It’s incredibly important for parents to report a detailed health history of the child to the dentist. This way, the dentist can propose the type of sedation that’s best suited for the child.
Outstanding customer car for our 15 yrs old Autistic Granddaughter. Rebekah really helped put our minds and ease and helped us plan the next visit when it came to reservations we had on the cost of this treatment, and future ones. This is expensive, but worth it knowing they help special needs kids, teens and adults. Sedation dentistry team handle everything great! Thank you Dr. Thoms and the team!!
Response from the owner:Thank you for your thoughtful review. We’re so glad our team could provide a supportive and reassuring experience while helping you plan for future care. It means a great deal to know you felt informed and cared for every step of the way. We truly appreciate your kind words and the trust you’ve placed in us.
Dr Thoms specializes in dental anesthesia for patients with Special Needs. My daughter has been a patient of his for many years. His experience, depth of knowledge and understanding the needs of Special Needs patients is excellent. He presents clear and detailed information for his procedures and treatment options along with expectations during aftercare. Follow up instructions include a personal phone call from him as well as additional calls from his office staff. I highly recommend Dr Thoms and definitely give him 5 stars.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind words and for taking the time to share your experience. We’re grateful for the trust families place in our team and are committed to providing thoughtful, individualized care with clear communication every step of the way. Your recommendation means a great deal to us!
My hygienist, DeLaina Joost, takes excellent care of my teeth with her advanced skills, gentle touch and great “chair side” manner. She is a consummate professional, and such a compassionate person. I look forward to my visits at DAC!
Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind words! We’re so glad to hear you had a positive experience with our team and appreciate you taking the time to share your feedback.
I want to thank everyone at the Dental Anesthesia Center for taking care of me yesterday—Meaghan helped me get the forms filled out correctly and in on time, Daisy for guiding me in and getting me out safely, Dr. Hoffman for taking care of my teeth and dealing with my really terrible gag reflex, and EVERYONE who helps make this happen. I don't know all of your names, but I do know that it takes all of you working together to make my dental care possible and have good results.
I'm always nervous when I first arrive, even though every procedure has had a good outcome. I've never had any pain or excessive bleeding as a result. The one thing I realized yesterday is that all of you are warm, friendly, positive, you have what is called a good vibe, which helps me a great deal.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind words and for taking the time to share your experience. We’re so glad our team could help you feel comfortable and supported throughout your visit. Providing a safe, positive environment is very important to us, and your feedback means a great deal. We truly appreciate your trust in our care!
Dr. Thoms and his entire staff at The Dental Anesthesia Center have been absolutely wonderful!! They're all so kind and knowledgeable. I would give them 10 stars if I could!!!
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for your kind words! We truly appreciate you taking the time to share your experience. It means a lot to hear this feedback.
If you have a child in need of some dental work, then the question of laughing gas or sedation may be brought up by your dentist. The goal here is to ensure your child is getting the safest and best treatment.
There are actually many different types of sedation available for such procedures when the patient is a child.
Types of Sedation and Anesthesia Used for Children
There are usually 4 types of sedation here:
Nitrous oxide (laughing gas) is the least invasive and considered a mild sedative. Children breathe this with a bit of oxygen, and while they remain awake during the procedure, they will be more relaxed.
Mild to moderate sedation – the child is given a certain medication (or a combination of). This is usually common in older children. The effects are a calm and awake child who can still respond and do what the dentist says.
Deep sedation – this is done through an IV, and the child will sleep throughout the entire procedure. In this case, there will be another independent observer in the room to monitor the child until the procedure is done, and they can wake up.
General anesthesia – here, the child is completely asleep. The procedure is only done by those trained to use anesthesia, and like in the case of deep sedation, the child is monitored by an independent observer.
How Safe Are These Options?
Laughing gas is, by far, one of the safest options when it comes to sedation. But even this isn’t without its potential side effects such as:
Nausea
Vomiting
Dizziness
Fatigue
These are generally short-term effects that go away once the sedative wears off.
However, there may be procedures in which the child must remain completely still, in which case neither laughing gas nor mild/moderate sedation would be enough.
The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry provides stringent guidelines for dentists and oral surgeons to follow in the case of deep sedation or general anesthesia. This is why deep sedation and general anesthesia require another person in the room to monitor the child throughout the entire procedure.
Every type of anesthesia comes with certain risks and side effects, which is why it’s incredibly important for parents to report a detailed health history of the child to the dentist. This way, the dentist can propose the type of sedation that’s best suited for the child.
St. Louis Sedation Dentistry
When you come in for your appointment Dr. Hoffmann, Dr. Thoms, or Dr. Behl will decide which level is best for your child. We look forward to meeting you. Call us at (314) 862-7844, and one of our friendly team members will be happy to speak with you.
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The first two board-certified Dentist Anesthesiologists in the state of Missouri.
