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.
This dental practice is excellent with my daughter (25 y/o with autism). The entire team is kind, patient, and understanding. They take time to explain what will be happening and only recommend procedures that are truly necessary.
The staff never rushes and makes patients feel comfortable and supported. They are very in tune with sensory challenges. It’s clear they care deeply about creating a positive experience and treating everyone with dignity.
We heartily recommend Dr. Hoffmann and his team.
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re thrilled to hear your daughter feels comfortable and supported. Dr. Hoffmann and our team truly appreciate your recommendation.
Best decision I ever made was coming here. Highly recommend. The front office is great, Lena is awesome and docs are so good. Plus you get sweet glasses while they work 😎
Dr. Thom and the entire staff at the Dental Anesthesia Center were warm, friendly and welcoming to me and my husband. My husband has dementia and needed extensive dental work. Dr. Thom took the time to explain to me what needed to be done before the procedure began. My husband is now fully recovered and doing just fine. I'm so grateful that we were referred to the Dental Anesthesia Center. Thank you!!
Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind words! We’re honored to hear that you felt welcomed and supported by our team. We truly appreciate you taking the time to share your experience and are grateful for your trust in our office!
Dr. Thoms and staff are Amazing! My son is Autistic and he loves it there. It’s always scary to put your child with disabilities under anesthesia. So it’s a relief to have such compassionate professionals to rely upon They are so sweet and kind to him it’s so nice to have people who genuinely care.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind words! Our team is dedicated to creating a comfortable and supportive experience for everyone who visits our office. We truly appreciate you taking the time to share your feedback and for trusting us with your family’s care.
The Dental Anesthesia Center (DAC) is awesome. When I started there 19 years ago my dental health had deteriorated and my fears were intense. Their expertise and compassion got me back on the right dental track. I still get nervous - but things are so much better now in terms of my dental and gum health.. Don't lose hope - try the DAC!
My appointment today was for a cleaning - and a standard check of gum health etc. Carrie - as always - did EXCELLENT work. She is very kind and thorough and knowledgeable .. and patiently answers all my questions. Carrie is positive and supportive with us patients ... and provides guidance on better at-home care for our teeth and gums.
My thanks also to the office staff who are very helpful with questions or concerns.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your continued trust and kind words! We're honored to have be part of your journey. It means so much to know we've made a lasting impact—your story is truly inspiring!
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.
