Sedation Options for Kids at Mini Miners

Comfortable Dental Care for Every Kid

At Mini Miners Pediatric Dentistry, we understand that dental visits can sometimes be challenging.

That's why we offer different levels of sedation to help make dental treatments comfortable and stress-free for every child, including those with dental anxiety, special needs, or extensive dental treatment needs.

Our Three Levels of Sedation

Mini Miners offers three levels of sedation, each designed to meet different needs:

Mild Sedation: Nitrous Oxide (Laughing Gas)

What it is:

A odorless gas mixed with oxygen that helps children relax.

When We Use It:

For children with mild anxiety or during simple procedures to help them feel calm.

What to Expect:

Your child will be given a menu to choose their “flavor” like bubble gum or mango. We'll encourage them to breathe through their nose and watch a movie. Your child will be awake and able to respond. They may feel a little drowsy and silly during its use.

Recovery:

The effects wear off quickly after treatment. Your child can return to school or normal activities immediately afterwards.

The bubble gum gas makes me feel less nervous about getting my cavity filled.

Moderate Sedation: Oral Conscious Sedation

What It Is:

Combination of two medications (Versed and Hydroxyzine) in liquid form that may induce relaxation and sleepiness and consistently causes amnesia.

When We Use It:

For anxious children, longer procedures, or kids who aren’t calm with nitrous oxide alone.

What to Expect:

Your child will swallow the liquid medication and then be able to watch a movie. After a short period will remain conscious but will become drowsy. It can create an amnesic effect, so kids may not be able to remember what happened at their appointment.

Recovery:

The medications take several hours to wear off completely. Children need to rest and be monitored by an adult for the remainder of the day.

Deep Sedation:
General Anesthesia

What It Is:

An anesthesiologist will administer anesthesia through gas and an IV to induce a state of unconsciousness and unresponsiveness to pain.

When We Use It:

For kids with special needs, extreme anxiety, and extensive dental work so they don’t feel pain or discomfort during the procedure.

What to Expect:

An anesthesiologist will monitor your child’s vitals before any anesthesia is administered. Your child will get to watch a movie and will breathe in anesthesia with a mask. Once your child is asleep, parents will wait in the waiting room. An anesthesiologist will insert an IV and continue to monitor your child’s vitals throughout the dental procedure. Your child will be completely asleep and unaware during their treatment. After the procedure, parents will be brought into the recovery room before your child is awake so that your child can wake up to your comforting voice. As they awake, they will be drowsy and likely confused after the procedure.

Recovery:

The anesthesia takes several hours to wear off completely. Children need to rest and be monitored by an adult in the same room for the remainder of the day.

Our Anesthesiology Partners

We partner with two local anesthesiology practices to provide safe, quality anesthesia in the comfort of our dental office:

Mile High Anesthesia

Altitude Anesthesia

Billing for General Anesthesia

You will be billed by the anesthesiologist separately from Mini Miners. The anesthesiologists do not take insurance. Parents can submit an insurance claim on their own, but we recommend you verify your coverage in advance.

Which Sedation is Right for My Child?

Our team will discuss all options and help you determine the most appropriate type of sedation for your child's specific needs. Some things to consider: