St. Louis Sedation, Sleep & Special Needs Dentistry :: The Dental Anesthesia Center

special needs

Dental Care for Children with Cerebral Palsy

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We specialize in special needs dentistry, helping our patients with cerebral palsy achieve the best possible oral health.

Some parents hesitate to get dental care and treatment for their child with cerebral palsy because they fear it may be difficult or may go poorly. However, at the Dental Anesthesia Center, we specialize in special needs dentistry, helping our patients with cerebral palsy achieve the best possible oral health.

Understanding Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a neurological disorder that impairs muscle coordination and function. It may be associated with uncontrolled body movements, balance-related abnormalities, seizure disorders, and sensory dysfunction. Many children with CP require a wheelchair and a lifetime of personal care.

Maintaining good oral health for children with cerebral palsy can be difficult for the parents and the dentist. While CP itself does not cause any oral abnormalities, several conditions are more common or more severe in children with cerebral palsy.

Why Children with CP are at Risk for Dental Issues

Many of the symptoms of cerebral palsy lead to oral problems and thus children with CP are at greater risk of developing dental issues. However, it is possible to help your child maintain healthy teeth and gums!

One of the issues with children with CP is the tendency to reflux or vomit on a regular basis. Increased drooling can also contribute to cavities as well as some of the medications that children with CP are required to take. However, there are a number of other issues that contribute to dental problems. Some of these include:

  • Difficulty using a toothbrush and floss
  • Trouble chewing or swallowing
  • Excessive gagging
  • Habitual grinding of the teeth
  • Having food in the mouth for long periods of time
  • TMJ disorders
  • Enamel defects
  • Malalignment of the upper and lower teeth

Providing Dental Care

When looking for a dentist for your child with CP, it is important to find one that specializes in working with children with special needs. Safety training is required for oral health professionals who work with special needs kids. Some of this training includes:

  • Supporting children with involuntary bodily movements
  • Knowing how to properly monitor breathing
  • Knowing how to clear breathing passages
  • Ability to establish a trusting relationship with the child
  • Ability to give commands in a friendly yet understandable way

Special Needs Dentistry at The Dental Anesthesia Center

Patients with cerebral palsy in St. Louis may be more hesitant about visiting the dentist for the fear that the visit might go poorly. This is especially true with parents who have young children with cerebral palsy. Luckily, we have Dr. Hoffman and Dr. Thoms on our team, each of whom specializes in working with a wide variety of patients, including those with cerebral palsy.

Our office is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. We can accommodate patients with wheelchairs of all sizes.

Call Us Today

The Only Board Certified Dental Anesthesiologists in the State of Missouri, including the St. Louis Metro Area.

Call (314) 862-7844

How Dental Sedation Can Help Patients With Special Needs

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Dental Sealants St. Louis

Dental patients with special needs face different challenges when going to the doctor, and dental care is no exception. Disability implies mental or physical impairment that limits the patient’s abilities or actions. As such, doctors have to try different approaches to be able to treat the patient.

Dentistry is notoriously dreaded by patients, and dental anxiety is incredibly common, even in modern times, when we see unprecedented care for the patient’s comfort. For a patient with special needs, a visit to the dentist’s office can be more intimidating, as they face their own barriers as well.

When it comes to special needs patients and their caregivers, dentistry should have a different approach than with other categories of patients, and dentists are generally equipped to see special needs patients. However, they can also recommend a special needs dentist in case the patient’s treatment needs highly specialized attention.

Challenges Faced by Special Needs Patients

Depending on the impairment they have, special needs patients can face many types of challenges when going to the dentist.

  • Language barriers
  • Vision or hearing problems
  • Psychosocial challenges: increased anxiety, poor oral health education
  • Limited movement: they might need a wheelchair, or they might not be able to sustain a certain position for a long time
  • Needing more time to adjust to the environment, the staff and the dental procedures

Solutions in Dentistry for Special Needs Patients

If they decide to see a general dentist, then special needs patients or their caregivers should inform the doctor beforehand of the impairment, so that the staff can prepare best for the visit. Usually, there will be a longer period of time dedicated to the appointment, additional staff might be present, and anything that might be necessary to make the procedure possible.

One of the most helpful solutions for special needs patients is to use sedation during dental procedures. Destined for patients with dentist related anxiety or the particular group of patients who we are talking about, sedation helps them keep calm and remain still during the procedure

Doctors can choose from different types of sedation, from the mildest to general anesthesia, depending on the impairment and the length and complexity of the procedure.

No matter the solution your St. Louis sedation dentist will use, it is the doctor’s duty to respect any patient’s dignity and right to get treatment or inform them about the practical limitations of his professional training or cabinet equipment.

