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Special Needs Dentistry – Dental Care for Adults with Disabilities

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We not only accommodate patients with special needs, but we also focus on meeting their needs and working with their limitations in a comfortable and safe setting.

Dental Care for People with Disabilities
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!

It is frustrating that patients with disabilities often come up against significant barriers when accessing dental care. At The Dental Anesthesia Center, we understand these challenges and have worked hard to overcome them.

If your loved one needs dental care and has physical, emotional, sensory, or mental disabilities, call our dental office today. We not only accommodate patients with special needs, but we also focus on meeting their needs and working with their limitations in a comfortable and safe setting.

How Dental Care is Different for Those with Disabilities

People with disabilities generally have more significant challenges finding a dental office with the training or equipment to accommodate their needs. Patients with severe physical disabilities might find it challenging to care for their oral health as oral hygiene may be complicated to put into practice.

For these reasons and others, people with disabilities tend to have more dental issues and poorer oral health compared to people without disabilities. Therefore, we are committed to improving access and breaking down the barriers to dental care for people with specialized needs. In addition, we have the tools, abilities, and experience to treat patients with all types of disabilities.

Sedation Dentistry for Those with Special Needs

Dr. Hoffmann and Dr. Thoms perform dental procedures for patients with special needs requiring general anesthesia or sedation. Individuals with physical, mental, or other disabilities can receive complete dental care in a comfortable setting. These patients can also have a thorough exam, including taking x-rays and receiving a dental cleaning with general anesthesia. The Dental Anesthesia team is compassionate and here to help patients accomplish dental care that they may have never had before.

The proper sedation method for each patient is determined by their medical history, current physical needs, and mental health. The levels of sedation include:

  • Minimal sedation – This is the lightest level of sedation. The patient is conscious. It involves a mild sedative such as Valium or laughing gas to help them relax.
  • Moderate sedation – The patient is not asleep but is more drowsy. They can still answer questions but are in a state of deep relaxation.
  • Deep sedation – The patient is unconscious. They will not remember the procedure or experience any pain or discomfort.

Dental Care for Adults with Disabilities

If you or your loved one has a physical disability, our dental team is here to help! You can achieve complete dental care in a comfortable and safe setting. When you come in for your appointment Dr. Hoffmann, Dr. Thoms, or Dr. Behl will decide which level is best for you.

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.

Call Us Today

The first two board-certified Dentist Anesthesiologists in the state of Missouri.

Updated: August 15, 2024

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