You and your dentist will go over your health history, ensure that you are healthy enough to have general anesthesia, and make sure that it’s the right choice for your procedure.
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!
Very nice very convenient for me great people working
Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind words! We’re so glad you had a positive experience with our team. We truly appreciate your 5-star review!
General anesthesia at the dentist is one way to deal with severe dental anxiety or safely receive major oral surgeries, such as removing impacted wisdom teeth.
With this type of anesthesia, you are completely unconscious. You won’t remember anything that happened during your procedure. Wondering how to prepare for your treatment at The Dental Anesthesia Center? Here are a few steps you will need to take.
Discuss Risks With Your Dentist Before Your Treatment
While general anesthesia is very safe, certain health conditions like diabetes, sleep apnea, and other complex medical histories may increase the risk of complications during general anesthesia.
You and your dentist at The Dental Anesthesia Center will go over your health history and ensure that you are healthy enough to have general anesthesia – and to make sure that it’s the right choice for your procedure.
Fast According To Your Dentist’s Instructions
You will usually need to fast for at least 6 hours before your surgery. This is because general anesthesia affects muscles in your digestive tract and airway, relaxing them and potentially allowing food and acid into the stomach and lungs. If you have an empty stomach, this is not an issue.
Stop Taking Certain Medications or Supplements
Your dentist will discuss any medications you may not be able to take before your general anesthesia appointment, such as blood thinners.
There are also some other supplements you should avoid before surgery, such as kava, Gingko Biloba, garlic, ginseng, and St. John’s Wort. Again, it would be best to discuss all of your supplements with your doctor to ensure you do not take any supplements that could affect your anesthesia.
Bring Someone With You To Take You Home & Take Care Of You
You will not be able to drive yourself home after your treatment, and the side effects of anesthesia may last for a few hours after your appointment. Along with feelings of confusion and disorientation, you may experience:
Nausea
Shivering
Dry mouth
Sore throat
Muscle aches
Sleepiness
Itching
It’s important to bring a responsible adult, such as a partner, family member, or close friend with you to your appointment at The Dental Anesthesia Center. After your appointment, you will be released into their care, and they can monitor you at home to make sure you don’t experience any significant side effects or after-effects related to anesthesia.
Consult With Our Team
At The Dental Anesthesia Center, we offer several different anesthesia types, ranging from minimal sedation with laughing gas to complete, full-body general anesthesia. If you are interested in the benefits of sleep dentistry, contact us online or give us a call at (314) 862-7844 for an appointment and explore your options further.
Call Us Today
The first two board-certified Dentist Anesthesiologists in the state of Missouri.
