Meet Our Dental Anesthesia Team: The Specialists Behind Sedation at Kids Dental Castle

If your child needs IV sedation or general anesthesia for dental treatment, one question matters more than almost any other: who is actually administering it? At Kids Dental Castle & Orthodontics, sedation isn't handled by whoever happens to be available that day. It's provided by a dedicated team of dental anesthesiologists — specialists whose training is specifically in dental anesthesia, not general dentistry with sedation added on.

Meet the Dental Anesthesia Team

IV sedation and general anesthesia at our Pomona office are provided by Dr. Charles Lee, Dr. Albert Kang, Dr. Ji Yoon Choi, and Dr. Andrew Elmasri. All four completed postdoctoral training at Loma Linda University or NYU specifically in dental anesthesia, and each is an active member of the American Society of Dental Anesthesiologists and the American Dental Society of Anesthesiology.

Dr. Charles Lee

Dr. Lee was born and raised in Southern California and graduated from dental school at Loma Linda University. He served in the US Army and was deployed in the Middle East, where his Expert Medical Field Training sparked his passion for anesthesia. After his honorable discharge, he completed his postdoctoral anesthesia training at NYU before returning home to serve his community. Dr. Lee is a proud, active member of the American Society of Dental Anesthesiologists and the American Dental Society of Anesthesiology.

Dr. Albert Kang

Dr. Kang was born in South Korea and now calls Southern California home. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Social Behavior from UC Irvine before attending Loma Linda University, where he completed dental school and his postdoctoral training in anesthesia. He practiced in Texas for several years before returning to California to serve his community. Dr. Kang is an active member of the American Society of Dental Anesthesiologists and the American Dental Society of Anesthesiology.

Dr. Ji Yoon Choi

Dr. Choi was born and raised in South Korea and now calls Southern California home. She completed a 7-year joint BA-DDS program at New York University, earning her Bachelor of Science in Biology Cum Laude before finishing dental school at NYU. After a year in general practice, she completed a General Practice Residency at Wyckoff Heights Medical Center, where she discovered her passion for dental anesthesiology and continued her training. Dr. Choi is an active member of the American Society of Dental Anesthesiologists and the American Dental Society of Anesthesiology.

Dr. Andrew Elmasri

Dr. Elmasri was born and raised in Southern California. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering from UC Irvine, then graduated with honors in Anesthesia and Implantology from Loma Linda University Dental School. He went on to complete his postdoctoral training in Dental Anesthesia at Loma Linda University and has practiced in Southern California ever since. Dr. Elmasri is dual-board certified and a member of the American Society of Dental Anesthesiologists, the American Dental Society of Anesthesiology, and the International Anesthesia Research Society.

Why This Matters for Your Child

Sedation is a medical procedure, not just a comfort measure. When it's provided by specialists who trained specifically in dental anesthesia, rather than a dentist who added a sedation certification to a general practice, your child is cared for by someone whose entire focus is safe, effective anesthesia. Our team monitors vital signs continuously from start to finish, and every sedation plan is based on your child's age, medical history, and treatment needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do the same anesthesiologists see every patient?

Sedation is provided by our dedicated team of four dental anesthesiologists, Dr. Lee, Dr. Kang, Dr. Choi, and Dr. Elmasri, rather than rotating outside providers. That means your child is cared for by specialists our practice knows and trusts.

Is IV sedation or general anesthesia safe for my child?

When administered by a trained provider following proper monitoring protocols, sedation dentistry is safe for children. We review your child's full medical history before recommending any sedation option, and your child is monitored throughout the procedure.

What's the difference between a dental anesthesiologist and a dentist who offers sedation?

A dental anesthesiologist completes postdoctoral training focused specifically on anesthesia, similar to how a medical anesthesiologist specializes beyond general medicine. A general dentist who offers sedation may have completed a shorter certification course instead. Our team's training is specifically in dental anesthesia.

How do I know which sedation option is right for my child?

It depends on your child's age, anxiety level, medical history, and how much treatment needs to be done. We'll talk through this with you at a consultation and recommend what actually fits your child's situation, not a one-size-fits-all default.

Kids Dental Castle & Orthodontics is located in Pomona and provides sedation dentistry for children from Pomona, Claremont, Upland, La Verne, San Dimas, and surrounding communities. If your child has upcoming treatment that may require sedation, schedule a consultation and meet the team who will be caring for them. Call us at 909-741-7052, or learn more on our Sedation Dentistry and Meet the Doctors pages.

This article is for general educational purposes and does not replace an individualized dental evaluation.