Pediatric Anesthesia
If your child has trouble visiting the dentist because of severe anxiety or special needs, or if they require major dental work, dental anesthesia may be the right choice.
If your child has trouble visiting the dentist because of severe anxiety or Special Needs, or if they require major surgery or procedure, it can sometimes be necessary for that child to be administered sedation or anesthesia. Dentist anesthesiologists have the necessary experience and qualifications to treat and assist children safely throughout the process.
Like regular anesthesiologists, dentist anesthesiologists are trained to work with children and infants. They can also deliver the proper care to children in the dentist’s chair or operating room.
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.
We always receive excellent care at the Dental Anesthesia Center.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind words! We truly appreciate your trust in our team and are grateful for the opportunity to provide care.
Our adult daughter has cerebral palsy and requires being fully sedated when having anything done. The DAC was such a positive experience. Dr Hoffmann and his staff were kind and did great explaining things. As a mom, I had a lot of questions about how certain things would be done as usually she’s in her chair when getting examined at her local dentist and they had everything under control including transferring from her chair to the dentist chair and keeping her secured in the dentist chair as well as keeping her neck and legs comfortable. Many thanks to them!
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for your kind words. We’re grateful for your trust and happy to hear that you had such a positive experience with our team. Our goal is always to provide compassionate, attentive care in a safe and comfortable environment. We truly appreciate you taking the time to share your experience.
Anesthesia & Children
The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry updated the current guidelines for dentists and oral surgeons in 2019. These guidelines help dentists and oral surgeons with a procedural map to follow when providing children with general anesthesia or deep sedation.
For starters, there must always be two people in the room, each trained to provide full life support in an emergency. One of the people in the room will be the dentist or oral surgeon who will perform the actual procedure.
The other person in the room is known as an independent observer.
Understanding The Different Levels of Sedation
It is essential to know that there are different levels of sedation. The dentist will ultimately decide the type of sedation necessary for the patient or procedure, though understanding each level will help you, as a parent, feel more in control.
- Mild Sedation – Mild sedation is when the child remains conscious throughout the procedure. It is the lightest level of sedation that we offer and typically involves a mild sedative such as Nitrous Oxide, otherwise known as laughing gas or a Valium-like medication. Nitrous Oxide is the most popular choice, though some children don’t like the feeling. Dentists don’t need to go through additional training to administer mild sedation.
- Moderate Sedation – Moderate sedation, or sedation dentistry, makes the child sleepier during the procedure, though they are not entirely asleep. We highly recommend this for older children, who are less fearful.
- Deep Sedation – Deep sedation, otherwise known as sleep dentistry, is a method of sedation in which the child is completely asleep throughout the procedure. There will be no memory of the procedure. During your child’s procedure, an independent observer will always be in the room to monitor the child’s heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, etc. This method is entirely pain-free and excellent for more extended operations or procedures.
Making Your First Appointment
Whether your child struggles with severe anxiety or special needs, or if they need a serious dental operation, including surgery, St. Louis pediatric anesthesia can help. At The Dental Anesthesia Center in St. Louis, we have been practicing sleep and sedation dentistry for the past 30 years. We know how important the safety and comfort of your child are during their procedure, and we aim to provide nothing less than that!
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The first two board-certified Dentist Anesthesiologists in the state of Missouri.
