# Pediatric Dentists Around Sacramento, Town by Town > Kids-only dental practices from Natomas and Elk Grove to Auburn and Davis, with what their own pages say about board certification, sedation, special needs and Medi-Cal, plus how to choose and how Medi-Cal Dental works here. A pediatric dentist has two to three years of specialty training after dental school and treats only children. Around Sacramento you’ll find them in nearly every suburb: this list has 21 practices, grouped by town, from Elk Grove, Natomas and Rancho Cordova to Roseville, Rocklin, Granite Bay, Folsom, El Dorado Hills and Davis, with who is board-certified, who offers sedation and who takes Medi-Cal Dental. Book the first visit when the first tooth appears, and no later than your child’s first birthday. By Summerground, updated October 13, 2026. ## At a glance - Book the first visit when the first tooth comes in, and no later than age 1, as the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry advises; then a checkup about every six months. - Board-certified pediatric dentists on this list include Moore (Roseville), Rocklin Kids Dentist, Little Marvels (Folsom), Greenhaven (Davis), Gold River Smiles, Granite Bay Pediatric Dentistry and Weideman (Citrus Heights). - For treatment asleep without a hospital trip, Gold River Smiles brings in a dental anesthesiologist for IV sedation, and Greenhaven offers general anesthesia in its offices. - On Medi-Cal in Sacramento County, your child’s dental plan (Health Net, LIBERTY or California Dental Network) decides which dentists you can use. Ask the office whether it takes your plan. - Saturday hours: Kids Care Dental in Elk Grove, Children’s Choice in Natomas, Granite Bay Pediatric Dentistry and Moore in Roseville. ## 21 pediatric dentists around Sacramento, by town Towns run roughly from the most searched to the least. Every practice here sees only children, or has a children’s practice of its own, and each is listed once even if it has several offices. Details come from each practice’s own pages in October 2026; confirm insurance, sedation and hours when you call. ### Pediatric dentists in Natomas North Natomas and Natomas Park have several kids-only offices on Truxel Road and Natomas Boulevard. Kids Dentist Plus and Kids Care Dental, listed under Elk Grove, also have Natomas offices. #### 1. Children’s Choice Dental Care (Natomas) Natomas, Sacramento · 4150 Truxel Road, Suite B, Sacramento, CA 95834 This Natomas office takes Medi-Cal Dental, with a no-cost exam and X-rays for Medi-Cal members, and is open Saturdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Wednesdays until 7 p.m. It cares for children with special health care needs and has in-clinic sedation for big procedures or kids who can’t sit still. Staff are bilingual, and a notice on its page says the team will never ask about immigration status. - Medi-Cal Dental - Open Saturdays - In-clinic sedation - Special needs care - Bilingual staff - Website: https://www.mychildrenschoice.com/locations/childrens-choice-dental-care-natomas/ - Phone: 916-515-0005 - On Summerground: https://summerground.com/natomas/childrens-choice-pediatric-dentistry.md #### 2. My Kid’s Dentist & Orthodontics (Natomas) Natomas, Sacramento · 4690 Natomas Blvd, Suite 130, Sacramento, CA 95835 Dr. Rahul Nagda, a pediatric dentist, leads this office at Del Paso Road and Natomas Boulevard, behind Raley’s. Staff speak English, Punjabi and Spanish, and it takes most dental insurance, among them Delta Dental, Anthem Blue Cross, Cigna, MetLife and Aetna. Orthodontics is part of the practice, and early appointments start at 7:30 a.m. three days a week. My Kid’s Dentist also has offices in Elk Grove and Folsom. - English, Punjabi and Spanish - Orthodontics too - 7:30 a.m. starts Tue, Thu, Fri - Website: https://www.mkdparkplace.com/ - Phone: 916-419-5435 - On Summerground: https://summerground.com/natomas/my-kids-dentist-and-orthodontics.md ### Pediatric dentists in Roseville Rocklin Kids Dentist (see Rocklin) also runs Roseville Kids Dentist, (916) 773-5230, and Kids Care Dental has two Roseville offices. #### 3. Moore Pediatric Dentistry Roseville · 700 Sunrise Avenue, Suite C, Roseville, CA 95661 Drs. Sydney, Kathryn Ann and Jack Moore each finished a two-year pediatric residency, and Dr. Sydney Moore is a board-certified diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry; Drs. Ann and Jack Moore have practiced in Roseville since 1991. For nervous kids the office uses laughing gas, or mild sedation: liquid medicine taken about an hour before treatment, on an empty stomach, with your child awake throughout. Parents are invited to the first exam, and it’s open Saturdays 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. - Board-certified pediatric dentist - Laughing gas and mild oral sedation - Saturdays 11 a.m.