Is Dental Sedation an Option for Teeth Cleaning?

Even the most non-invasive procedure can be difficult for patients with special needs, causing them to miss their regular appointments or refuse routine procedures like dental cleaning.

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The Dental Anesthesia Center: Sedation and Sleep Dentistry

Based on 108 reviews

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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.

Sedation dentistry is part of an approach to oral health, which is much more focused on the patient’s education and comfort than ever before. The goal of a good dentist is to make you feel safe and comfortable in the dentist chair and to be ready to come back anytime for your regular check-ups or any treatment you may need.

Sedation can range from the mildest type to general anesthesia, depending on how serious the procedure is, and the medical history of the patient. However, even the most non-invasive procedure can be difficult for patients with dental anxiety or special needs, causing them to miss their regular appointments or refuse routine procedures like dental cleaning.

Typically, a dental cleaning does not involve the use of sedation because many patients are able to sit through a cleaning with little or no pain and/or anxiety. However, in certain cases, yes, sedation can be used for cleaning a patients teeth.

When Sedation is Needed for a Teeth Cleaning

Special needs patients are those who due to their mental, physical, medical, cognitive and developmental conditions require special consideration when receiving dental treatment. Some of the conditions that require special needs dentistry, include:

• Alzheimer’s disease
• Autism
• Down Syndrome
• Spinal cord injuries
• Seizer Disorders (Epilepsy)
• Cerebral Palsy (CP)
• Muscular Dystrophy
• And countless other conditions

Special needs dentistry addresses the specific issues of each patient and provides the special needs dental care he or she requires.

It takes compassion and understanding to care for patients with special needs. While most dentists are able to accommodate certain special needs patients, The Dental Anesthesia Center focuses on meeting the needs and limitations of these patients. We understand that some patients need sedation for even a routine teeth cleaning. If your child or loved one requires special needs dentistry, we will be glad to schedule your next appointment.

St. Louis Sedation, Sleep & Special Needs Dentistry

Your initial oral examination includes a visual examination, charting, diagnosis and treatment recommendations. We will also take x-rays, which includes the panoramic x-ray for proper diagnosis of the anterior (front) and posterior (back) teeth as well as the bite-wing x-ray series for proper diagnosis of proximal decay of posterior teeth.

Call us today to schedule your appointment at (314) 862-7844. We look forward to meeting you!