If you or your loved one suffers from a severe gag reflex, we provide several safe and effective sedation dentistry methods for all of your dental care needs.
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.
TWENTY YEARS! That is how long our special needs son has been seeing Dr Hoffman and his dedicated team! Our son suffers from an intellectual disability, is non-verbal, and is unable to cooperate for dental cleaning, x-rays, or other routine dental work. He requires general anesthesia. It is such a blessing to avoid a hospital setting just for dental work.
The team is always well staffed, friendly, personable and very professional. Every single year we have been supported by a deeply caring team who are dedicated to patients with a very wide range of disabilities and needs. They have shared useful dental advice and tools (3 sided toothbrushes, blocks to hold open their mouth for daily at-home care, etc.) which improved our son’s daily dental care. We always receive a call back the day after to check his recovery-even on weekends!
Highly recommended and so appreciative to have this team supporting our ever long road of raising a special needs son.
Response from the owner:Wow — thank you for sharing such a heartfelt review! We are so grateful for your trust and for allowing our team to be part of your family’s journey over the years. It means so much to us to know that our care and support have made a difference. We truly appreciate your kind words and recommendation!
We've been coming to Dr.Hoffman for twenty years. There's a reason we keep coming back! He's great. His staff is great. He's double boarded as an MD (Anesthesia) and DDS!!! Our son with special needs needs sedation for even a cleaning. You get what you pay for. He's expensive and... we know he's getting the best care!
Response from the owner:Thank you for trusting our team over the years and for your kind words about Dr. Hoffmann and our staff. We truly value your confidence in the care we provide!
Omg!! This place is Amazing! The people who work here are so very nice and understanding. I love this team
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for your kind words! We truly appreciate your support and are grateful to have such wonderful patients.
Searching for a new dental clinic is challenging for someone who has
dental anxiety, fear, and traumatic experiences in a dental chair. The staff and doctors at the Dental Anesthesia Center were immediately very welcoming. Dr. Thoms put together a very detailed plan to repair and replace the previous work that I had in the past that was now causing problems. Putting my faith in him was the best thing that I could have done for my situation. I am more than completely satisfied with all of the extensive dental work that I’ve had with Dr.Thoms. I had my fourth sleep dentistry experience yesterday and I’m very happy with my results. I highly recommend this practice and truly want to give them more than five stars! Thank you for giving me back my health and confidence.
Response from the owner:We know it isn’t always easy to find a dental office where you feel at ease, so your words mean the world to us. We’re so glad you feel comfortable with our team and truly appreciate your trust and recommendation!
The gag reflex is your body’s natural defense mechanism to prevent foreign objects from entering your airway. However, some people have very sensitive gag reflexes. It may result from a mental trigger, such as anxiety, or a developmental disability such as autism or cerebral palsy.
Whatever the reason, it can be challenging for a patient with a sensitive gag reflex to receive dental care. But forgoing dental care due to your sensitivity is not a good idea. At The Dental Anesthesia Center, we provide sedation and sleep dentistry options for patients with severe gag reflexes.
Sedation Dentistry Methods
If you or your loved one suffers from a severe gag reflex, we provide several safe and effective sedation dentistry methods for all of your dental care needs. Sedation dentistry can be used for invasive dental procedures, general tooth cleaning, and X-rays.
The patient is given medication to help them relax during the procedure. Patients are typically conscious during the process, except for those under general anesthesia. The levels of sedation include:
- Minimal sedation
- Moderate sedation
- Deep sedation
- General anesthesia
Sedation dentistry is a safe and effective way for many patients to receive dental treatment. On your initial visit, Drs. Hoffmann or Thoms will need to know your medical history and current medical condition to help you decide which sedation method is suitable for your needs.
Some Ways to Naturally Ease Your Gag Reflex
If you suffer from a severe gag reflex, you’re not alone. This is a common condition that many patients suffer from. There are a few ways to ease your gag reflex naturally. Some of these include:
- Communicate your fears – At your dental visit, tell us about your issue, any concerns you have, and specific dental work in the past that caused you to gag. When we know your situation, we can make your treatment as comfortable for you as possible.
- Pick a suitable time of day – This may sound strange, but you may find that you’re more susceptible to gagging at certain times of the day. For instance, you may gag more in the morning, like when you brush your teeth. Scheduling your visit later in the day may work better for you.
- Breathe through your nose – Take deep breaths through your nose to stay relaxed. If you have a stuffy nose on the day of your visit, consider rescheduling. You might also consider taking a decongestant before your appointment to relieve any sinus congestion.
- Sit up rather than lying down – Your gag reflex may be more sensitive when you’re lying down. If possible, we can sit you up more for your dental work. This may help ease the strong reflex feeling.
- Practice getting control over your gag reflex – When you brush your teeth, this is an excellent time to practice getting control over your sensitivity. Gently and slowly touch the back of your throat with your toothbrush. When you feel the urge to gag, try to control it by breathing through your nose. This tactic will work, but it will likely take several weeks of practice before getting over your sensitivity.
Schedule Your Dental Appointment Today
At The Dental Anesthesia Center, we are well equipped to treat your dental problems despite your gag reflex or any other fear or anxiety you suffer from. We value our patient relationships, making it our priority to deliver the gentle dental care you deserve from sedation dentists in St. Louis. We work hard to make you feel at ease by providing exceptional patient care in a relaxed, convenient atmosphere.
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The first two board-certified Dentist Anesthesiologists in the state of Missouri.