–2 p.m. - In Roseville since 1991 - Website: https://www.moorepediatricdentistry.com/reducing-fears - Phone: 916-782-1209 - On Summerground: https://summerground.com/roseville/moore-pediatric-dentistry.md #### 4. Explorer Kids Dental Roseville · 920 Pleasant Grove Blvd., Suite 150, Roseville, CA 95678 Dr. Jeff McComb and Dr. Candy McComb opened this family-owned children’s practice after more than 18 years in children’s dentistry. They use the Solea laser for fillings without anesthetic and for frenectomies, the release of a tongue or lip tie. The site has a sedation dentistry page; ask which kinds it offers. Open Tuesday to Thursday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., closed Mondays; you can call or text. - Laser fillings and frenectomies - Family-owned - Call or text - Closed Mondays - Website: https://www.explorerkidsdental.com/ - Phone: 916-269-9777 - On Summerground: https://summerground.com/roseville/explorer-kids-dental.md ### Kids’ dentists in Elk Grove Elk Grove’s pediatric offices are along Laguna Boulevard, Bruceville Road and East Stockton Boulevard. #### 5. Kids Dentist Plus (Elk Grove) Elk Grove · 9184 E Stockton Blvd, Suite C, Elk Grove, CA 95624 This kids-only practice takes Medi-Cal at every office and sees children from the first tooth through age 20, including kids with special health care needs; it says a pediatric dentist works at every office. Comfort options include tell-show-do and laughing gas, and video visits handle quick questions. The Elk Grove office, open weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., sees families from Laguna and Vineyard; others are in Natomas, Folsom, Citrus Heights (two), Arden-Arcade and South Sacramento, all on one number. - Medi-Cal at every office - First tooth to age 20 - Laughing gas - Special needs visits - Video visits - Website: https://kidsdentistplus.com/elk-grove/ - Phone: 916-226-6767 - On Summerground: https://summerground.com/elk-grove/kids-dentist-plus.md #### 6. Kids Care Dental & Orthodontics (Elk Grove) Elk Grove (Laguna) · 7401 Laguna Blvd, Suite 120, Elk Grove, CA 95758 Part of a group with nearly two dozen Northern California offices, the Elk Grove office has several dentists and an orthodontist, and it’s open Saturdays 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and until 6 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays. Care runs from cleanings, sealants and fluoride to extractions, with brushing and flossing lessons for kids. The group also has offices in Natomas, Rancho Cordova, Davis, Folsom and Roseville. New patients call (916) 830-1666. - Saturdays 8 a.m.–2 p.m. - Orthodontist on the team - New patients: 916-830-1666 - Website: https://www.kidscaredental.com/central-california-pediatric-dentistry/kids-care-dental-elk-grove/ - Phone: 916-683-7645 - On Summerground: https://summerground.com/elk-grove/kids-care-dental-and-orthodontics.md ### Pediatric dentists in Folsom #### 7. Little Marvels Pediatric Dentistry Folsom · 1851 Iron Point Road, Suite 200, Folsom, CA 95630 Dr. Jeffrey Sue and Dr. Dexter Yee, board-certified pediatric dental specialists, run this locally owned, superhero-themed practice near the Palladio, and your child sees the same dentists each visit. Its services include special needs dentistry, sedation dentistry, frenectomy and emergency care; ask which kinds of sedation it offers. Families without insurance can join a membership plan for routine exams and cleanings. It serves Folsom, El Dorado Hills, Granite Bay, Orangevale and Rancho Cordova. - Board-certified pediatric dentists - Special needs dentistry - Sedation dentistry - Membership plan without insurance - Website: https://littlemarvelspediatricdentistry.com/ - Phone: 916-235-8566 - On