A young child getting sedated at the dentist's office before treatment.

Pediatric Dentistry: Sedation Dentistry

Making medical decisions for your child can be overwhelming, even if you’re planning for a routine procedure instead of coping with an emergency. Since children should see their dentist every six months or less, it helps to understand common dental treatments and treatment options, such as the sedation options available. Is sedation the same as anesthesia? What’s safe, and what can you expect from the type of sedation you choose? Let’s answer some common questions about pediatric sedation dentistry so you can feel confident about the dental care decisions you make for your child.

Call (844) 8-SMILE-NOW or make an appointment today!

What Pediatric Sedation Options Are Available?

Pediatric sedation options for children include the following:

  • Nitrous oxide: Nitrous oxide is a relaxing sedative that does not put children to sleep. It’s often referred to as laughing gas.
  • Mild sedation: Mild sedation may make children drowsy but does not put them to sleep. It is a standard option for adults and older children undergoing dental procedures. 
  • Moderate sedation: Patients can still follow directions under moderate sedation but usually don’t remember the procedure after completion. 
  • Deep sedation: Patients opting for deep sedation will be asleep while receiving dental treatment. Although they may respond to pain during the procedure, they should not remember it.

Is Sedation The Same As Anesthesia?

Anesthesia is different from sedation pediatric dentistry options. While most dentists can administer mild and moderate sedation medications, states require additional training to administer deep sedation medications and general anesthesia. Eligible dental professionals must complete a Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) accredited program. 

Anesthesia puts patients into a deeper sleep state than deep sedation. When patients receive anesthesia, they’re rendered unconscious, and their muscles may be paralyzed.

Schedule Your Child’s Next Appointment Now (844) 8‑SMILE‑NOW
(844) 876‑4536


Absolute dental's $39 complete exam plus x-rays offer Complete exam plus x-rays offer at absolute dental

Regular Price:
$179

Hurry! Offer Expires: 01/31/2025

With this offer, there’s no excuse not to get back on track! Schedule a complete exam and x-rays for only $39 and ensure you have a beautiful healthy smile.

What Our Patients Say

Amazing staff!

If there were 5 more stars I would give this place a 10 all the way! I had a chance…

Google - Danni B.

Recommend this place to anyone in search of great dental care

My dental hygienist Darlene was amazing. She's always so kind to my three daughters and I. She always is so…

Yelp - Jason T.

Love the Absolute Dental team!

They took care of my kids. I was able to get braces the same day for my daughter I got…

Google - Jerry P.

Great and friendly staff at this location!

The staff at this location are very nice and friendly. They explain all the steps involved and tell you everything…

Google - Lupe S.

The best experience I've had at any dental office!

The best experience I've had at any dental office! The front desk girls were so helpful and Tonya went above…

Yelp - Maribel C.

Staff makes you feel comfortable and relaxed

The staff at Absolute Dental makes one feel comfortable and relax. They are very helpful… They also have one in…

Google - Mary I.

Recently had a great experience at Absolute Dental.

Recently, had a great experience at Absolute Dental. From the front desk to the hygienist to Dental assistant to the…

Yelp - Nina G.

They do a great job and I would defiantly recommend!!

Every single person at this office is amazing! They are always so welcoming and helpful. They work with you and…

Google - Razhalena M.

Great Experience!

"Antoinette was lovely! So sweet and got me a great discount on my veneers. Valerie the assistant was so gentle…

Google - Shannon W.

I can truly say this is one of the best dental offices in town!

I can truly say this is one of the best dental offices in town! Dr.raj and the staff there are…

Yelp - Stacey G.

Very clean, Great Customer Service!

The blue diamond location is very clean and displays great customer service. Yvonne was very helpful and greeted me right…

Google - Yvette A.

Deep Sedation And Anesthesia: Pros And Cons

Deep sedation and anesthesia both offer pros and cons worth considering.

Pros Of Deep Sedation And Anesthesia

Dental phobia is common. Studies vary, with some concluding high levels of dental anxiety affect 19% of patients. In contrast, others suggest as many as four out of every five patients suffer from high levels of dental anxiety. Another study of children ages 10 to 14 found 42% suffered from dental fear. Deep sedation and anesthesia reduce or eliminate the patient’s awareness during the procedure, enabling them to receive dental care without disruption. 

Deep sedation and anesthesia can help prevent dental anxiety because patients don’t remember any pain they associate with their treatment.

Deep sedation or anesthesia is more relaxing for those who do not suffer from dental anxiety or fear. Some patients may favor these options because they feel more comfortable when they aren’t aware of what’s happening during their dental treatment. 

Cons Of Deep Sedation And Anesthesia

When patients receive mild or moderate sedation, they’re usually able to follow their dentist’s directions during the procedure. When patients are fully sedated, they cannot. 

It takes longer for patients to recover from deep sedation than mild or moderate sedation. The recovery period is the longest for those receiving anesthesia, and patients must be monitored until they’re ready to go home. 

Both deep sedation and anesthesia can interfere with breathing, and some patients need to be put on a ventilator to help them breathe during the procedure.

We Accept Most Dental Insurance

Absolute Dental is a preferred provider for most insurances, unions, and hotels that include: Aetna, Ameritas, Boon-Chapman, Caesars Palace, Cigna, Delta Dental, Diversified, Geha, Guardian, Harrah’s, HealthSCOPE Benefits, Health Plan of Nevada (HPN), Humana, Liberty, Met-Life, MGM-MIRAGE, Premier Access, The Standard, Station Casinos, Teachers Health Trust, United Concordia, United Healthcare, Venetian, and The Zenith. We also accept Medicaid.

If you do not see your dental insurance listed here, just give us a call to confirm!

No Insurance? No Problem. Try our Smile Saver Program

Every person’s situation is different. If you don’t see your health insurance here, or if you do not have dental insurance, we can help you!

Call us now to discuss your situation and discover what options are right for you.

(844) 8-SMILE-NOW

Absolute Dental: Delivering Smiles And Eliminating Fears 

Expert dental care is crucial for your child’s oral health and self-confidence. Absolute Dental’s Smile Saver plan and special offers on dental services ensure you can get your child expert dental care, even if you don’t have insurance. We have 24-hour pediatric dentists available for dental emergencies, and our dental team keeps appointment slots open for walk-ins when emergencies arise. 

Our team will explain the treatment options, including the sedation options, and how to choose what’s best for your child to ensure they have a positive treatment experience while receiving the care they need.

FAQ

Mild sedation is an oral sedation option used in pediatric dentistry, and children breathe in a mixture of sedatives and oxygen. Moderate sedation may be administered orally or injected. 

Dentists use intravenous (IV) lines for those opting for deep sedation. The medication goes through the IV line to the bloodstream. 

General anesthesia can be inhaled. A mask covers the child’s nose and mouth, allowing them to inhale gaseous anesthesia. Anesthesia can also be injected into the bloodstream.

Although there are risks with any medical procedure, sedation dentistry offers dentists a safe way to provide pain-free treatment for children with only slight risks of side effects, such as irritability or vomiting. Those administering mild, moderate, or deep sedation or anesthesia have the training and expertise required and use appropriate sedation options for children.

Perhaps you realize your 17-year-old’s wisdom teeth may be impacted, and you’re searching for a dentist near you for their wisdom teeth removal, or you realize your child has a cavity and may need a filling. It’s natural to wonder if these dental procedures require sedation.

