We feel it is of the utmost importance that your loved one with Down Syndrome feels comfortable without fear or anxiety so that the dental visit goes as smoothly as it possibly can.
I have been going here for 30 years and the extra care they take is outstanding.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind words and longtime support! We truly appreciate you taking the time to share your feedback and are grateful for the trust placed in our team over the years.
It was thorough professional and informative. I was satisfied with consultation and look forward to having my dental needs addressed
Response from the owner:Thank you for your 5-star review! We appreciate your kind words and are grateful you took the time to share your feedback. Thank you for your support!
Everything went great today for her surgery but I do have some feedback about other things. My daughter was scheduled to be put to sleep to undergo a root canal. They ended up needing more anthesia which I was willing to pay for. Surgery was supposed to be an hour (I was told this before they started), and it ended up being 2 hours because of some minor complications. Noone came to the lobby to inform us. When it was over, I asked to see her. They said I had to pay first. I just paid almost 5k and they were more worried about an additional $300 before allowing me to see my daughter? This didn't sit right. I didn't say anything. I paid the bill and went to see my daughter. Dr. Hoffman is the nicest man I have ever met! He was outstanding.
Also, in the weeks before her surgery, the office appeared to not communicate. I would receive a call saying one thing then someone else would say another. They were never on the same page.
Last week, they needed to speak with me to confirm a few things. They called me at 8:16am then again at 1:06pm. Leaving me a voicemail that if they do not hear from me they were going to cancel her surgery. Wow! I work. I work 8am-5pm. I do not have access to my phone during those hours. They did leave a voicemail and I would have called the next day but they did not give me a chance before sending me an email threatening to cancel.
Also, they had called me several weeks before to inform me I had no insurance. I called my insurance company and they said I did. Not sure what happened but it resulted in unnecessary phone calls during my only free 20 minutes at work.
If your appointment is at 10am, do not plan on seeing anyone for awhile. All our appointments ran an hour behind.
I think Dr. Hoffman is wonderful but the office staff needs some help.
Not friendly at all. Noone even smiled!
The nurses in the room with my daughter were great too.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your feedback and kind words about Dr. Hoffmann and our clinical team. We appreciate you taking the time to share your experience. Your feedback is valuable to us as we continually strive to provide the best possible care and experience for every family.
I went to nervous and 3 to 4 hours later, I essentially woke up in the car on my way home without realizing anything had happened. If you have trauma with previous dental issues, this is the place. I have a had severe dental trauma my entire life. Until now, they are all fantastic.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind words and for sharing your experience. We’re grateful our team could help provide a comfortable experience and appreciate your trust in us.
Patients with Down Syndrome frequently need specialized care for their unique dental needs. One reason is due to their higher risk of developing cavities and gum disease. They can also have orofacial and skeletal development problems, which can negatively impact their oral health. It is essential to find the right dentist so that your child or family member receives the best dental care possible.
At The Dental Anesthesia Center, we feel it is of the utmost importance that your loved one with Down Syndrome feels comfortable without fear or anxiety so that the dental visit goes as smoothly as it possibly can.
Unique Dental Needs
Each patient is different, and therefore, the degree of difficulty varies from person to person. People with Down Syndrome generally need specialized dental care for many different reasons. Some of the most common oral health factors to consider include:
Delayed eruption of baby teeth
Crossbites – where the top teeth lie inside the bottom teeth
Open bites – where the top and bottom teeth do not touch
Crowed, missing, or extra teeth
Decreased crown to root ratio
Impacted canine teeth
Higher risk of cavities and gum disease
Bruxism – grinding or clenching the teeth
Tongue thrust and mouth breathing
Unique Health Needs
In addition to the oral health factors patients with Down Syndrome face, they also often have complex health factors that must be considered. This is yet another reason why it is important to find a dentist who understands all the potential issues a patient with Down Syndrome may face.
Some additional potential disorders and concerns include:
Cardiac defects
Epilepsy
The fragility of the cervical vertebrae
Compromised immune system
Diabetes
Sleep apnea
Hearing loss
Vission problems
Increased risk of leukemia
Hypothyroidism
Sedation And Patients With Down Syndrome
Many patients benefit from sedation when they visit the dentist. If a patient cannot properly cooperate with a dentist during their appointments, sedation can sometimes be necessary to get the work done.
This is why many patients opt for sedation dentistry, which is exactly what we offer here at The Dental Anesthesia Center in St. Louis. For patients who have Down Syndrome, sedation dentistry is not uncommon at all. In fact, sedation dentistry, or sleep dentistry, is one of the most utilized methods to keep patients calm and relaxed during their trips to the dentist. There are many different sedation levels as well, which range from mild sedation to where the patient is still awake and conscious to heavy sedation, where a patient is completely asleep.
Of course, there aren’t many people who enjoy having someone poke around in their mouths with various tools, and for someone who suffers from serious sensory problems, such as a person with Down Syndrome, sedation can be the best option. Sedation is essential if the patient is in for extensive dental work, such as major surgery, to stay completely still throughout a long procedure.
Call Us Today
The first two board-certified Dentist Anesthesiologists in the state of Missouri.
