If you have a history of not being able to get numb for your dental procedure, The Dental Anesthesia Center is here to help.
Many people ignore or put off going to the dentist for different reasons. Some patients have severe anxiety or fear. Others have special needs such as Alzheimer’s or autism which make it difficult for them to get to the dentist. However, some patients have a unique circumstance, they have an inability to become numb.
Dr. Hoffman and his whole Staff are absolutely amazing we have a Special Needs Daughter 54 years old and the Compassion and Care they give her is wonderful! We would recommend them highly.
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for your kind words and recommendation! Our team truly appreciates your trust and is honored to provide compassionate care to every patient who visits us.
The beat dentist office ever!!!
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re thrilled to hear you had a great experience with our team. 💙
I have NEVER had a positive experience with dentist…until now!! I was mind blown how kind the staff was, not just to me but to everyone! I have debilitating anxiety when it comes to dentists because of bad previous experiences, so I was very nervous. But, all the staff, including Dr. Thom, were very gentle, kind, and understanding. They took time to listen to all my concerns and address them, helping to put me at ease. I was also amazed how professional the whole office ran and how completely reliable they were. They easily guided me through the process and everything went so smoothly, including my sedation. I have never been treated so kindly by any dental office before, I was struggling to believe I wasn’t in some kind of dream. But. They really were that nice.
My recovery from sedation and all
The dental work they did to save my tooth was amazing, not a single issue! Dr. Thom even called personally to check on me a day later.
Coming back to put my permanent crown in was the same experience. They were all so kind,
Good about explaining everything they were doing and make the experience light and dare I say…fun.
I would drive 2.5 hours again in a heartbeat to do my work here. Best dental experience I’ve ever
had hands down!!!!!!! Thank you Dr. Thom for giving my life and tooth back. I’m so excited to not be in so much excruciating pain anymore!
Response from the owner:We can’t thank you enough for your kind and heartfelt words. Our entire team is dedicated to creating a gentle, supportive, and positive experience for every patient, so it means the world to hear your visit felt that way. We’re so glad you felt cared for and comfortable throughout the process, and we truly appreciate you making the trip to see us. Thank you for trusting us—it’s an honor to care for patients like you!
Dr. Hoffmann and his team takes great care of my special needs daughter. We have been coming here for over 20 years. The staff is so kind and patient with her and explains everything to help her stay calm.
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for sharing your kind words and for trusting our team for so many years. We’re honored to care for your family and appreciate the opportunity to make each visit a positive experience.
I have had the best experience with Dr Behl and her staff! I have awful dental anxiety from some past experiences and they are so kind and supportive. Rebecca is incredible to work with. I highly recommend them to everyone I know!!
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for sharing your kind words! We’re happy to know you felt supported and comfortable during your visit. Our team strives to create a welcoming environment for everyone, and we truly appreciate your recommendation.
3 Reasons You Can’t Get Numb
First, the fact is everyone is different. Just as some people react differently to medications, anesthetics are the same way. For some individuals, their body may remove the numbing agent from their system too quickly, making the numbness wear off faster than it should. This is the case when their vascular system removes the local anesthetic away from the tooth nerve quickly. This results in a person only be adequately numb for a very short period of time, or from not being able to get numb at all.
Second, although we all have what you might call standard anatomy, some individuals are different. This can be true of the way a person’s nerves are wired through their body. Some patients have extreme variability with the nerves going to their teeth. This is more often the case with lower molars.
Some patients may have 4 different nerves that lead to their lower molars. This means they may need as many as 4 different injections to get that area numb. If this has happened to you, it doesn’t mean that your dentist didn’t know what he or she is doing, it means that you are a little different than the usual patient and there is nothing wrong with that.
A third reason you may have difficulty getting numb is that you have what’s called a hot tooth. If you are experiencing severe pain in a specific tooth, it can be incredibly challenging to get that are numb. This is due to the fact that when a nerve becomes inflamed, such as with a large cavity, the nerve can actually change and become more much easily stimulated. This means more local anesthetic is needed to numb it.
St. Louis Special Needs Dentistry
If you have a history of not being able to get numb for your dental procedure, The Dental Anesthesia Center is here to help. There are many different levels of sedation that can be used to help you receive all of your dental care. The sedation method for an individual is determined on the patient’s medical history and current physical and mental health.
The levels of sedation include:
When you come in for your appointment, Dr. Hoffmann, Dr.Thoms or Dr. Behl will decide which level is best for you. We look forward to meeting you!
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The first two board-certified Dentist Anesthesiologists in the state of Missouri.
