General anesthesia is a state of unconsciousness, not really “sleep.” There is no awareness, so no feelings of pain or anxiety. It’s very much like switching memory off, then switching back on again. Anesthesia does, however, affect the body’s ability to protect itself, so an expert anesthesiologist should be present at any sedation procedure.

Ambulatory (or “in-office”) anesthesia is safe for otherwise healthy children and adults who cannot tolerate painful or anxiety-provoking procedures. It’s an option used by many families who would otherwise not be able to receive necessary dental care.

Essential to this is that two clinicians are present for sedation procedures (the “two-provider model”) and that the anesthesia provider can deliver expert clinical care with a well-versed knowledge of professional safety guidelines. There is no anesthesia provider more highly trained than a physician anesthesiologist.

We receive requests for anesthesia services from referring dentists and sometimes directly from patients who otherwise cannot tolerate a required procedure. Pain, fear, anxiety, and behavioral issues are valid problems that obstruct delivery of healthcare in a number of ways:

• A fearful 4 year old that can’t sit through 10 minutes of dental work could have extensive caries requiring 2 hours restorations.
• An adult with PTSD may not tolerate the sound of a drill.
• A teenager with autism may not be able to follow command sufficiently to complete a treatment.

General anesthesia provides complete lack of awareness – freedom from all feeling of pain and anxiety – during the procedure and allows completion of treatment.

A dentist administering a sedative is a common and safe practice for light levels of anesthesia.

General anesthesia implies a total absence of consciousness and feeling and requires a separate professional (i.e. a physician anesthesiologist) dedicated entirely to monitoring and protecting the patient. Safety in anesthesia is like safety in driving – it comes from focused monitoring and “watching the road,” not just giving medications.

Most cases begin with a mask. Your child will breathe with the mask until they fall asleep, about 20-30 seconds. There’s no discomfort because everything is done while they're unconscious. Immediately after the onset of unconsciousness, all monitors and techniques standard for any type of operation are used during the procedure. Breathing will be monitored and protected. An IV will be placed to give medications to ensure comfort after the procedure. Everything is removed just before your child awakens. Your anesthesiologist will be present from beginning to end (“from induction to recovery”).

Safety is always our first concern. Children receive anesthetics every day for various needs and without any long-term side effects. Very rarely, patients may experience some nausea or vomiting after a procedure. While unpleasant, it is rare, not dangerous, and usually resolves within 24 hours.

You should not feed your child before a procedure under anesthesia. Thankfully, these procedures usually take place early in the morning. Therefore, on the day of their appointment, your child can wake up, brush their teeth and go to the dentist's office with minimal fuss.

The appropriateness of in-office anesthesia for any patient must be assessed by a physician. Children with more severe illnesses should be seen in a hospital. Generally speaking, children should be older than 3 and a half years old and weigh 35 lbs (15 kg) or more. Children who can play with other kids without exhibiting exhaustion or other symptoms are excellent candidates. Mild childhood asthma (using an albuterol inhaler once or twice a month) or well controlled seizure disorders do not pose a problem.

If your child is experiencing common cold symptoms, their procedure should be cancelled and rescheduled.

You child should not be experiencing a large amount of pain after the procedure, though some discomfort is possible. Though nausea occurs only rarely, we routinely administer medications before removing the IV to try to mitigate its effect. As children tend to be very emotional after any anesthetic, we administer a mild sedative after the anesthesia has worn off to maintain the stress-free experience and allow you go get them home. Your child should be drowsy, but not confused or loopy, and may take a nap for an hour or two when you arrive home. They can eat something light (and within your dentist’s instructions) as soon as they feel able.

Yes, and we’ll make it easy for you, too! We’ll verify your coverage, provide you with a guaranteed quote and handle claim submission for you.

If you’re visiting this website from one of our associated dentists, you should schedule your procedure directly with the dentist’s office. They will offer you dates we can be in-house to provide anesthesia. If you’re not a patient of one or our partner offices but are interested in anesthesia services for your child’s dental procedure, please send us a message here.