Hospital Dentistry under General Anesthesia

When is General Anesthesia Used?

General anesthesia in a hospital setting is used for very apprehensive children, very young children, and special needs children who would not do well with in-office sedation. General anesthesia puts your child in a sleep-like state, so that they will not be aware of anything happening during the dental procedure at Sprout Kids Dentistry.

What to Expect

We perform general anesthesia procedures at Franciscan Children’s Hospital. A skilled anesthesiologist who specializes in general anesthesia will administer the anesthesia, and Dr. Anderson will perform the dental procedures. The anesthesiologist will monitor your child’s breathing and vital signs while he or she is asleep.

Following your child’s procedure, it is normal that they be sleepy. It is important to keep an eye on your child for the rest of the day. It may take several hours for the anesthesia to completely wear off. Mild nausea and fever may occur, which is normal. However, if these effects do not subside, call our office as soon as possible. Having your child stick to a soft food diet for the remainder of the day is also recommended.

Benefits of General Anesthesia

Putting a child to sleep during their dental procedure can be beneficial in that they will not be traumatized by the experience if they are very anxious. Once the child is completely asleep, their dental treatment plan can be done quickly and efficiently, including x-rays, fillings, cleanings, and more.

If you would like to learn more about hospital dentistry under general anesthesia, give our office a call today. We will happily answer any questions that you may have.

In-Office IV

Anesthesia services available in our office are performed by Patrick McCarty, DDS, a board-certified dental anesthesiologist. Read more about our anesthesiologist’s credentials.

Sedation FAQs

Dr. Anderson

Dr. Michelle Anderson is a pediatric dentist board certified by the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry.