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6 Questions to Ask Your Dentist Before Opting for Sedation

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Sedation dentistry is becoming more common than ever before, as dentists focus on offering a less traumatic and more relaxing experience to their patients.

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Dentist anxiety, while it still is one of the most common phobias people have, is less justified in the context of today’s gentle medical practices.

If you are scheduled to receive a certain dental procedure in the near future, you might consider sedation to be an option. You may have heard about others’ experience with it and you are curious about it. The best way to get informed about sedation dentistry is to discuss it with your St. Louis sedation dentist.

Here are the six questions you should prepare for the discussion prior to your procedure to make sure you understand everything you need about your dental sedation options.

Why Would You Recommend Sedation Dentistry for Me?

First of all, you need to see if using sedation for your dental procedure is really necessary. If you are dealing with mild anxiety, your doctor could try other options before giving you sedatives. Some clinics use different methods of relaxation, such as watching movies, listening to music and even enjoying hot towels or a massage while you receive your treatment.

What Sedation Options Do You Offer?

Let your doctor tell you more about each sedation option that you are eligible for. If possible, you will be able to choose between them and make an informed decision. Talk about their effect, the preparations, the associated risks, and so on.

Which Level of Sedation Is Best For Me?

There are different levels of sedation that can be used in dentistry, from nitrous oxide inhalation (laughing gas,) oral sedation (pills,) IV sedation or even general anesthesia. Depending on the complexity and length of the procedure and your capacity to sit still for a long time, your St. Louis sedation dentist will recommend the best option for you.

How Experienced Are You in Dental Sedation?

Not all dentists can perform all types of sedation. They need to be trained by specific institutions to perform general anesthesia or IV sedation, for example. Sometimes, your doctor will work with an anesthesiologist who can focus exclusively on your sedation and vital signs, while the dentist does the procedure.

What Are the Associated Risks of This Type of Sedation?

After discussing your medical history with your doctor, they should be able to tell you exactly what the associated risks with the type of sedation chosen for you are. Ask about the measures they are planning to take in case something happens.

How Do I Need to Prepare for the Procedure?

Depending on the type of sedation you will receive, there are certain preparations you need to make before your appointment. Some types of sedation require you to plan for a designated driver to come and pick you up after the procedure. Others require you to not eat for a few hours before the procedure. Make sure your doctor tells you exactly what you need to do before your appointment.

Asking these six questions is very helpful when considering sedation for the first time. Keep yourself well informed and make sure you collaborate with the Only Board Certified Dental Anesthesiologists in the State of Missouri, including the St. Louis Metro Area. Call The Dental Anesthesia Center today at (314) 862-7844 to learn more!

Why You Should Discuss Your Medical History with Your Dentist

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Having this information available and updated regularly will help your St. Louis sedation dentist paint a better picture of your overall health and give you the best treatment option for your oral health.

Sedation dentistry keeps patients calm enough to receive needed treatment safely and with no discomfort. Sedation is used during long and complex procedures, or when treating patients with dental anxiety, children, seniors or people with certain disabilities.

While sedation has certain associated risks, its benefits generally outweigh them in most cases. Moreover, the doctors are prepared to stabilize the patient in case something falls out of the expected parameters.

During preliminary talk, your St. Louis sedation dentist will want to hear about your medical history before deciding what type of sedation best fits your case best. Here is what your doctor needs to know.

Medications You Are on

Keep a list of all the medications you are on at the moment and present it to your doctor during your preliminary consultation. Even if you have recently interrupted a treatment, mention that to your dentist, as you might still have the active substance in your system.

Other Special Conditions

Besides the medication you are taking, it is important for the dentist to know if you have any condition that could interfere with the treatment. For example, if you are trying to have a baby, make sure to mention a possible pregnancy to your dentist, especially before getting sedation dentistry, as not all forms of sedation are safe for pregnant women.

Other conditions that are relevant to your dentist are related to major surgery, respiratory conditions, allergies, heart conditions, etc. If you are currently receiving treatment for something, it is not a bad idea to mention it to your dentist, especially if you are scheduled for a more complex dental procedure.

Other Mentions

If you think that any health mention would have an impact on your dental treatment, mention it. This may include medication you are taking (including plasters with active substances, ointments or inhaled substances,) chronic conditions like asthma or epilepsy, drugs you have taken recently, smoking, and so on. Some may seem irrelevant to a dentist visit, but oral health is connected to your overall health. Therefore, it is important for your dentist to have an updated medical archive.

Having this information available and updated regularly will help your St. Louis sedation dentist paint a better picture of your overall health and give you the best treatment option for your oral health. This practice can avoid dangerous combinations of medication, and can help your dentist diagnose you better.

4 Sedation Dentistry Myths Busted

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Although the number of patients that are treated through sedation dentistry is rising, some may still be relatively skeptical about this procedure.

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Whether is an exaggeration of the risks involved or a lack of trust in the medical staff, some patients will refuse sedation dentistry even though it might help them receive the treatment they need.

While there are certain risks that certainly need to be taken into account by your St. Louis sedation dentist and the patient, many times all it takes is debunking some of the myths that have been circulating about sedation dentistry out of fear and lack of knowledge.

If you are about to have a lengthy procedure or if you have trouble dealing with anxiety when you go to the dentist, ask your doctor to tell you more about sedation dentistry, as it may be the best option for you. Don’t hesitate to ask any questions you may have and mention your worries to your doctor.

Until you get to have a discussion with the dentist in person, here are some of the most common myths about sedation dentistry that you can dismiss.

MYTH: Sedation Dentistry Only Works For Lengthy Procedures

Many people have the wrong impression that sedation dentistry should only be reserved (or that it is only reserved) for big, complex operations. While this is indeed a type of situation where sedation comes in handy, it might be recommended by the dentist in other cases as well, such as patients with anxiety issues, children or patients with special needs and other conditions that make the dental procedures hard to perform.

MYTH: Anyone Can Get Sedation Dentistry

When you know that such a great help exists for patients with anxiety, you might be tempted to choose sedation dentistry for all the procedures you need, or at least the ones that make you nervous. Similarly, if you have a difficult patient in your care (such as a small child or a senior citizen), you think they should definitely be given sedatives to cope with the treatment. Unfortunately, not everyone is fit to be sedated, and the doctor will explain to you if it’s right for you or not.

MYTH: It Is Dangerous for Anyone to be Sedated

At the other end of the spectrum are the people who think sedation is really bad for anyone. While risks are not to be ignored in any case, they are most of the times controllable and don’t present a real danger for the patient. Trusting your St. Louis sedation dentist is crucial for the procedures to be as smooth as possible.

MYTH: You Will Always Be Knocked out and Unconscious

Many myths surrounding sedation dentistry involve knocked out patients and various scenarios beginning from that. The truth is, there are different levels of sedation. In many cases, you are kept conscious and capable of communicating. The level of sedation that is right for you is best discussed with your sedation dentist.

St. Louis Sedation Dentist

There are some other myths that we have encountered about sedation dentistry, but the ones above seem to be recurrent. If you have any doubts about sedation, asking your doctor about it is the best way of clearing things in your mind.

Give us a call today to learn more or schedule an appointment.


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How Long Does Sedation Dentistry Last?

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Sedation dentistry is a great option for the patients who have dental anxiety or have to go through long lasting procedures that require them to sit still for hours at a time.

It is also generally safe to use for children because they often cannot stay still for a long time during the needed treatment.

Sedation Dentistry St Louis

Still, many patients and parents are concerned about the safety of sedation and don’t really know what to expect from it. If you or your child needs a long treatment or if your anxiety prevents you from receiving the needed procedure, your dentist may recommend sedation dentistry. It is therefore important to understand what to expect. While the specifics should be discussed with your dentist, here are some general guidelines.

Before and During the Sedation

You generally need to restrain from eating and drinking anything for six hours before being administered sedatives. That will ensure that your stomach is empty and regurgitated food won’t cause any obstruction of the airways while you are under the sedatives.

Sedatives can be administered intravenously, orally or inhaled. Your St. Louis sedation dentist will discuss the best form of administration for your particular case. If your anxiety levels are very high, you might be asked to take a calming pill before your appointment to ease up the entire process.

You may have to be intubated and wear monitoring devices that help the doctors keep a close eye on your vital signs while you are sedated.

What Will You Feel When Being Sedated?

You will start feeling calm, relaxed, and maybe a bit lightheaded after the sedatives enter your bloodstream. Your arms and legs may feel like they are heavier and soon you will be numb to feel any pain and the doctors can proceed with the treatment.

What to Do after the Procedure?

You will remain in the cabinet for a while after the procedure is complete to be monitored while you recover. It often takes about half an hour for the anesthesia to wear off. You may still feel drowsy and lightheaded for a few hours afterward, so make sure you have someone to transport you home safely and keep you company.

Make sure not to operate vehicles or any dangerous machinery for at least 24 hours after your procedure. You might not respond quickly enough if something happens, and you risk getting injured or damaging your goods.

For these same reasons, it is wise to stay away from cooking for the following 24 hours, as the kitchen can be quite a dangerous place when you are groggy and dizzy. Have someone cook for you or order out and relax for the rest of the day.

We strongly recommend avoiding alcohol, tobacco or other similar substances. Adding more relaxants to your body when it is under the influence or sedatives is not a good idea.

St. Louis Sedation Dentistry


We are the Only Board Certified Dental Anesthesiologists in the State of Missouri, including the St. Louis Metro Area. If you have any questions regarding dental sedation or would like to set up and appointment, give us a call today at

(314) 862-7844.

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5 Dental Procedures That Generally Require Sedation

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Here are some of the most common dental procedures that may require dental sedation.

To this day, despite all the medical technology designed to make treatments less invasive, fear of the dentist remains among many people. Whether it’s a traumatic experience from childhood or an unrealistic and exaggerated portrayal of dentists in our culture, many people are fearful about going to the dentist.

sedated patient

As irrational as it may be at times, fear of the dentist can have many consequences on your oral health. Not going for your regular checkups might cause simple problems, such as plaque to take a turn for the worst, which may require complex and extensive procedures. It’s a vicious circle: you avoid seeing the dentist because you are afraid, but this exacerbated fear might be the thing that could affect your oral health and require multiple visits.

Sedating patients before procedures that involve pain or strange sensations could be a solution.

How Does Sedation Work?

Your St. Louis sedation dentist will use a drug or mix of drugs that allow you to remain conscious during the procedures but keeps you relaxed and calm so that you won’t get overwhelmed by stress and fear and interrupt the treatment. That allows the dental practitioner to treat you properly, even when it requires invasive procedures that take a lot of time to perform.

Make sure to talk with your sedation dentist and decide which anesthetic is best suited for your treatment and medical history.

Procedures That Generally Require Sedation

While sedation dentistry can make any fearful patient’s visit to the dentist better, it is generally recommended for invasive treatments. Procedures that take a long time and require the patient to be still are significantly shortened with the help of an anesthetic.

Here are some of the most common dental procedures that may require dental sedation.

Wisdom Tooth Removal

Because they erupt later in life and are often pushed in strange positions by the other teeth, wisdom teeth often need to be extracted. The removal can be quite difficult, especially when dealing with a “hidden” wisdom tooth, so the dentist might suggest sedation for a less traumatic treatment session.

Dental Implants

Losing your teeth can be a hard thing to cope with, whether it happens over a long time or is caused by an injury. Sedation can help a lot during the dental implant procedure, making it seem shorter and relaxing than it is.

Jaw Surgery

While it is definitely not a routine procedure, jaw surgery might be needed in some instances to treat various conditions, such as sleep apnea or a congenital jaw misalignment. Because it takes a long time to perform, it’s best to be done with sedation.

Bone Grafting

If your dentures don’t fit well enough, it will feel very uncomfortable or painful. Often, bone grafting is needed to align the dentures, and sedation greatly improves the comfort of the patient.

Emergency Dental Treatment

You are most likely still under shock or in a great amount of pain when receiving emergency dental treatment. Sedating will help you remain calm and still during the treatment.

As you can see, there are quite a few situations that may require sedation. It will help the dentist do his work uninterrupted, while the patient feels so relaxed that he often falls asleep during the treatment. Give us a call today at (314) 862-7844 and see if sedation dentistry is right for you!

Factors That Determine Which Type of Sedation You Receive

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The best way to determine which type of sedation dentistry is best for you or your loved one is to visit our office.

One of the issues that you might have with sedation dentistry is not knowing which type of sedation you will receive. Fortunately, there are a variety of guidelines that help make this decision, many of which are listed in the sections below. Of course, the best way to find out which type of sedation is best for you or your loved one is by talking to a sedation dentist in person.

Sedation Dentistry Level

At The Dental Anesthesia Center, when you come in for your initial consultation, Dr. Hoffmann, Dr.Thoms or Dr. Daugherty will decide which level is best for you.

Severity of Condition

Whether you have anxiety, low pain tolerance, or any other condition, your issue will fall on a spectrum. Relatively mild cases will require weaker sedatives, while more severe issues will call for stronger ones. As an example, you might treat a minor case of anxiety with a pill, rather than nitrous oxide or IV sedation. Having a disease that causes uncontrollable physical movement would likely require those stronger treatments.

Fear of Needles

People that have a deep fear of needles often cannot take IV sedation. In this case, they have two options. The first is using nitrous oxide instead. The second is utilizing nitrous oxide for initial sedation, then adding the IV in once they are partially unconscious.

Type of Treatment You’re Receiving

Another factor is what kind of treatment you’re receiving. As you might imagine, a quick dental cleaning might not call for strong sedatives. On the other hand, an extended procedure definitely would, even for people who do not have issues going to the dentist.

Each Patient is Different

There are different levels of sedation for each patient. The sedation method for an individual is determined on the patient’s medical history and current physical and mental health.

Individuals with anxieties, phobias, severe gag reflex, or difficulty getting numb are candidates for the center’s general anesthesia services. In addition, young children or individuals with physical or mental disabilities who are unable to cooperate for dental treatment can benefit from these services.

Sleep and Special Needs Dentistry

As you now know, the kind of sedative you will receive depends on a multitude of factors. They include the severity of your condition, fear of needles, what treatment you need, available equipment, personal preference, and your dentist’s preference. The good news is that you don’t have to go through the complicated process of choosing on your own.

Your initial oral examination includes a visual examination, charting, diagnosis and treatment recommendations. Call us today to schedule your appointment at (314) 862-7844. We look forward to meeting you!