as the pharyngeal reflex, is one of the body’s many defense mechanisms. In particular, this defense mechanism is made to keep objects from getting in your throat and blocking your airway, which could, in turn, cause choking.

The severity of the gag reflex can differ from person to person, as many people barely have gag reflexes at all. With that said, it is a relatively common physiological factor for people who have overactive gag reflexes.

As to why people have active gag reflexes in the dentist’s chair, much of it can be tributed to the added stress and anxiety of being in that environment.

Lessening Your Gag Reflex

Regardless of if your gag reflex is the effect of physiological or psychological factors, there are a few things that you can do to lessen your gag reflex while you are at the dentist.

• Breathe Through Your Nose – When your mouth is propped open, it can seem that mouth breathing becomes the default. However, breathing through your mouth is one of the most common triggers of the gag reflex. We recommend turning your attention towards your nose and breathing with it rather than your mouth.

• Refrain From Swallowing Your Saliva – Let’s face it, the idea of drooling while sitting in the dentist’s chair is an idea that we could do without. However, one of the main reasons people tend to gag while in the chair is that they attempt to swallow their saliva. Instead, saliva will be suctioned out effortlessly during your procedure.

• Distract Yourself – Sometimes, we find that all patients need to keep from gagging is a good distraction. The type of distraction that a person needs is entirely up to them. Some enjoy watching a movie or listening to music, while others enjoy having a stress ball to squeeze. Others want self-hypnosis techniques to help get them in the right frame of mind.

• Employing Sedation – Our specialty at The Dental Anesthesia Center is sedation and sleep dentistry. For some patients who have severe gag reflexes, some form of sedation might be necessary so that you can have the best dental experience. There are different levels of sedation that we can administer, so make sure to speak with your dentist before your appointment to see if this type of procedure is right for you.

We’re Here To Keep You Comfortable

Here at The Dental Anesthesia Center, we want to make sure that your visit to the dentist is comfortable and painless. We offer sedation dentistry for patients who have severe and sensitive gag reflexes in the St. Louis area.

Regular dental visits are necessary to maintain proper oral health, and not visiting the dentist because of a severe gag reflex is not the solution. For patients with gag reflex in St. Louis, give us a call at (314) 862-7844 to schedule an appointment! We look forward to seeing you!