Visiting the dentist can be overwhelming for individuals with special needs. Sensory sensitivities, medical complexities, and anxiety can all make dental care feel out of reach. We’re here to change that at The Dental Anesthesia Center in St. Louis, Missouri.
We specialize in compassionate, customized dental care for patients with physical, developmental, cognitive, or behavioral conditions. Whether you’re a caregiver, parent, or patient, here’s what you can expect when visiting our practice.
Step 1: A Personalized Consultation
Before any dental work begins, we schedule a thorough consultation. During this initial visit, our team takes the time to:
Review your medical and dental history
Understand unique challenges or triggers
Discuss previous dental experiences
Collaborate with caregivers or medical providers
Our goal is to build trust and design a treatment plan that works for your individual needs. We treat patients of all ages, from young children with autism to older adults with Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s.
Step 2: A Calming, Sensory-Friendly Environment
Our office doesn’t feel like a traditional dental clinic — and that’s intentional. We’ve designed every space to be:
Low-stimulation: Soft lighting, minimal noise, and gentle colors
Predictable: Familiar routines and clear communication
Welcoming: Our staff is specially trained in patience, empathy, and behavior support
We encourage caregivers to bring comfort items or tools like noise-canceling headphones or weighted blankets.
Step 3: Safe, Gentle Sedation Options
As a leading provider of sedation dentistry in St. Louis, we offer the full spectrum of sedation options — including services rarely available at general dental offices.
Depending on the patient’s needs, we may recommend:
Nitrous Oxide (laughing gas): For mild anxiety and shorter visits
Oral Sedation: Taken in pill form before the appointment
IV Sedation: A deeper form of relaxation, administered onsite
General Anesthesia: Complete sleep dentistry with hospital-grade safety protocols
Step 4: Compassionate, Step-by-Step Care
Our team understands how important it is to go slow, explain each step, and adapt to the patient’s comfort level in real time. That’s why:
We use simple, reassuring language
We allow breaks during procedures when needed
We provide visual aids and demonstrations
We welcome caregiver involvement throughout
Every patient is treated with dignity and respect — no matter how complex their needs may be.
Step 5: Post-Visit Support & Follow-Up
Our care doesn’t end when the procedure is over. We ensure that families leave with:
Clear written and verbal aftercare instructions
Emergency contact information for questions or concerns
Optional follow-up calls to check in on healing and comfort
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.
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!
Very nice very convenient for me great people working
Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind words! We’re so glad you had a positive experience with our team. We truly appreciate your 5-star review!
The staff is always compassionate and explain all the steps of the procedure. This office has been a God send for me because otherwise I would have let my teeth fall into further disrepair. I highly recommend this office!!!!!
Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind words and recommendation! We’re so glad our team could help make your experience feel comfortable and supportive. We truly appreciate your 5-star review!
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.
I adding to this post because of my visit today with the best dental hygienist Delaina and my exam with Dr. Biehl. I have truly never been to such a caring and supportive dental group. Everyone is always conscientious of my needs and knows that I have issues with anxiety. I am always calm when I am sitting in the chair because of their kindness. I am so pleased with the Dental anesthesia center. There needs to be more than five stars. Thank you, everyone.
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!
Why Choose The Dental Anesthesia Center in St. Louis?
We are not a typical dental office. What makes us different?
We are one of the only dental practices in Missouri licensed to provide general anesthesia in-office
Our dentists are board-certified in sedation and sleep dentistry
We treat patients with disabilities, medical conditions, and severe anxiety every day
Our team includes anesthesiologists and dental professionals who specialize in special needs care
Whether it’s a routine cleaning or complex dental work under anesthesia, we’re here to help.
Ready to Schedule a Special Needs Dental Visit?
If you or your loved one needs specialized dental care in a safe, understanding environment — we’re ready when you are.