Summerground: https://summerground.com/folsom/little-marvels-pediatric-dentistry.md #### 8. Dimples Pediatric Dental Folsom · 1665 Creekside Drive, Suite 103, Folsom, CA 95630 Dimples is a Folsom practice with a board-certified pediatric dentist, pediatric specialists, and equipment made for children. Visits teach parents and kids about caring for new teeth, spacing as teeth come in, diet and cavities, brushing and flossing, and habits like thumb sucking. Its treatments include silver diamine fluoride (SDF), a liquid painted on to stop some cavities from growing; ask whether your child is a candidate. - Board-certified pediatric dentist - Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) - Habits like thumb sucking - Website: https://www.dimplespd.com/ - Phone: 916-260-5127 - On Summerground: https://summerground.com/folsom/dimples-pediatric-dental.md ### Pediatric dentists in Davis Kids Care Dental (see Elk Grove) also has a Davis office at 1791 Oak Ave, Suite C, (530) 756-7516, open weekdays and the second and fourth Saturdays of the month. #### 9. Greenhaven Pediatric Dentistry (Davis) Davis · 1772 Picasso Ave, Suite C, Davis, CA 95618 Dr. Brenda Ho, a board-certified pediatric dentist and diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry, sees children from infancy through the teens, including kids with special needs, in Davis near Picasso Avenue and Pole Line Road and in Sacramento at 905 Secret River Drive. Both offices offer laughing gas, in-office sedation and general anesthesia; for very young children and kids with special needs who wouldn’t do well in the office, it recommends outpatient anesthesia in a hospital. Davis hours: weekdays 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. - Board-certified pediatric dentist - General anesthesia in the office - Hospital anesthesia when needed - Special needs care - Sacramento office: 916-594-9444 - Website: https://www.greenhavenpediatricdentistry.com/sedation-dentistry/ - Phone: 530-554-1810 - On Summerground: https://summerground.com/davis/greenhaven-pediatric-dentistry.md ### Pediatric dentists in Rocklin #### 10. Rocklin Kids Dentist Rocklin · 5420 Park Drive, Rocklin, CA 95765 Dr. Jude Crutchfield and Dr. Chris Padhi, both board-certified pediatric dental specialists, see children from infancy to adolescence, including kids with special needs and dental injuries. The practice has cared for local families for 20 years, is in network with Delta Dental and has a sister office, Roseville Kids Dentist. Hours are Monday to Wednesday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Friday 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. - Board-certified pediatric dentists - Special needs and dental injuries - Delta Dental in network - Roseville office: 916-773-5230 - Website: https://www.rocklinkidsdentist.com/ - Phone: 916-435-5230 - On Summerground: https://summerground.com/rocklin/rocklin-kids-dentist.md #### 11. Rockville Smiles Pediatric Dental Care Rocklin · 6000 Fairway Drive, Suite 8, Rocklin, CA 95677 Rockville Smiles began as an orthodontic practice, Image Orthodontics, and added pediatric dentistry in 2016, so cleanings, fillings and braces or Invisalign happen under one roof. It says it’s accepting Denti-Cal (Medi-Cal Dental) patients and offers payment plans. Dr. Yan Kalika and Dr. Premjeet Brar are its dentists, and it’s open weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. - Accepts Denti-Cal - Braces and Invisalign - Payment plans - Website: https://rockville-smiles.com/ - Phone: 916-783-5239 - On Summerground: https://summerground.com/rocklin/rockville-smiles-pediatric-dental-care.md ### Pediatric dentists in Rancho Cordova #### 12. Gold River Smiles Gold River, next to Rancho Cordova · 11230 Gold Express Dr., Suite 302, Gold River, CA 95670 Dr. Scott Pyo, a board-certified pediatric dentist, cares for infants through teens in a single-story office just inside Gold River, about 1.5 miles from Rancho Cordova City Hall. For kids who can’t manage treatment awake, a board-certified dental anesthesiologist gives IV sedation in the office, in place of a hospital operating room. Special needs care includes desensitization visits and low-stimulation accommodations, and it does laser frenectomies for babies. Open Monday to