What is general anesthesia?
General anesthesia is a management technique that uses medications to cause the child to become unconscious and asleep while receiving dental care. It is provided by a physician or dentist who has special training in anesthesia. Children with severe anxiety and/or inability to cooperate are candidates for general anesthesia. These children may be young or have compromised health or special needs. They usually require extensive dental treatment and their anxiety cannot be controlled with conscious sedation techniques. Although there is some risk associated with general anesthesia, it is safe when administered by an appropriately trained individual in an appropriately equipped facility. Many precautions are taken to provide safety for the child during general anesthesia care. Patients are monitored closely during the general anesthesia procedure by personnel who are trained to manage complications.
General anesthesia provides a way of effectively completing dental care while a child is unconscious. It is generally reserved for children with severe anxiety, extensive tooth decay, young age, special needs or compromised health. Dr. Vargas will discuss the benefits and risks involved with general anesthesia and why it may be recommended for your child.
A General Anesthesia involves administering intravenous and inhalational agents that cause loss of consciousness. This is used for many major operations. A general anesthetic usually begins with “Induction” when an intravenous drug is given and a patient drifts off to sleep. Sleep is then maintained with a combination of inhaled anesthetics and intravenous drugs. Amounts of medication given are based on the body’s weight, age, general medical condition and response to surgery. After surgery, the patient is allowed to “emerge” from anesthesia by discontinuing the medications and, in some cases, by administering reversal agents.
General anesthesia is a controlled state of unconsciousness that eliminates awareness, movement and discomfort during dental treatment. A physician or dentist with specialized training can use various medications to provide general anesthesia for patients receiving dental care. Q: Who should receive general anesthesia for dental treatment? General anesthesia may be indicated for children with extensive dental needs who are extremely uncooperative, fearful or anxious or for the very young who do not understand how to cope in a cooperative fashion. General anesthesia also can be helpful for children requiring significant surgical procedures or patients having special health care needs. Q: Is general anesthesia safe? Although there is some risk associated with general anesthesia, it can be used safely and effectively when administered by an appropriately-trained individual in an appropriately-equipped facility. Precautions are taken to protect your child during general anesthesia; personn
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