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How Sedation Dentistry Can Help You Overcome Dental Anxiety

Struggling with dental anxiety? Sedation dentistry can help make dental visits calm, safe, and stress-free. Contact us today.

For millions across the U.S., visiting the dentist isn’t just inconvenient—it’s a source of intense fear. If your heart races at the thought of sitting in a dental chair, you’re not alone. The good news is that sedation dentistry offers a path to comfortable, stress-free dental care, even for the most anxious patients.

Call us today at (314) 862-7844 or schedule an appointment online for your personalized consultation.

Dental Anxiety St. Louis
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!

Understanding Dental Anxiety: It’s More Common Than You Think

Dental anxiety isn’t just about a fear of pain, though that’s a big part of it. For many, it’s a combination of:

Unfortunately, dental anxiety often leads people to delay or avoid dental care altogether, causing minor issues to worsen into serious oral health problems.

What Is Sedation Dentistry?

Sedation dentistry involves using medication to help patients relax during dental procedures. It’s sometimes called “sleep dentistry,” though most forms of sedation allow patients to remain conscious.

At The Dental Anesthesia Center in St. Louis, we specialize in advanced sedation techniques, including:

  • Nitrous Oxide (Laughing Gas): A mild sedative that helps reduce anxiety and wears off quickly.
  • Oral Sedation: A prescription pill to induce drowsiness and calm before your appointment.
  • IV Sedation: Delivered directly into the bloodstream for deeper sedation and control.
  • General Anesthesia is reserved for more complex cases or patients with special needs. It allows complete unconsciousness during the procedure.

Who Can Benefit from Sedation Dentistry?

Sedation dentistry is ideal for patients who:

At The Dental Anesthesia Center, we are one of the few practices in Missouri licensed to provide general anesthesia in-office, making us uniquely equipped to care for patients with complex needs.

The Patient Experience: Comfort, Safety, and Compassion

One of the greatest advantages of sedation dentistry is the transformation it brings to your experience:

  • Stress-Free Appointments: Most patients feel deeply relaxed and often remember little to nothing about the procedure.
  • Faster, More Efficient Care: Sedation allows dentists to perform more work in fewer appointments.
  • Better Oral Health Outcomes: With fear no longer a barrier, patients are likelier to keep up with regular care.

At DAC, our care is centered around one thing: your comfort and safety. Our dental anesthesiologists and compassionate professionals work closely with each patient to create a personalized sedation plan, ensuring a smooth, anxiety-free visit.

It’s Time to Take Back Control of Your Dental Health

Dental fear shouldn’t prevent you from having a healthy, confident smile. With sedation dentistry, you no longer have to choose between comfort and oral health. Let The Dental Anesthesia Center show you a better way.

Call us today at (314) 862-7844 or schedule an appointment online for your personalized consultation.

Updated: June 6, 2025