If you are a special needs patient or a caregiver to one, please get information about sedation dentistry and other solutions. Oral health should be accessible to everybody. Neglecting it can and will lead to more problems in the future. Talk to your St. Louis sedation dentist about it and see what course of action meets your needs best.

Call Us Today

The Only Board Certified Dental Anesthesiologists in the State of Missouri, including the St. Louis Metro Area.

Call (314) 862-7844

Is Dental Sedation an Option for Teeth Cleaning?

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Even the most non-invasive procedure can be difficult for patients with special needs, causing them to miss their regular appointments or refuse routine procedures like dental cleaning.

Sedation dentistry is part of an approach to oral health, which is much more focused on the patient’s education and comfort than ever before. The goal of a good dentist is to make you feel safe and comfortable in the dentist chair and to be ready to come back anytime for your regular check-ups or any treatment you may need.

Sedation can range from the mildest type to general anesthesia, depending on how serious the procedure is, and the medical history of the patient. However, even the most non-invasive procedure can be difficult for patients with dental anxiety or special needs, causing them to miss their regular appointments or refuse routine procedures like dental cleaning.

Typically, a dental cleaning does not involve the use of sedation because many patients are able to sit through a cleaning with little or no pain and/or anxiety. However, in certain cases, yes, sedation can be used for cleaning a patients teeth.

When Sedation is Needed for a Teeth Cleaning

Special needs patients are those who due to their mental, physical, medical, cognitive and developmental conditions require special consideration when receiving dental treatment. Some of the conditions that require special needs dentistry, include:

Special needs dentistry addresses the specific issues of each patient and provides the special needs dental care he or she requires.

It takes compassion and understanding to care for patients with special needs. While most dentists are able to accommodate certain special needs patients, The Dental Anesthesia Center focuses on meeting the needs and limitations of these patients. We understand that some patients need sedation for even a routine teeth cleaning. If your child or loved one requires special needs dentistry, we will be glad to schedule your next appointment.

St. Louis Sedation, Sleep & Special Needs Dentistry

Your initial oral examination includes a visual examination, charting, diagnosis and treatment recommendations. We will also take x-rays, which includes the panoramic x-ray for proper diagnosis of the anterior (front) and posterior (back) teeth as well as the bite-wing x-ray series for proper diagnosis of proximal decay of posterior teeth.

Call us today to schedule your appointment at (314) 862-7844. We look forward to meeting you!

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“Dr. Hoffmann and the Entire Team Are ALWAYS So Kind, Gentle, Caring and Understanding”

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Each of our patients come to us with their own unique dental story. We listen. It enables us the ability to provide everything it takes for each of them to have a “wow” experience. Our reward is the gratitude expressed by our patients. Today Cooper’s mom shared his unique “story”.

Meet our “gentle giant” Cooper. He was diagnosed with autism at 22 months of age and is now about to turn 21 years old. No matter what age he is, he will always be our “forever baby!”

Dr. Hoffmann and his team of professionals have helped us care for our Cooper for many years now. When having regular dental visits with our pediatric dentist became too difficult for Cooper to manage, she (Dr. Dunagan) referred us to Dr. Hoffmann for general anesthesia. Our neurologist (Dr. Mantovani) even refers patients to Dr. Hoffmann because of his reputation for excellent care for special needs family members.

I want to say that over the years not only has Dr. Hoffmann taken care of Cooper’s dental needs, wisdom teeth extractions, but so much more. We need blood draws and lab work taken regularly to help Coop’s team of doctors (neurologist, psychiatrist, pediatrician) maintain appropriate levels of medication (behavior meds, seizure meds, etc.) and Dr. Hoffmann does this while Cooper is under anesthesia! We seriously don’t know how we would accomplish this without him…look at the pictures…Coop’s strong and big and would not sit still for labs!

Dr. Hoffmann and the entire team are ALWAYS so kind, gentle, caring and understanding of individuals with special needs AND extremely reassuring to the family members who are always a little stressed from the situation. He is willing to help you through anything, trimming fingernails, taking off bandaids, removing skin tags! Those “crazy” things that parents think “how in the world can we do this” but just by communicating with Dr. Hoffmann, he can maybe do “that too” while your special person is under anesthesia!

Again, Cooper will be “our forever baby”, as well as a ”forever patient” of Dr. Hoffmann’s and The Dental Anesthesia Center.

Sincerely,

Anna Hyland (Mom)

Sedation Dentistry for Alzheimer’s Patients

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Sedation dentistry for such patients helps prevent physical and emotional distress.

Dentist for Alzheimer's Patients

There are a number of reasons why receiving dental care can be difficult for patients with Alzheimer’s or Dementia. During a dental procedure, patients with Alzheimer’s or Dementia can fade in and out of lucid moments and may become frightened or disoriented during their treatment. As a result, they may not be able to sit still and may make sudden movements that could cause injuries.

At The Dental Anesthesia Center, we offer both oral and IV sedation for patients who need dental treatment but have a difficult time cooperating. Sedation dentistry for these patients helps prevent physical and emotional distress.

Alzheimer’s Dental Care in St. Louis

Alzheimer’s disease often poses unique challenges to maintaining dental health. As it progresses, a person may forget when and how to brush their teeth. This can jeopardize their oral health and also cause difficulties with chewing, digesting, and with getting the proper nutrition.

If you are a caretaker for a person with Alzheimer’s or Dementia, our experienced and compassionate dental team is able to help you get them the dental care they need. We work hard to make our patients feel at ease by providing exceptional patient care in a relaxed, convenient atmosphere.

Signs of Dental Problems with Alzheimer’s Patients

Those with Alzheimer’s often cannot communicate a dental problem. As their caretaker, it’s important to look out for behaviors that may indicate a problem. Some of the most common behaviors to watch for include:

  • Refusal to eat hard or cold foods
  • Not wanting to put dentures in
  • Increased moaning, irritability, or shouting
  • Unusual aggressive behavior
  • Frequent pulling at the mouth or face

While these may be signs of other symptoms, it is important to seek immediate medical attention. But keeping in mind that these may be symptoms of dental problems might help in determining where their added pain or discomfort is coming from.

Alzheimer’s Dental Care Appointment

We welcome Alzheimer’s patients and all other special needs patients to The Dental Anesthesia Center. We are a state-of-the-art anesthesia and dental facility. Dr. Michael J. Hoffmann and Dr. Sean M. Thoms provide dental services accompanied by Deep Sedation and General Anesthesia. Dr. Victoria Q. Daugherty provides oral sedation, as well as non-sedation services.

If your loved one suffers from Alzheimer’s or Dementia, call our office today to schedule their appointment at (314) 862-7844. We value our patient relationships, making it our priority to deliver gentle dental care that they deserve from sedation dentists in St. Louis.

Dental Anesthesia for Patients with Special Needs

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Sleep dentistry provides a safe and effective way for special needs patients to receive the dental treatment they need.

Special Need Dentist St. Louis

A special needs patient may require a special needs dentist. Patients who suffer from paralysis, stroke, Down Syndrome, Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease, and genetic disorders may need a little extra dental care to ensure they maintain optimal dental health. Everyone requires individual attention and dental care.

Choosing the right level of sedation can be overwhelming for a parent or caretaker of a person with special needs. We are here to help you and your loved one here at The Dental Anesthesia Center. We work hard to make our patients feel at ease by providing exceptional patient care in a relaxed, convenient atmosphere.

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:

  • Nitrous oxide – If your dentist has recommended the use of nitrous oxide or “laughing gas” for a patient, then it is probably a good idea. Laughing gas is an odorless gas that is used to take away the anxiety that children can sometimes experience when they are in the dentist’s chair. There are very few side effects and low risk of using nitrous oxide, and the pros of having a good experience is a major advantage and can affect a patient’s oral habits in the future. When taking nitrous oxide, they never lose consciousness; they are awake and alert the whole time.
  • Oral sedation – If you are considering oral sedation, then there might be slightly more risk involved – but it is still minimal. Oral sedation is achieved by giving a patient medication before they come to the office. The medication is meant to relax them, take away any anxiety, and to make them calmer when the procedure is happening. Oral sedation typically will aid them in falling asleep, so that they sleep through the procedure. That means that they won’t have any negative memories and also they won’t be moving around and making it harder for the dentist to finish the procedure.
  • IV Sedation – IV sedation involves administering a sedative through a vein which allows the medication to work very quickly. Since it administered this way, a dentist is able to adjust the level of sedation as needed for the dental procedure. Being able to tailor the amount of sedative reduces the risk of complications and side effects. A patient is not asleep during IV sedation, they are in a semi-awake state and may be able to communicate a little with the dentist. Typically, a patient will have little or no memory of the procedure and are able to relax during any kind of treatment.

Sleep dentistry provides a safe and effective way for special need patients to receive the dental treatment they need. Patients will have a complete exam, full mouth series of x-rays (pictures of teeth), and a thorough cleaning while under general anesthesia.

The Dental Anesthesia Center

When you come in for your appointment, Dr. Hoffmann, Dr.Thoms or Dr. Daugherty will decide which level is best for you or your loved one.

Your initial oral examination includes a visual examination, charting, diagnosis and treatment recommendations. We will also take x-rays, which includes the panoramic x-ray for proper diagnosis of the anterior (front) and posterior (back) teeth as well as the bite-wing x-ray series for proper diagnosis of proximal decay of posterior teeth.

Call us today to schedule your appointment at (314) 862-7844. We look forward to meeting you!