Referred to The Dental Anesthesia Center in St. Louis? Here is what a referral means, what to expect, and how to take the next step.
A referral usually means your dentist assessed your needs and decided it would be better addressed in a setting built for it. That is a good outcome, not a bad one.
The Dental Anesthesia Center is a doctor-owned practice in Clayton that provides dental care under sedation and general anesthesia for patients who cannot be treated comfortably or safely in a traditional office.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind words and 5-star review! We're so glad to hear you had a positive experience with our team. We appreciate your support!
My autistic adult son has been a patient for several years and each year I find the staff to be professional and courteous. My son used to be afraid of going to the dentist but he is at ease each time he is seen. From the dentist to each staff member, everyone and everything is excellent! Thank you for servicing my special needs son!
I have been a patient at the Dental Anesthesia Center for about 20 years! Dr. Hoffman and his team are the premier dental group in the St. Louis area. I believe they are the only location for Dental Anesthesia if you need that service. They are experts in the dental field and I cannot fathom ever going anywhere else. Great team, kind, caring, patient, and looking out for you and your dental needs!
Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind words and continued trust over the years! We’re truly grateful for your support and are honored to have such a caring team dedicated to providing compassionate, high-quality care.
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.
Response from the owner:Thank you for the 5-star Google review! We truly appreciate your support and are grateful you chose The Dental Anesthesia Center!
Everyone took time to address our daughter directly. They explained each step to her, even though she is nonverbal and most likely would not respond. No one acted afraid of her. This means a lot to us. Thank you for seeing her.
Response from the owner:Thank you for the 4-star review! We believe everyone deserves to feel seen, respected, and valued, and we’re grateful your experience reflected that. ❤️
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.
Our experience was wonderful. Our Down’s Syndrome son is very apprehensive about his appointments, but Dr. Thoms and all of his staff made our son more compliant. Each member seems vested in their job and are so kind and caring. Thank you for a positive experience.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind words! We’re so glad your family had a positive experience. Our team takes great pride in providing compassionate, individualized care, and your feedback means so much to us!
I had a dental problem that needed attention quickly. They got me in the next day and we identified the problem and came up with a great solution. I have been going there for over 10 years and they always come through.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your continued trust in our team over the years! We’re always happy to help and truly appreciate your kind words and recommendation!
Always a great experience. Carrie does a wonderful job keeping my smile healthy and bright. Dr. Thoms is always very nice and professional. They make going to the dentist much less stressful!
Response from the owner:Thank you for the great feedback! We're so glad Carrie and Dr. Thoms have made your visits comfortable and enjoyable.
I’ve had wonderful experiences at this dental office. The team is professional, the care is top-notch, and appointments run smoothly. I’ve never had to wait long in the waiting room. I highly recommend them!
Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind words and recommendation! We’re so glad to hear you’ve had such positive experiences with our team. We truly appreciate your support!
I love coming to the Dental CENTER , all the ladies are so nice and they keep you up to date. Dr. Belah is great and Carrie are so good. They do a great job.
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re thrilled to hear you’ve had such a positive experience with our team. We’ll be sure to share your appreciation with Dr. Behl, Carrie, and the rest of the team!
Dr. Hoffman is a friendly individual and readily answers can't questions you may have. His office staff are all friendly. One in particular,Meaghan, has learned to put up with the grumpy old guy from Illinois. I would recommend you give these people a try for your special needs relative.
Response from the owner:Thank you for the kind words and recommendation! We’re so glad to hear you’ve felt welcomed and well cared for by Dr. Hoffman and our team. And we’ll be sure to let Meaghan know she’s doing a great job putting up with our “grumpy old guy from Illinois!”
The Best Dental Office In St Louis! Thanks for keeping my pearly whites shining! … back again and they always do a great job and make me feel comfortable! They have an exceptional staff who are friendly and also very good at their jobs!!
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for the wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear that you always feel comfortable and well cared for. Our team truly appreciates your kind words!
The practice is top notch. Could not ask for better care. Wish dental care was more affordable.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind words! We’re grateful for your feedback and are proud to provide high-quality care in a supportive environment.
The best staff for dealing with my level 3 non verbal autistic son. Very understanding and supportive.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind words! We’re so glad our team could provide a supportive and understanding experience. Your feedback means so much to us!
Why Dentists Refer Patients Here
The reasons vary more than people expect. Some of the most common:
Anxiety that has stopped working around. A patient who cannot get through an appointment, or who cancels every time the date gets close.
A medical history that needs closer monitoring. Heart or lung conditions, sleep apnea, seizure disorders, or a long medication list can all make continuous monitoring during treatment the safer choice.
A large amount of work best done in fewer visits. For some patients, combining treatment under anesthesia may considerably reduce the number of appointments.
Your dentist may also simply not hold the state permit for the level of sedation your situation calls for. That is a licensing boundary, not a judgment about you.
What the First Contact Looks Like
You call, or you send the form. That is the whole first step.
The conversation that follows is about understanding your situation: what your dentist recommended, what has made past appointments difficult, what your health history includes. Nobody schedules treatment on that first call, and nothing is committed to until you have a plan you understand.
It helps to have a few things on hand if you can gather them. The name of the referring dentist and any records or X-rays their office can send. A current list of medications and dosages, including any over-the-counter medications. The names of other doctors involved in your care. If you are calling for a family member, any guardianship or power of attorney documentation you have.
If you do not have all of it, call anyway. Our team can work through the gaps with you.
The Consultation and the Plan
Before any treatment is scheduled, your doctor reviews your medical history and examines your situation to determine whether sedation or general anesthesia is appropriate for you and which level is most suitable. Sometimes that review turns up something that needs to be coordinated with your physician first. Occasionally it points toward a hospital setting instead, and if that is the case, we will tell you plainly.
You will hear what is recommended, what the appointment would involve, and what recovery typically looks like, before you decide anything.
Your Dentist Usually Stays Involved
Being referred does not mean leaving the dentist you have. In many cases, the relationship continues, with routine care staying where it has always been and treatment requiring anesthesia happening here. With your permission, we can communicate with your referring dentist about the plan and what was completed.
Some patients prefer to have everything in one place going forward. Others go right back. Both are normal, and it is your decision.
And If Nobody Referred You
Plenty of people find us on their own after years of avoiding care, or after an appointment somewhere else ended without treatment. No referral is required. You can contact us directly.
Consider Contacting Us Today
A referral is only useful if someone acts on it, and the card in your pocket has probably been there a while. This is the easy part.
Call The Dental Anesthesia Center at (314) 862-7844, Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., or Friday, 7 a.m. to 2pm, or request a consultation through our contact form. We are at 950 Francis Place, Suite 305, in Clayton, serving patients throughout the St. Louis area.
