Helping anxious and special-needs children feel safe, calm, and cared for—right in your neighborhood.
Services designed specifically for children with special needs, sensory sensitivities, dental anxiety, or those requiring extensive dental work—right in your family dentist’s office.
Your child can receive complete dental care in your trusted dentist’s office—no hospital visits needed.
Our team consists exclusively of MD anesthesiologists with specialized pediatric training.
Over 350,000 successful cases spanning 20 years with zero patient injuries.
Our gentle sedation helps your child remain calm and comfortable throughout their entire procedure.
The team of nurses helped my son feel comfortable and supported during the procedure. I am so thankful for their amazing work. They went out of their way to update me during the procedure to make sure that I was comfortable and relaxed, as well. The process couldn’t have been easier for all parties involved!
Parent
They listened to what I have to say and used the tools on her that work best for her like counting backwards instead of forward during a task. They updated us during each step and even took pictures letting us know how it was going. As soon as she woke up they let us in her room and made sure she had her comfort items (blanket and stuffed animal) helped us to car and followed up multiple times when we got home!
Parent
Can’t say enough about how wonderfully they took care of my nonverbal, autistic sweetie. The kindness and gentleness they gave to her and us, as a family, phenomenal.
Parent
Pediatric Dental Anesthesia Associates
PO Box 2080
Palm Harbor, FL 34682-2080
Email: [email protected]
Dr. Deborah Plagenhoef is a board-certified anesthesiologist with over 25 years of experience in pediatric anesthesia. She earned her medical degree from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, completed her residency in anesthesiology at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, and pursued advanced training in pediatric anesthesia at Driscoll Children’s Hospital.
Dr. Jeff Plagenhoef is a board-certified anesthesiologist with decades of experience in pediatric anesthesia. He earned his medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia and completed his residency in anesthesiology with a focus on cardiac anesthesia at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Dr. Christian Caldwell is a board-certified pediatric anesthesiologist with over 25 years of experience. She graduated with honors from Texas Tech University before earning her medical degree at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine. Dr. Caldwell completed her residency and anesthesia training at Scott and White in Temple, Texas.
We make dental visits easier by working closely with your dentist to provide safe, in-office sedation tailored to your child’s needs. From pre-visit planning to recovery, our experienced team handles everything—so your child stays calm and comfortable, and you stay worry-free.
Your dentist arranges everything with our team.
We learn about your child’s specific needs with a pre-visit consultation.
Our anesthesiologist brings all necessary equipment and medications.
Your child receives appropriate sedation while the dentist completes all needed work.
We monitor your child until they’re ready to go home—usually within a short time.
A pediatric anesthesiologist is a medical doctor who has completed four years of college, followed by four years of medical school, and then an additional 4-5 years of training in anesthesiology, including specialized training in pediatric (infant and child) anesthesiology. This typically involves more than 12,000 hours of clinical training. Our anesthesiologists undergo some of the highest levels of training available, ensuring that your child receives the safest care possible.
Modern anesthesia has never been safer. Our nurses will collect your child’s medical history, which will be carefully reviewed by our doctors. If your child falls into a higher-risk category, you may be referred to a hospital or surgery center.
In the United States, more than one million children under the age of four undergo surgical procedures requiring anesthesia each year. Young children typically do not receive anesthesia unless it is medically necessary. For more information, visit www.smarttots.org.
Your child’s safety is our top priority. Our doctors will carefully review your child’s medical history and inform you if your child is not a suitable candidate for IV sedation in the office. If necessary, we will refer you to a hospital or surgery center.
It is essential that your child does not eat or consume dairy products for six hours before the procedure. This is a safety precaution, and failure to follow these guidelines could result in the postponement of your child’s dental procedure. Clear liquids such as water, Gatorade, Jello, or popsicles are allowed up to three hours before the procedure. However, nothing should be consumed by mouth during the three hours prior to the procedure.
Plan to stay at home with your child for the rest of the day. They will be able to resume their normal daily routine the following day.
We are not a provider for any insurance company, so payment will need to be made out of pocket prior to the procedure. However, you can contact your insurance company to determine if you are eligible for reimbursement. We will also provide you with a “superbill” that you can submit to your insurance company.