Common reasons children may need pediatric sedation dentistry include the following:

  • Dry socket treatments
  • Fillings
  • Infections
  • Root canals
  • Tooth extractions
  • Wisdom tooth removal 

Address

7320 South Rainbow Boulevard 103
Las Vegas, Nevada 89139
Phone Number: (702) 825-0270

Hours

Mon: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Tue: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Wed: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Thur: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Fri: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Sat: Call for Availability
Sun: Closed

Address

6127 South Rainbow Boulevard 100
Las Vegas, Nevada 89118
Phone Number: (702) 998-2237

Hours

Monday: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Tuesday: 8:30am - 5:00pm
Wednesday: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Thursday: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Friday: 7:00am - 4:00pm
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed

Address

1860 East Charleston Boulevard
Las Vegas, Nevada 89104
Phone Number: (702) 843-0946

Hours

Mon: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Tue: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Wed: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Thur: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Fri: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Sat: Call for Availability
Sun: Closed

Address

3830 East Flamingo Road Ste E2
Las Vegas, Nevada 89121
Phone Number: (702) 843-5014

Hours

Mon: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Tue: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Wed: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Thur: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Fri: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Sat: Call for Availability
Sun: Closed

Address

3674 East Sunset Road 120
Las Vegas, Nevada 89120
Phone Number: (702) 724-8200

Hours

Monday: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Tuesday: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Wednesday: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Thursday: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Friday: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Saturday: 9:00am - 3:00pm
Sunay: Closed

Address

8380 West Cheyenne Avenue ste 102
Las Vegas, Nevada 89129
Phone Number: (702) 843-0949

Hours

Mon: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Tue: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Wed: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Thur: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Fri: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Sat: Call for Availability
Sun: Closed

Address

6122 West Lake Mead Boulevard ste 105
Las Vegas, Nevada 89108
Phone Number: (702) 843-5033

Hours

Mon: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Tue: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Wed: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Thur: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Fri: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Sat: 8:00am - 1:00pm
Sun: Closed

Address

8430 Farm Road 120
Las Vegas, Nevada 89131
Phone Number: (702) 843-5008

Hours

Mon: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Tue: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Wed: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Thur: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Fri: 8:00am - 2:00pm
Sat: Closed
Sun: Closed

Address

4035 South Durango Drive 103
Las Vegas, Nevada 89147
Phone Number: (702) 843-0921

Hours

Mon: 7:00am - 4:00pm
Tue: 7:00am - 4:00pm
Wed: 7:00am - 4:00pm
Thur: 7:00am - 4:00pm
Fri: 7:00am - 4:00pm
Sat: Closed
Sun: Closed

Address

169 N Nellis Blvd
Las Vegas, Nevada 89110
Phone Number: (702) 843-5098

Hours

Mon: 9:00am - 6:00pm
Tue: 9:00am - 6:00pm
Wed: 9:00am - 6:00pm
Thur: 9:00am - 6:00pm
Fri: 9:00am - 6:00pm
Sat: 8:00am - 3:00pm
Sun: Closed

Address

3945 South Maryland Parkway Ste A
Las Vegas, Nevada 89119
Phone Number: (702) 843-5042

Hours

Mon: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Tue: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Wed: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Thur: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Fri: 7:00am - 4:00pm
Sat: Call for Availability
Sun: Closed

Address

9400 South Eastern Avenue 101
Las Vegas, Nevada 89123
Phone Number: (702) 843-0971

Hours

Mon: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Tue: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Wed: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Thur: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Fri: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Sat: 7:00am - 1:00pm
Sun: Closed

Address

945 S Rainbow Blvd
Las Vegas, Nevada 89145
Phone Number: (702) 825-0581

Hours

Mon: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Tue: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Wed: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Thur: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Fri: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Sat: 8:00am - 1:00pm
Sun: Closed

Address

4300 Meadows Lane 1350
Las Vegas, Nevada 89107
Phone Number: (702) 843-5039

Hours

Mon: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Tue: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Wed: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Thur: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Fri: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Sat: 8:00am - 3:00pm
Sun: Closed

Address

4720 Blue Diamond Road Ste 100
Las Vegas, Nevada 89139
Phone Number: (702) 583-5342

Hours

Mon: Call for availability
Tue: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Wed: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Thur: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Fri: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Sat: Call for availability
Sun: Closed

Address

8380 West Cheyenne Avenue ste 104
Las Vegas, Nevada 89129
Phone Number: (702) 733-0888

Hours

Mon: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Tue: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Wed: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Thurs: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Fri: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Sat: Call For Availability
Sun: Closed

