General Anesthesia for Dental Care

General anesthesia in Plano eliminates any possible anxiety and pain during your treatment. It gives your dentist more time to perform complex treatments without disturbances. Here are the common questions patients ask before being administered general anesthesia. 

FAQs About Dental General Anesthesia

Is it Safe? 

In a dental clinic, a licensed dental professional will administer general anesthesia. Most of these professionals are extensively trained in a clinic or hospital-based anesthesia program and have been engaged in the field for a couple of years. The anesthesia techniques, hospital-grade monitoring equipment, and anesthetic medications used are extremely safe.

More so, dental professionals are trained to pay close attention to and monitor your body statistics throughout your treatment. Emergency equipment and medications are available in case there are some contraindications in the medications you take. Most importantly, these dental professionals are comprehensively knowledgeable on what to do when it comes to medical emergencies. They are trained in general anesthesia and sedation procedures.

Will My Medical Conditions Hinder the Effects of General Anesthesia?

Medical conditions will not necessarily hinder the effects of general anesthesia. Before administering any general anesthesia, dental professionals consider all facets of your medical history to guarantee a safe and effective treatment. After an extensive evaluation of your medical history, your dentist will get a hold of your doctor to guarantee that the medications you’re taking will not contradict your dental treatment. A good dentist will always start the treatment by ensuring that you’re in the best possible health. 

Will I Be Conscious During the Treatment?

Once the general anesthesia kicks in, you’ll be unconscious; the only reason you would wake up during the treatment is if you were put under minimal sedation. Dental professionals can estimate the precise amount of anesthetic needed by your body for the specific length of treatment. They are trained to consider every possible factor that will affect the treatment, such as the effects of the anesthesia and procedure requirements.

What Happens If There Is a Complication With the Sedation? 

The first thing you and your dentist need to remember is to stay calm. What makes office-based sedation or anesthesia better than the rest is that complications are rare when appropriate training is in place and precautions are taken. Nonetheless, some things are beyond the dentist’s control, and the best way to deal with this is to make sure that everyone is prepared to handle any possible situation that may arise.

Is There a Difference Between the Anesthesia Administered by a Dentist and Anesthesiologist?

Most dentists and dental specialists are licensed to administer only minimal and moderate sedation such as nitrous oxide, sedative pill, or IV sedation. On the other hand, a dental anesthesiologist is skilled, experienced, and licensed to administer all types of sedation safely. They can administer general anesthesia that can make you unconscious throughout the treatment. 

Will Anesthesia Affect My Body?

General anesthesia can produce a wide range of effects on various individuals. Most patients that wake up from this type of sedation feel groggy for several hours. A patient may sometimes emerge from sedation feeling disoriented, possibly nauseous, fatigued, or confused. Often, it is impossible to know how you will feel after recovering from the treatment. Fortunately, the side effects of anesthesia are well known, and precautions are taken to prevent the most common ones.

What Are Some of the Side Effects?

The common side effects of general anesthesia are minor aches, sore throats, sleepiness, dizziness, and mild nausea. However, these usually wear off after a couple of hours. To quickly recover from these side effects, it’s important to keep yourself hydrated. In case the side effects become intolerable, you can take pain relievers.

When Will I Feel Normal?

As mentioned earlier, the effects of general anesthesia subside within a few hours after the procedure. However, most dental professionals advise their patients against making a life-changing decision, operating heavy machinery, and driving 24 hours after the treatment. Every case varies because patients handle treatments differently, so there is no accurate time to determine when you will feel normal. It usually depends on the dental treatment and sedation you take. 

Will I Be Monitored During and After Treatment?

Your comfort and safety are every good dentist’s primary concerns. Our certified assistants are trained to record and monitor the amount of oxygen in the blood, heart rhythms, heart rate, and blood pressure. Your breathing patterns and other health rates will be monitored from the start to the end of every treatment. 

Get Pain-Free General Anesthesia in Plano

At Texas Oral Surgery Group, we make sure that general anesthesia is delivered by a highly qualified and licensed dental professional. Schedule an appointment with us to know more about the services we offer!