950 Francis Pl #305, Clayton, MO 63105 Mon-Thu 7am-4pm · Fri 7am-3pm

Special needs dentistry · St. Louis

Special Needs Dentistry in St. Louis

The Dental Anesthesia Center cares for children and adults with special needs who cannot be treated comfortably in a traditional dental setting. Our doctors provide complete dental care under sedation or general anesthesia in a calm, welcoming office in Clayton.

If you are arranging care for someone you love, we will walk through every step with you, from the first phone call to the day of treatment.

Doctor-owned, privately owned practice

Where other dentists come to learn

Care for severe anxiety and special needs

In-office sedation and general anesthesia

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!
Amazing
Response from the owner:Thank you so much! We truly appreciate the amazing review! ⭐️
Thanks Laina for making my visit great. You are the best.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind words! We’ll be sure to share your appreciation with Laina. 😊
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 we provide

Complete dental care in one place

Our practice offers the full range of dental care for patients with special needs, all under one roof.

Care we provide includes:

  • Thorough dental examinations
  • Digital X-rays
  • Professional cleanings
  • Cavity treatment
  • Emergency dental care
  • Preventive dentistry

Every procedure can be performed under sedation or general anesthesia. For many patients, treatment that would take several appointments elsewhere can be completed in a single visit.

Who we help

Care for a wide range of conditions

If a condition, diagnosis, or past experience makes dental care difficult, our doctors can help. We treat patients with:

Developmental conditions

Neurological and degenerative conditions

Anxiety and sensory challenges

Behavioral and medical considerations

  • ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder)
  • ADD (attention deficit disorder)
  • Modified behavior
  • Medically compromised patients (allergies, complications, and other medical concerns)

If you do not see a condition listed here, call us at (314) 862-7844. Our team will talk through your situation and help you decide whether our office is the right fit.

Why families choose us

Not a typical dental office

Patients come to us when a traditional dental setting has not worked. Everything about our office is built around making care possible.

The Dental Anesthesia Center is a privately owned practice that proudly remains doctor-owned, allowing us to keep our focus where it belongs, on exceptional, patient-centered care. Families who visit us can expect:

  • Dentist anesthesiologists who administer sedation and general anesthesia in our office
  • A calm, sensory-aware environment with equipment and techniques suited to each patient
  • Experience with both pediatric and adult patients with special needs
  • Complete care under one roof, from routine cleanings to extensive treatment plans

Every patient’s needs are unique. Before we recommend anything, we take time to understand sensory sensitivities, communication preferences, medical history and medications, previous dental experiences, and comfort level with each step of care.

Academic partnerships

Where other dentists come to learn.

Our doctors train other doctors. Residents in graduate periodontics and dental anesthesiology rotate through our Clayton office to learn sedation and anesthesia care.

Residency rotation

Saint Louis University

Center for Advanced Dental Education

Graduate periodontics residents from SLU rotate through our office for a month of hands-on sedation training with our doctors.

Residency program

University of Pittsburgh

School of Dental Medicine

We partner with the University of Pittsburgh’s Dental Anesthesiology Residency Program, helping train the next generation of dentist anesthesiologists.

Beyond the office

Community involvement and advocacy

Our commitment to special needs dentistry extends beyond our practice. We take part in community events like the annual Autism Walk and the Autism Glow Run, and we work with local special needs organizations to promote oral health awareness and access to dental care.

The Dental Anesthesia Center team at the Autism Walk in St. Louis
The Dental Anesthesia Center at the Autism Walk 2019
The Dental Anesthesia Center team at the Autism Glow Run
The Dental Anesthesia Center at the Autism Glow Run 2019

Questions answered

Frequently asked questions

Common questions from patients, parents, and caregivers. If yours is not here, call us. We are happy to talk it through.

What makes a dentist qualified to treat patients with special needs?

Look for advanced training in sedation and anesthesia, experience with patients who have a wide range of conditions, and an office environment designed around sensory comfort. Our doctors are dentist anesthesiologists with years of experience caring for patients with autism, sensory processing differences, and developmental disabilities, and dental residents from Saint Louis University and the University of Pittsburgh rotate through our office to learn this care.

What types of sedation are available for special needs dental care?

We offer every level of sedation, including nitrous oxide (laughing gas), oral conscious sedation, IV sedation, and general anesthesia. The right option depends on your loved one’s needs, medical history, and the treatment planned, and we review the choice together before any care begins.

Is sedation dentistry safe for patients with special needs?

Sedation dentistry is generally considered safe when it is administered by doctors trained in anesthesia and the patient has been carefully evaluated first. We complete a thorough evaluation before treatment, monitor patients continuously during procedures, and follow strict safety protocols. Each sedation plan is customized to the patient’s medical history and specific needs.

Schedule a visit for you or your loved one

Taking the first step can feel overwhelming. Our team will listen, answer your questions, and help you plan a comfortable visit. We look forward to meeting you and your loved one.