Reviewed by Dr. Adel Elbaz, DDS, general dentist · Last reviewed
General Anesthesia for Dental Treatment in London, Ontario
For some people, even the gentlest local freezing and laughing gas aren’t enough. Severe dental anxiety, special needs, a very young child with a lot of treatment, or a long and complex procedure can make treatment while awake difficult or impossible.
General anesthesia (GA) puts you into a controlled, sleep-like state, so you’re completely unaware during treatment and don’t remember it afterwards. At Lunar Smile Dentistry, GA is given by a trained anesthesiologist, whose only job during your treatment is to keep you safe and asleep while Dr. Adel Elbaz takes care of your teeth.
Who general anesthesia is for
- Severe dental anxiety or phobia that has kept you from getting needed care
- Extensive treatment, such as many fillings, several extractions or a full-mouth rehabilitation, completed in one appointment instead of many
- Oral surgery, including some impacted wisdom teeth
- Young children with a lot of decay who can’t cooperate with treatment in the chair
- Patients with special needs, such as some developmental, behavioural or medical conditions
- A very strong gag reflex, or when local freezing doesn’t work well
Sedation options compared
| Nitrous oxide | Oral sedation | General anesthesia | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Awake? | Yes, relaxed | Drowsy, may doze | No, fully asleep |
| Remember treatment? | Yes | Partly or not much | No |
| Given by | Our dental team | Our dental team | An anesthesiologist |
| Recovery | Minutes; most adults can drive | Hours; need a ride home | Hours; need a ride and an adult with you |
| Best for | Mild to moderate anxiety | Moderate anxiety | Severe anxiety, complex or extensive care |
We’ll recommend the lightest option that will work for you.
Before your appointment
- Consultation and assessment. We review your teeth, plan the treatment, and go through your medical history, medications and any past experiences with anesthesia. The anesthesiologist confirms that GA is safe for you.
- Clear instructions. You’ll get written instructions, including when to stop eating and drinking beforehand. Following them exactly is essential for your safety.
- Arrange a ride. You must have a responsible adult take you home and ideally stay with you for the rest of the day.
- Wear comfortable clothes with short sleeves, and no makeup, nail polish or jewellery.
On the day
- The anesthesiologist places a small IV line, usually in your hand or arm. For young children, the first step may be breathing gas through a mask.
- You fall asleep within moments.
- Your breathing, heart rate, blood pressure and oxygen are monitored continuously throughout.
- Dr. Elbaz completes your planned treatment while you sleep.
- You wake up under continued monitoring and stay until you’re alert enough to go home.
After general anesthesia
It’s normal to feel drowsy, a little unsteady or nauseous for a few hours.
- rest for the remainder of the day, with an adult nearby
- don’t drive, operate machinery, drink alcohol or sign important documents for 24 hours
- start with fluids and soft foods
- follow the aftercare instructions for your dental treatment, such as caring for extraction sites
Call us if you have bleeding that won’t stop, severe pain or a fever.
Is general anesthesia safe?
Modern general anesthesia is very safe for healthy people when given by a trained anesthesiologist with proper monitoring. Like any medical procedure it carries some risk, which is why we assess you carefully first and only recommend GA when it’s the right choice. We’ll answer all your questions before you decide.
Cost and coverage
The cost of general anesthesia depends on how long your treatment takes and is billed separately from your dental treatment. Some insurance plans cover part of it, more often for children or for oral surgery. We’ll give you a written estimate and help you check your coverage before booking.
Talk to us
If fear or a complex treatment plan has kept you from the dentist, we can help you find a way forward. Book a consultation or call 226-884-2573. We’re open six days a week, with evening appointments until 9 pm on weekdays.