Thursday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Friday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. - Board-certified pediatric dentist - In-office IV sedation - Dental anesthesiologist on every case - Desensitization visits - Infant laser frenectomy - Website: https://www.goldriverpediatricdentistry.com/locations/rancho-cordova/ - Phone: 916-638-8778 - On Summerground: https://summerground.com/gold-river/gold-river-pediatric-dentistry.md #### 13. Smile Kingdom Dental Rancho Cordova · 2340 Sunrise Blvd., Suite 25, Rancho Cordova, CA 95670 Smile Kingdom is a solo children’s practice, so one dentist cares for your child at every visit. It sees infants, children and teens, plans each visit around a child’s age, needs and cooperation, and says it won’t push a child past what they can manage. Its site lists nitrous oxide and general anesthesia among its services. It takes PPO plans and has an in-house plan for families without insurance; open Monday to Thursday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday until 3 p.m. - One dentist every visit - Nitrous oxide - General anesthesia listed - In-house plan without insurance - Website: https://www.smilekingdom.com/ - Phone: 916-852-8510 - On Summerground: https://summerground.com/rancho-cordova/smile-kingdom-dental.md ### Pediatric dentists in El Dorado Hills Little Marvels in Folsom and Gold River Smiles near Rancho Cordova also say they serve El Dorado Hills families. #### 14. Pediatric Dental Specialists of El Dorado Hills El Dorado Hills (Town Center) · 4420 Town Center Blvd, Suite 220, El Dorado Hills, CA 95762 Dr. Joe Rawlins and Dr. Ryan Wittwer, pediatric dentists who both hold master’s degrees, lead this Town Center practice, and its providers have practiced for more than 17 years. Before any procedure the team shows and tells your child what it will do, and it offers special needs care and techniques families can use at home. Open Monday to Thursday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Friday to Sunday are for emergencies only. - Special needs care - Show-and-tell before procedures - Fri–Sun: emergencies only - Website: https://pdsofedhills.com/ - Phone: 916-941-1122 - On Summerground: https://summerground.com/el-dorado-hills/pediatric-dental-specialists-of-el-dorado-hills.md ### Pediatric dentists in Carmichael and Fair Oaks We didn’t find a kids-only practice with its own site in Carmichael itself. Besides Surfside in Fair Oaks, Kids Dentist Plus’s Citrus Heights office on Madison Avenue says it serves Carmichael and Fair Oaks, and Gold River Smiles is about five miles from Carmichael Park. #### 15. Surfside Kids Dental (Fair Oaks) Fair Oaks · 7806 Madison Ave, Suite 200, Fair Oaks, CA 95628 Surfside’s Fair Oaks office on Madison Avenue has Lyons Orthodontics next door for braces and Invisalign. Its services include cleanings, white fillings, sealants, laughing gas, sedation dentistry and emergency care, and it has an open-door policy: you can stay with your child for every part of every visit. Open Monday to Thursday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with emergency appointments; Surfside also has offices in Elk Grove, on Laguna Boulevard, and in Land Park. - Stay with your child - Laughing gas and sedation - Orthodontist next door - Emergency appointments - Website: https://surfsidekidsdental.com/fair-oaks/ - Phone: 916-863-7336 - On Summerground: https://summerground.com/fair-oaks/surfside-kids-dental.md ### Pediatric dentists in Citrus Heights #### 16. Weideman Pediatric Dentistry & Ortho Citrus Heights · 7916 Pebble Beach Dr., Suite 101, Citrus Heights, CA 95610 Dr. Cindy Weideman, a board-certified pediatric dentist, took over this practice from her father, and board-certified orthodontists work in the same office. For kids with autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy and other conditions, a get-to-know-you visit with no other children in the office comes first, and there are iPads, weighted blankets and sensory toys. It offers nitrous oxide and sedation when appropriate, sees teens and adults with special needs too, and has a membership plan for families without insurance. - Board-certified pediatric dentist - Get-to-know-you visits - Weighted blankets, sensory toys - Braces in the same office - Membership plan - Website: https://sacchildrensdentist.com/special-needs-dentistry/ - Phone: 916-962-0577 - On Summerground: https://summerground.com/citrus-heights/weideman-pediatric-dentistry-and-orthodontics.md ### Pediatric dentists in Lincoln and Auburn #### 17. Placer Smiles Pediatric Dentistry Lincoln (Twelve Bridges) · 620 Twelve Bridges Dr., Suite 120, Lincoln, CA 95648 Dr. Cuauhtemoc Gonzalez, a board-certified pediatric dentist, leads this Twelve Bridges practice, which offers tailored care for children with special needs along with checkups, fillings, crowns and emergency care. Families without insurance can join a membership plan, from $350 a year. Open Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and Tuesdays by appointment. - Board-certified pediatric dentist - Special needs care - Membership plan from $350 a year - Website: https://www.placersmiles.com/ - Phone: 916-253-6002 - On Summerground: https://summerground.com/lincoln/placer-smiles-pediatric-dentistry.md #### 18. Caring Tree Children’s Dentistry Lincoln · 150 Gateway Dr., Suite 110, Lincoln, CA 95648 Dr. Michelle Kucera (“Dr. K”) and Dr. Chris Lee see toddlers, children and teens at offices in Lincoln and Grass Valley. Its services include sedation dentistry and hospital dentistry, meaning treatment in a hospital when a child needs it there. Families without insurance can use its Smile Savings Plan and flexible payment options. - Hospital dentistry - Sedation dentistry - Grass Valley office: 530-272-9026 - Savings plan without insurance - Website: https://www.caringtreechildrensdentistry.com/ - Phone: 916-251-0170 - On Summerground: https://summerground.com/lincoln/caring-tree-childrens-dentistry.md #### 19. Auburn Pediatric Dentistry Auburn · 1240 High St., Suite 202, Auburn, CA 95603 Owned by Dr. Ranbir Singh, a board-certified diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry who also runs Granite Bay Pediatric Dentistry, this office serves infants, children and teens, including children with special dental health needs, from Auburn to Grass Valley, Colfax and Loomis. It offers sedation for anxious kids or big treatment plans, braces, and laser frenectomy for tongue-tie. Open weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; call or text. - Board-certified pediatric dentist - Special needs care - Sedation options - Braces and laser frenectomy - Website: https://kidsdentistauburn.com/ - Phone: 530-278-5190 - On Summerground: https://summerground.com/auburn/auburn-pediatric-dentistry.md ### Granite Bay pediatric dentistry #### 20. Granite Bay Pediatric Dentistry Granite Bay · 7095 Douglas Blvd, Granite Bay, CA 95746 Dr. Ranbir Singh, a board-certified diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry, runs this Douglas Boulevard practice for families from Granite Bay, Roseville, Rocklin, Loomis, Folsom and El Dorado Hills. It offers sedation dentistry for children who are anxious, can’t sit still or have special needs, and it’s open Saturdays 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. as well as weekdays 8 to 5. It’s in network with many PPO and HMO plans, among them Delta Dental, MetLife, Cigna, Aetna and Anthem; call or text. - Board-certified pediatric dentist - Sedation, including for special needs - Saturdays 8 a.m.–1 p.m. - PPO and HMO plans - Website: https://granitebaypediatricdentistry.com/ - Phone: 916-273-7495 - On Summerground: https://summerground.com/granite-bay/granite-bay-pediatric-dentistry.md ### Pediatric dentistry in West Sacramento #### 21. Pediatric Dentistry of Sacramento & West Sacramento West Sacramento · 2101 Stone Blvd., Suite 130, West Sacramento, CA 95691 Dr. Paul A. Johnson, a board-certified pediatric dentist and diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry, sees infants, children, teens and children with special needs at offices on Stone Boulevard in West Sacramento and on 21st Street in Sacramento. It accepts all PPO plans, among them Delta Dental, Aetna, Cigna, MetLife and Guardian. Hours are on weekdays; the site lists two different schedules, so confirm when you call. - Board-certified pediatric dentist - Special needs in its mission - All PPO plans - Sacramento: 2650 21st St, Suite 1 - Website: https://sacpediatricdentistry.com/ - Phone: 916-277-8055 - On Summerground: https://summerground.com/midtown-sacramento/pediatric-dentistry-of-sacramento-and-west-sacrame-sacramento.md ## How to choose a pediatric dentist A pediatric dentist has two to three years of specialty training after dental school and treats only children ([AAPD](https://www.aapd.org/resources/parent/faq/)). **Board-certified** means the dentist has also passed the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry’s exams and is a diplomate of the board; one who has trained but not yet finished the exams may say “board eligible.” A family dentist can care for children too, but for a baby, a very anxious child or a child with special needs, a pediatric practice is often easier. Before you book, ask: - **Do you take our insurance, or our Medi-Cal dental plan?** In Sacramento County, being a “Medi-Cal dentist” isn’t enough; the office must work with your child’s plan (see below). - **Who will see my child?** Some practices here are a single dentist, such as Smile Kingdom; others, like Little Marvels, promise the same dentists every visit; large groups may rotate. - **Can I stay in the room?** Surfside has an open-door policy for every visit. Moore invites parents to the first exam, then suggests kids go back on their own, though parents are still welcome. - **What sedation do you offer, who gives it, and where?** Laughing gas, oral sedation, IV sedation in the office, or general anesthesia in a hospital are very different things (see below). - **Do you offer a get-to-know-you visit?** Weideman and Gold River Smiles describe visits just to meet the team and see the tools, which help many kids with autism or anxiety. - **Are you open early, late or on Saturdays?** Kids Care Dental in Elk Grove, Children’s Choice in Natomas, Granite Bay Pediatric Dentistry and Moore in Roseville have Saturday hours. > Check any dentist’s California license, and any sedation permit, on the state’s free [license search](https://search.dca.ca.gov/). ## Your child’s first dental visit: by age 1 The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry says a child should see a pediatric dentist when the first tooth appears, or no later than the first birthday, and then about every six months, though your dentist may suggest a different schedule ([AAPD](https://www.aapd.org/resources/parent/faq/)). Many practices here say the same: Kids Dentist Plus does short first visits by age 1, with tips on teething, bottles and brushing, and Gold River Smiles sees babies from age one. A first visit is mostly a look in the mouth, a talk about habits and a chance for your child to get used to the place. To make it easy: - [ ] Book a morning slot, when babies and toddlers are freshest. - [ ] Bring your insurance or Medi-Cal card, and a list of medicines and allergies. - [ ] Write down questions: teething, bottles and sippy cups, thumb sucking, fluoride. - [ ] Skip scary words at home. Moore’s office asks parents to avoid words like “needle,” “shot,” “drill” and “hurt”; the team uses gentler ones. - [ ] Tell the office ahead of time about any diagnosis, sensory needs or past bad experiences, so they can plan the visit. If your child has Medi-Cal, Kids Dentist Plus notes that dental benefits start in infancy, so a baby’s first checkup is typically covered; it confirms coverage before the visit. ## Sedation and general anesthesia for kids in California Most children get through checkups and small fillings awake. When a child is very young, very anxious, has special needs or needs a lot of work, dentists can add help in steps: *Sedation options for children, and offices on this list whose own pages name them (October 2026)* | Option | What it is | Offices here that offer it | | --- | --- | --- | | Laughing gas (nitrous oxide) | Breathed through a small nose mask; your child stays awake and relaxed, and it wears off fast | Moore, Kids Dentist Plus, Surfside, Weideman, Greenhaven, Smile Kingdom | | Oral (mild) sedation | Medicine by mouth before treatment, often with laughing gas; your child is drowsy but awake | Moore | | IV sedation or general anesthesia in the office | Your child sleeps in the dental chair while an anesthesia provider gives and watches the medicine, so the work can be done in one visit | Gold River Smiles (dental anesthesiologist), Greenhaven | | General anesthesia in a hospital | Treatment in an operating room, often for very young children or complex medical needs | Greenhaven, Caring Tree (hospital dentistry) | Several other offices here say they offer “sedation dentistry” without naming the kind, among them Little Marvels, Granite Bay, Auburn Pediatric Dentistry, Children’s Choice and Explorer Kids Dental. Ask exactly which option they mean and who gives it. **California’s rules.