We welcome all patients with special needs and complex medical history. Dr. Kim has over 20 years of experience in dealing with such patients. Our office will work closely with the patient’s physicians to deliver optimal dental care as needed.

Each patient, no matter what his or her special needs, is treatedequally and with respect at our office. Our dental team takes pride in our abilities to care for special-needs patients, and we continually educate ourselves in order to serve this population of patients with the highest standard of care.


Sedation can range from the use of nitrous oxide to calm a patient to general anesthetics used to put patients to sleep. Patients with dental phobia, low pain tolerance, major dentaltreatment, physical handicaps or strong gag reflexes may require sedation. Procedures like fillings, crowns, bridges, root canals, extractions, cosmetic procedures and periodontal treatments often require   sedation.

We provide nitrous oxide (laughing gas) for those patients who would benefit from anti-anxiety agents. Nitrous oxide also allows for decreased amount of local anesthetic to be given which can be quite beneficial fora child who is likely to bite his/her lip after an injection. Nitrous oxide, more commonly known as laughing gas, is often used as a conscious sedative during a dental visit. The gasis administered with a mixture of oxygen and has a calming effect that helps phobic or anxious patients relax during their dental treatment. Because it is a mildsedative, patients are still conscious and can talk to their pediatric dentist during their visit. After treatment, the nitrous is turned off and oxygen is administered for five to 10 minutes to help flush any remaining gas. The effects wear off almost immediately. Nitrous oxide rarely has side effects, although some patients may experience minor nausea and constipation. Dr. Kim will provide you with pre-and post-sedation instructions.

Sedation is endorsed by the American Dental Association and is an effective way to make many patients comfortable during their dental visit. Before using a sedative or anesthetic, it is important to tell your pediatric dentist about any medications or medical treatments your child is receiving. Before administering any sedative or anesthetic, your pediatric dentist will talk to you about the process of sedation and pre-and post-sedation instructions.

For those patients who may require general anesthesia for dental procedures, Dr. Kim provides dental services in the operating room at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. All the anesthesia services are provided by pediatric anesthesiologists at the Hospital.