Address

6820 West Flamingo Road # I
Las Vegas, Nevada 89103
Phone Number: (702) 848-7760

Hours

Sunday: CLOSED
Monday: 9:00am - 6:00pm
Tuesday: 9:00am - 6:00pm
Wednesday: 9:00am - 6:00pm
Thursday: 9:00am - 6:00pm
Friday: 9:00am - 6:00pm
Saturday: 8:00am - 2:00pm

Address

7901 West Tropical Parkway 120
Las Vegas, Nevada 89149
Phone Number: ​(702) 839-5030

Hours

Mon: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tue: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wed: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thur: 7:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Fri: 7:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sat: Some Saturdays 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Sun: Closed

Address

3226 North Decatur Boulevard
Las Vegas, Nevada 89130
Phone Number: (702) 648-6800

Hours

Mon: 9:00am - 5:00pm
Tue: 9:00am - 5:00pm
Wed: 9:00am - 5:00pm
Thur: 9:00am - 5:00pm
Fri: 9:00am - 5:00pm
Sat: Call for Availability
Sun: Closed

Address

2030 East Warm Springs Road
Las Vegas, Nevada 89119
Phone Number: (702) 735-4470

Hours

Mon: 9:00am - 5:00pm
Tue: 9:00am - 5:00pm
Wed: 9:00am - 5:00pm
Thurs: 7:00am - 4:00pm
Fri: 7:00am-2:00pm
Sat: Closed
Sun: Closed

Address

8445 West Flamingo Road Suite 2
Las Vegas, Nevada 89147
Phone Number: (702) 309-0909

Hours

Monday: CLOSED
Tuesday: Call for Availability
Wednesday: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Thursday: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Friday: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Saturday: Call for Availability
Sunday: CLOSED

Address

320 North Nellis Boulevard unit 4
Las Vegas, Nevada 89110
Phone Number: (702) 605-9120

Hours

Monday: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Tuesday: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Wednesday: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Thursday: 7:00am - 5:00pm
Friday: 8:00am - 4:00pm
Saturday: 8:00am - 2:00pm
Sunday: Closed

Address

7581 West Lake Mead Boulevard 160
Las Vegas, Nevada 89128
Phone Number: (702) 551-4128

Hours

Monday: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Tuesday: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Wednesday: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Thursday: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Friday: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed

Address

7101 West Craig Road suite 102
Las Vegas, Nevada 89129
Phone Number: (702) 625-8031

Hours

Monday: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Tuesday: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Wednesday: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Thursday: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Friday: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed

Address

5731 South Fort Apache Road #110
Las Vegas, Nevada 89148
Phone Number: (702) 476-2700

Hours

Monday: 9:00AM - 6:00PM
Tuesday: 9:00AM - 6:00PM
Wednesday: 9:00AM - 6:00PM
Thursday: 9:00AM - 6:00PM
Friday: Closed
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed

Address

8710 West Charleston Boulevard suite 100
Las Vegas, Nevada 89117
Phone Number: (702) 330-8952

Hours

Monday: 7:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Tuesday: 7:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Wednesday: 7:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Thursday: 7:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Friday: Closed
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed

Address

7520 West Sahara Avenue
Las Vegas, Nevada 89117
Phone Number: (702) 384-7200

Hours

Monday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday: Closed
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed

Address

6910 South Rainbow Boulevard Suite 104
Las Vegas, Nevada 89118
Phone Number: (702) 395-0157

Hours

Monday: 7:00am-4:00pm
Tuesday: 7:00am-4:00pm
Wednesday: 7:00am-4:00pm
Thursday: 7:00am-4:00pm
Friday: 7:00am-4:00pm
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed

Start Smiling Now

Call us now to make an appointment at a location near you and receive a complete exam & X-ray for only $39.

Call and Make Your Appointment

(844) 8-SMILE-NOW
(844) 876-4536

Start Your Appointment Online

Make Appointment