** The Dental Board of California decides who may sedate children, and its rules changed on January 1, 2022. Minimal sedation for children under 13 needs a Pediatric Minimal Sedation permit. Moderate sedation of a child under 13 takes a pediatric endorsement for that age group, and deep sedation or general anesthesia of a child under 7 needs a permit holder with a pediatric endorsement ([Dental Board](https://www.dbc.ca.gov/licensees/dds/permits/anesthesia_permit_dentist.shtml)). Ask who will sedate your child and which permit they hold. **Who pays for hospital anesthesia.** When a child under 7, or anyone with a developmental disability, needs dental work under general anesthesia in a hospital or surgery center, California requires health plans (your medical plan, not a dental-only plan) to cover the anesthesia and the facility; the plan can require prior approval, and it doesn’t pay the dentist’s own fee ([Health and Safety Code 1367.71](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=HSC§ionNum=1367.71)). ## Medi-Cal Dental around Sacramento Medi-Cal includes dental care for children, but how it works depends on your county: *How Medi-Cal Dental works by county (DHCS, October 2026)* | County | Towns | How it works | How to find a dentist | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Sacramento | Sacramento, Natomas, Elk Grove, Folsom, Rancho Cordova, Citrus Heights, Carmichael, Fair Oaks | Dental managed care: every member must be in a plan. Since July 1, 2025 the choices are Health Net, LIBERTY Dental Plan and California Dental Network. | Call your plan, or Health Care Options at (800) 430-4263 to see or change your plan | | Placer, El Dorado, Yolo | Roseville, Rocklin, Lincoln, Auburn, Granite Bay, El Dorado Hills, Davis, West Sacramento | Regular Medi-Cal Dental: any dentist who takes Medi-Cal Dental | [Find-A-Dentist](https://dental.dhcs.ca.gov/Members/Medi_Cal_Dental/Find_A_Dentist/FindADentist) or (800) 322-6384 | Sacramento County moved members of Access Dental Plan, which was discontinued, and those in regular Medi-Cal Dental into one of the three managed care plans on July 1, 2025 ([DHCS](https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/dental-medi-cal-managed-care-plan-transition/)). So when an office in Sacramento County says it takes Medi-Cal, ask whether it’s in network with your child’s plan. If you can’t get an appointment through the plan, the Department of Managed Health Care helps at (888) 466-2219. On this list, Kids Dentist Plus takes Medi-Cal at all its offices, Children’s Choice in Natomas offers a no-cost exam and X-rays with Medi-Cal Dental, and Rockville Smiles in Rocklin accepts Denti-Cal. Kids Dentist Plus notes that Medi-Cal can cover sedation when it’s medically necessary, sometimes after the dental plan approves it. If your child has special needs and is a client of Alta California Regional Center, tell your service coordinator you’re looking for a dentist. Our [Alta Regional Center guide](https://summerground.com/guides/alta-california-regional-center) explains how Alta works. ## Questions parents ask ### What age should a child first see a dentist? When the first tooth comes in, and no later than the first birthday, says the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. After that, a checkup about every six months, unless your dentist suggests otherwise. Several practices around Sacramento, including Kids Dentist Plus and Gold River Smiles, say they see babies from age one. A first visit is short: a quick look, tips on teething and brushing, and a chance for your child to get used to the office. ### What’s the difference between a pediatric dentist and a family dentist? A pediatric dentist spends two to three more years in specialty training after dental school and treats only children, including babies, anxious kids and children with special needs. A