Dentistry under general anesthesia

Do dentists ever use general anesthesia?
In rare cases, for extremely anxious individuals who are unable to cooperate when sedated, general anesthesia may be used for dental procedures.
For traumatic dental procedures, such as the extraction of wisdom teeth completely impacted or covered in bone, general anesthesia may be the preferred option..
Do dentists still use general anesthesia?
If the dentist is unlikely to be able to carry out the dental treatment safely, they may suggest having a general anaesthetic for examination and any treatment required..
Dental treatment under GA has several advantages: it does not require a patient's cooperation, the patient is unconscious and non-responsive to pain, certain degree of amnesia is present after the procedure and drugs can be titrated to an optimal dose._{Mar 4, 2019}
The four stages of anesthesia are analgesia (disorientation), delirium and excitement, surgical anesthesia, and overdose, or respiratory arrest.

While under general anesthesia for dental care, you will “be asleep”. Unlike regular sleep, you will not dream, nor will you wake up until after the dentist completes your care. Your anesthesiologist and the support staff will be with you until it is time to wake up and you emerge from anesthesia.

Under What Circumstances Can General Anaesthesia Be used?

Apart from making dental treatment in children or patients with special needs easier, GA can be used in the following situations: 1

Can I Eat and Drink Before Surgery?

The rules for adults are: 1. You can’t eat any food for 6 hours before a GA (unless it’s a genuine emergency). 2

How Is General Anaesthetic administered?

GA is usually started off (“induced”) by propofol IV in the hand or arm. For children

Will I Be in Pain When I Wake Up?

If post-op pain is expected, the normal practice is to inject a long-acting local anaesthetic during the GA

Will I Wake Up?

If GA has actually been recommended to you because the dentist or oral surgeon anticipates that the surgery may be too unpleasant otherwise

Sources of Information

1. N. M. Girdler, C. M. Hill, K. E. Wilson (2017). Conscious Sedation for Denti… 2