Services
Sedation Dentistry
Nitrous oxide or oral sedation helps anxious kids stay calm and comfortable through their dental care.
Why choose us
Benefits of Sedation Dentistry
Calm, Comfortable Visits
Sedation helps anxious kids relax so dental care feels manageable instead of scary.
Two Gentle Options
Nitrous oxide (laughing gas) eases mild nerves and wears off quickly, while oral sedation suits children who need deeper relaxation for longer or more involved treatment.
Made For Children
Our team works exclusively with infants through teens, including children with special healthcare needs.
Parents Stay Close
You're welcome in the treatment room so your child sees a familiar face throughout.
Flexible Payment Options
We accept major PPO plans, Medicaid, self-pay, HSA/FSA, and offer flexible financing plans.
If your child freezes at the sound of the dental drill, gags during routine cleanings, or needs several fillings in one sitting, sedation can turn a dreaded appointment into one everyone gets through calmly. In our Easley and Greenville offices, we use sedation as a tool that supports good dentistry — never as a shortcut around it. Because we treat only children, adolescents, and teens, we've spent years learning how to read a young patient's cues and match the right level of comfort to the child in the chair.
Sedation dentistry means using medication to help a child stay relaxed, comfortable, and cooperative during dental treatment. It isn't the same as being "put to sleep." With the two options we offer — nitrous oxide and oral sedation — your child remains conscious and able to respond, just far less anxious and much more at ease with the sounds, sensations, and time involved in treatment.
Nitrous oxide, often called laughing gas, is breathed in through a small, sweet-smelling nose mask. It takes effect within minutes, produces a light floating or tingly feeling, and wears off almost as quickly once the mask is switched to pure oxygen at the end of the visit. It suits children with mild to moderate nerves, a strong gag reflex, or first-time jitters about a filling or sealant appointment.
Oral sedation involves a measured dose of medication taken by mouth before treatment begins. It produces a deeper, drowsier calm and is a better fit for children with significant dental anxiety, those who need longer or more involved work such as crowns or extractions completed in fewer visits, and many children with special healthcare needs who find the sights and sounds of a dental office overwhelming. Local and topical anesthesia are used alongside either option so the treatment area itself is thoroughly numb.
Deciding between the two starts with a conversation, not a prescription. We review your child's health history, current medications, past dental experiences, temperament, and the amount and type of treatment planned. A cooperative eight-year-old needing one small filling may do beautifully with nitrous oxide alone. A four-year-old with several cavities, or a teen whose anxiety has led to postponed care, may benefit more from oral sedation.
Parents are welcome in the treatment room, and we encourage it. Knowing you're nearby often does as much for a nervous child as anything we can offer. We'll walk you through preparation instructions ahead of time — including any eating and drinking guidelines for oral sedation — and we want your questions answered before appointment day, not during it. If a child's needs fall outside what we can safely provide in our offices, we coordinate with our partners at Coastal Family Oral Surgery & Sedation so care still happens in a setting built for it.
After the Appointment
Recovery looks different depending on which option was used. Nitrous oxide clears from the system quickly, and most children return to school or normal activity the same day with no lingering grogginess. Oral sedation lasts longer. Expect a sleepy, unsteady child for the rest of the day, and plan for quiet supervision at home, light foods, and plenty of fluids. We'll send you home with written instructions and a way to reach us if anything seems off.
If treatment included numbing, watch that your child doesn't chew a lip or cheek while sensation returns. The real result of a sedation visit shows up later: dentistry completed thoroughly and comfortably, and often a child whose next appointment feels less frightening because the last one went well.
Coverage, Cost, and Getting Started
We accept all major PPO insurance plans, Medicaid, and self-pay patients, and we file pediatric and anesthesia claims as a specialist practice, which can affect how benefits are applied. We'll verify coverage and give you a clear picture of costs before treatment is scheduled.
For families managing expenses, we offer:
- Flexible financing plans
- HSA and FSA payment
- A $99 New Patient Special
- Self-pay options for families without insurance
Between our Easley and Greenville locations, we care for families throughout Greenville, Easley, and Anderson. Whether your child needs a single filling, more extensive restorative work, or an emergency visit after an injury, sedation can make it manageable.
If anxiety, special healthcare needs, or a difficult past experience has kept your child from getting the care they need, we'd be glad to talk it through with you. Call either office to schedule a visit, and let's find the approach that fits your child best.
The process
What to expect
- 1
Consultation And Review
We talk through your child's health history, anxiety level, and planned treatment to recommend nitrous oxide, oral sedation, or local anesthesia alone.
- 2
Treatment Day
Your child receives the agreed sedation and is monitored by our team throughout the appointment.
- 3
Recovery And Aftercare
We go over simple at-home instructions with you and answer any questions before you leave.