family dentist sees all ages and can be a fine choice for an easygoing older child. Board-certified pediatric dentists have also passed the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry’s exams. Around Sacramento, many of the practices on this list say their dentists are board-certified. ### Which pediatric dentists near Sacramento take Medi-Cal? On this list, Kids Dentist Plus (Elk Grove, Natomas, Folsom, Citrus Heights and more), Children’s Choice Dental Care in Natomas and Rockville Smiles in Rocklin say they take Medi-Cal Dental. In Sacramento County, children on Medi-Cal are in a dental plan, Health Net, LIBERTY Dental Plan or California Dental Network, so ask the office whether it’s in your child’s plan. In Placer, El Dorado and Yolo counties, use the state’s Find-A-Dentist search or call (800) 322-6384. ### Is there a kids’ dentist in Elk Grove open on Saturdays? Yes. Kids Care Dental & Orthodontics on Laguna Boulevard in Elk Grove is open Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., and until 6 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays. Kids Dentist Plus on East Stockton Boulevard is open weekdays only, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and takes Medi-Cal. Hours change, so confirm when you call. ### Can my child be put to sleep for dental work without going to a hospital? Sometimes. Gold River Smiles, next to Rancho Cordova, has a board-certified dental anesthesiologist give IV sedation in its office, and Greenhaven Pediatric Dentistry in Davis and Sacramento offers general anesthesia in the office. Greenhaven recommends a hospital instead for very young children and some children with special needs. In California, the person sedating a child needs a Dental Board permit, with a pediatric endorsement for deeper sedation of young children, so ask who it will be. ### Is there a pediatric dentist in Rancho Cordova? Yes. Smile Kingdom Dental on Sunrise Boulevard is a solo children’s practice, and Kids Care Dental & Orthodontics has an office on Zinfandel Drive. Gold River Smiles sits just inside Gold River, about 1.5 miles from Rancho Cordova City Hall, and offers in-office IV sedation with a dental anesthesiologist. Rancho Cordova is in Sacramento County, so Medi-Cal families should ask whether an office is in their dental plan. ## How we made this list We searched the web (Exa) for pediatric dentists in each town around Sacramento, then read each practice’s own pages in October 2026. A practice made the list only if it’s a children’s practice; we left out family dental offices with a kids’ page, gave each group or chain one entry even where it has several offices, and used no ratings or reviews. Medi-Cal and sedation rules come from DHCS and the Dental Board of California. - [Frequently Asked Questions (American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry)](https://www.aapd.org/resources/parent/faq/) - [Dental Medi-Cal Managed Care Plan Transition (DHCS)](https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/dental-medi-cal-managed-care-plan-transition/) - [Medi-Cal Dental Find-A-Dentist (DHCS)](https://dental.dhcs.ca.gov/Members/Medi_Cal_Dental/Find_A_Dentist/FindADentist) - [Medi-Cal Dental Member Contact Information (DHCS)](https://dental.dhcs.ca.gov/Contact_Us/Medi-Cal_Dental_Member_Contact_Information/MediCalDentalMemberContactInformation) - [General Anesthesia Permits (Dental Board of California)](https://www.dbc.ca.gov/licensees/dds/permits/anesthesia_permit_dentist.shtml) - [Moderate Sedation Permits (Dental Board of California)](https://www.dbc.ca.gov/licensees/dds/permits/moderate_sedation_permit.shtml) - [Pediatric Minimal Sedation Permit (Dental Board of California)](https://www.dbc.ca.gov/licensees/dds/permits/pediatric_sedation_permit.shtml) - [Verify a License (California Department of Consumer Affairs)](https://search.dca.ca.gov/) - [California Health and Safety Code 1367.71 (general anesthesia for dental care)](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=HSC§ionNum=1367.71) More guides: https://summerground.com/guides/emergency-pediatric-dentist.md, https://summerground.com/guides/special-needs-dentists-los-angeles.md, https://summerground.com/guides/alta-california-regional-center.md. All of them: https://summerground.com/guides.md.