Pediatric Hospital Dentistry in Lenexa, Prairie Village, and Lawrence, KS

When a child needs extensive dental treatment or has a complex medical history, the setting matters as much as the treatment itself. At Honey Bee Pediatric Dental Co., our board-certified pediatric dentists provide pediatric hospital dentistry, completing care with general anesthesia for dental work at Lawrence Memorial Hospital and Overland Park Regional Medical Center. Families from our Lawrence, Lenexa, and Prairie Village offices are welcome to schedule a consultation so we can talk through the safest option for your child.

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What Is Hospital Dentistry for Children?

Hospital dentistry is dental care that a pediatric dentist completes in a hospital operating room while a child is under general anesthesia. Your child is fully asleep, an anesthesia team manages breathing and monitoring, and our dentist completes the planned treatment in a single visit.

Fillings, crowns, pulpal therapy, extractions, and other needed care can be finished at once rather than across several appointments. It is one part of our broader sedation dentistry options for children, recommended when a hospital is the safest place for a particular child to receive care.

Which Children May Benefit from Dental Treatment in a Hospital Setting?

Children whose medical history, age, airway, or treatment needs make in-office sedation less appropriate are the most common candidates. After an individual evaluation, we may recommend it for:

Children with medical conditions that make in-office sedation less suitable
Airway considerations, such as enlarged tonsils or a higher BMI
Very young children, particularly those under age three who need sedation for treatment
Children who need extensive or complex treatment
Patients who may not otherwise be able to complete care safely or comfortably
Families whose insurance coverage is better suited to a hospital setting

Some parents also prefer the added resources a hospital provides, and we are glad to discuss every option with you.

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How Does Hospital Dentistry Compare to Other Sedation Options?

Hospital dentistry is our most comprehensive level of care, reserved for children who need full general anesthesia. We offer four options, matched to your child’s age, health, comfort, and treatment needs:

Nitrous oxide: A mild option that helps children feel more relaxed during routine treatment
Oral sedation: A light option for select patients who need a relatively small amount of work
In-office IV sedation: Independent anesthesia providers come to our office to administer and monitor anesthesia while our dentists focus entirely on treatment
Hospital dentistry: Children’s dental surgery under general anesthesia, completed in the operating room at our partner hospitals

Is General Anesthesia for Dental Work Safe for Kids?

Yes, general anesthesia is a well-established option for children when a qualified anesthesia team provides it in an appropriate setting. Before any procedure, that team evaluates your child’s health and confirms it is appropriate to proceed that day.

We review your child’s medical history carefully, coordinate with medical teams when needed, and give clear eating and drinking instructions ahead of time. In the operating room, the anesthesia team focuses solely on your child’s anesthesia and monitoring while our pediatric dentist gives full attention to the dental work.

Who Performs My Child’s Dental Treatment in the Operating Room?

The same pediatric dentists your family meets in our office provide treatment in the operating room. Dr. Casey Rhoads and Dr. Rebecca Ferns are both diplomates of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry, with advanced specialty training in pediatric dentistry beyond dental school.

Continuity is central to how we deliver operating room dental care. The doctor who examined your child, explained the treatment plan, and answered your questions is the one completing care. One parent shared that after a year of searching, our team worked hard to get her daughter in for dental surgery right away.

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How Can Referring Providers Request Hospital Dentistry for a Patient?

Physicians, general dentists, and other dental specialists can refer a patient by sending a referral to any of our offices. Our team then schedules a consultation, evaluates the child, and determines whether hospital-based care or another setting is most appropriate.

We collaborate closely with medical teams, especially for children with special healthcare needs or health histories that affect anesthesia planning, because increasing access to specialty pediatric dental care is part of our mission.

How Should I Prepare My Child for Dental Surgery Under Anesthesia?

Follow the specific instructions our team and the anesthesia team provide for your child, especially the guidelines about when your child must stop eating and drinking. These instructions are essential for anesthesia safety, and treatment may not be able to proceed that day if they are not followed. Before the procedure, you will receive details about:

When to stop food and drinks
Which medications to give or hold
Your arrival time and check-in instructions
Any additional preparation your child’s health history requires

Instructions vary by anesthesia type and medical history, so rely on the ones written for your child. These practical ideas for helping kids feel ready for surgery and anesthesia can also make the conversation with your child easier.

What Happens on the Day of the Procedure?

On the day of treatment, your family checks in with both our dental team and the anesthesia or hospital team before anything begins. Your pediatric dentist reviews the planned treatment with you and explains that recommendations could change if additional findings are discovered once your child is fully examined. From there, the day generally follows this order:

An anesthesia evaluation to confirm it is appropriate to proceed
Treatment, with the anesthesia team monitoring while our dentist completes the dental work
Recovery with trained staff until your child is ready to go home
A review of exactly what treatment was completed, with time for your questions

You will leave with postoperative instructions from both teams and clear direction on whom to contact with concerns.

What Does Recovery Look Like After Dental Treatment Under General Anesthesia?

Most children return to their normal routine relatively quickly. After anesthesia, children may be sleepy, groggy, emotional, or a little unsteady, and some experience temporary nausea, a sore throat, or discomfort related to their treatment.

We recommend a quiet day at home with close adult supervision. Your instructions will cover eating and drinking, activity, pain management, medications, and care for the specific procedures performed. Recovery varies from child to child, and our team will make sure you know what is normal and when to call us or the anesthesia team.

How Much Does Hospital Dentistry Cost?

The cost of hospital dentistry depends on the amount of treatment needed, the facility, the anesthesia provider, and your child’s insurance benefits, so there is no single typical price. Families may receive separate estimates or bills for dental treatment, anesthesia services, and hospital or facility fees, because different organizations provide each part of care.

Whenever possible, our team reviews anticipated dental costs and insurance benefits with you before treatment, and the anesthesia provider or hospital may supply its own estimate. We work with many insurance plans, including state Medicaid programs, and we will help you understand the options available based on your child’s needs and coverage.

Why Choose Honey Bee Pediatric Dental Co. for Hospital Dentistry

Families choose us because hospital care reflects the same relationship they built in our office. We treat every patient the way we would want our own children treated, and we keep parents informed and involved from the first appointment through recovery.

The same pediatric dentists in the office and in the operating room
Board-certified doctors with advanced specialty training
A complete range of pediatric sedation dentistry, from nitrous oxide to general anesthesia
Clear explanations of why treatment is recommended
Collaboration with physicians, general dentists, and other dental specialists

Our education-focused approach continues after treatment. Through our full range of pediatric dental services, including cleanings, sealants, and anticipatory guidance, we help families build habits that protect their child’s results.

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