We value our patient relationships, making it our priority to deliver gentle dental care that you deserve from a sedation dentist.
Having IV sedation for your dental procedure can be intimidating and overwhelming if you don’t know what to expect. Although IV sedation comes with relatively little risk, the things that you do before your appointment and how carefully you follow instructions is important.
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!
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!
Before Your Appointment
There are specific steps that a patient needs to take before undergoing IV sedation. To make sure that things go smoothly and you aren’t doing things to increase your risk of complications, follow the directions of your dentist.
To ensure that things go well, do the following:
Wear clothing that’s nonrestrictive but warm. The temperature of the procedure room will be a little cooler than the typical office.
Don’t drink or eat for a minimum of 8 hours before your scheduled procedure.
Do not smoke for at least 12 hours before your procedure.
Do not wear contact lenses during the procedure.
Don’t take any medications before the appointment, unless they have been cleared with your dentist.
If any part of your medical history has changed since your consultation, make your doctor aware of it.
Bring someone with you to the appointment who can escort you home.
What Will Happen During the Procedure?
Once you arrive at the appointment, the doctor or nurse will get the IV started in your arm. All of the IV medications will be given via IV so that they can be pushed directly into the bloodstream. There will likely be a mixture of medicines including sedatives, anti-inflammatory, and pain medicine.
Although you will be heavily sedated, your body will still show signs of discomfort if you are experiencing any, and that will signal your dentist to adjust your medications appropriately. Your reactions will determine the amount of anesthesia that is necessary.
What Happens After the Dental Procedure?
After IV sedation, it is not uncommon for you to feel very drowsy. The anesthesia will last a while after the procedure, so be prepared to have someone escort you home and monitor you until they know for sure you are fully conscious and aware.
If you can, restrain from eating food until any numbness has worn off. If you can’t feel the sides of your mouth, you can be at risk for biting injuries, that can lead to infection. After the numbness has worn off, eat foods as tolerated.
They recommend not to drive or operate heavy machinery for 24-hours post-procedure. This is to make sure that the sedation has had enough time to work its way out of your system. Also, don’t make any crucial decisions because, while you might think that you are rational, the drugs might be unwittingly affecting you.
Sedation Dentistry St. Louis
Knowing what to expect before, during, and after your procedure, will ensure that you limit the potential for risk and also that you decrease any anxiety you might be feeling about your IV sedation.
Schedule an appointment: Call (314) 862-7844. We are a state-of-the-art dental facility for patients who require general anesthesia, deep sedation, or oral sedation for their dental care.
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The first two board-certified Dentist Anesthesiologists in the state of Missouri.
