At The Dental Anesthesia Center in St. Louis, we specialize in helping patients navigate this decision with expertise. Contact us today.
Dental visits don’t have to be scary. For patients dealing with dental anxiety, sensory sensitivities, or complex medical conditions, modern sedation options have transformed the experience into something peaceful, even relaxing. But with choices like Novocaine, nitrous oxide, oral sedation, IV sedation, and general anesthesia, how do you know which one is right for you or your loved one?
Best Dentists in St. Louis. Really a great dental experience. I have used this office for regular dental care, cavities, crowns, and cosmetic dentistry. Teeth look great.
Response from the owner:Christopher we apologize for the belated response. We are very pleased to hear you have a great dental experience with our office! Thank you for your kind words. We look forward to seeing you at your next dental appointment!
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!
What Is Novocaine?
Novocaine (procaine) is a local anesthetic historically used to numb a specific area during minor dental procedures. While it’s often used as a catch-all term, dentists today more commonly use lidocaine, which is safer and more effective.
Use Case: Best for fillings, minor extractions, or numbing a single area.
✅ Minimal downtime
✅ You stay awake
❌ Doesn’t help with anxiety or fear
So, What If You’re Anxious or Have Special Needs?
If fear, trauma, autism, ADHD, or other cognitive conditions make a dental visit difficult, local anesthesia like Novocaine might not be enough. That’s where sedation dentistry steps in.
Here are the main options beyond Novocaine—and how they compare:
Must be administered by trained professionals in a licensed facility
Longer recovery time
Comparing All Sedation Options
Sedation Type
Conscious?
Anxiety Relief
Ideal For
Recovery Time
Novocaine (Local)
Yes
❌ No
Minor procedures
Minutes
Nitrous Oxide
Yes
✅ Mild
Mild anxiety, kids
Minutes
Oral Sedation
Yes
✅ Moderate
Moderate anxiety, adults
Hours
IV Sedation
Drowsy
✅ Strong
Severe anxiety, long procedures
Hours
General Anesthesia
No
✅ Full
Special needs, major work
Severe anxiety, lengthy procedures
Why Choose The Dental Anesthesia Center?
We’re not just a general dental office—we’re a licensed facility offering all levels of sedation, from nitrous oxide to general anesthesia for special needs and high-anxiety patients.
🩺 Board-certified dental anesthesiologists
💙 Experience with patients who have autism, dementia, cerebral palsy, and more
🏥 In-office operating room setup with hospital-grade monitoring
So, What’s the Best Option?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. The best sedation option depends on:
Your level of anxiety
Your medical history
The complexity of the procedure
Whether you or your loved one has special healthcare needs
Contact The Dental Anesthesia Center Today
Ready to talk?Schedule a free consultation with our sedation specialists and let’s find the most comfortable, safest option for you.
