Dental Treatment Under Anesthesia: Specialists and Information

Many people break out in a sweat and feel anxious just thinking about a visit to the dentist. Some may also have had bad experiences as children. General anesthesia can help alleviate this and relieve patients’ fear of necessary dental treatment.

For some dental procedures, local anesthesia is sufficient, or no anesthesia is needed at all. However, other dental procedures involving the jaw, tooth roots, or teeth are more complex and time-consuming. In these cases, general anesthesia may be appropriate. This includes, for example, placing dental implants in the jaw or extracting wisdom teeth.

General anesthesia for dental treatment may also be appropriate for

• people with movement disorders who cannot lie still during dental treatment,
• children,
• patients with a pronounced gag reflex,
• people who are afraid of the sounds and sensations associated with dental treatment.

For a procedure under anesthesia, the stomach must be empty. Therefore, you must not eat or drink anything for at least five to six hours before the treatment.

To prevent pain during dental treatment, various types of anesthesia are used. Very often, the dentist administers local anesthesia. This blocks pain at a specific treatment site. However, this form of anesthesia does not impair the patient’s consciousness. The goal here is to block the transmission of pain signals to the brain so that the pain does not reach it.

Another option is anesthesia administered intravenously—that is, via an injection into a vein or blood vessel. These consist of

• muscle relaxants,
• pain relievers, or
• sedatives

.

Another option is so-called inhalation anesthetics, which are administered through the air a person breathes. These include, for example, nitrous oxide, which has a muscle-relaxing and hypnotic effect. Nitrous oxide has been used in dentistry since the 19th century and is therefore a very old anesthetic. It offers patients the advantage of remaining conscious and responsive during treatment. Furthermore, an anesthesiologist is not required for its administration.

Nitrous oxide is administered via a nasal mask, which induces a feeling of relaxation in the patient. Some even describe the sensation as a “feeling of euphoria.” This reduces the perception of time and pain, which is especially helpful for patients who suffer from anxiety. Nitrous oxide is tasteless and odorless, and after the treatment, the dentist administers pure oxygen, which reverses the effects.

Another alternative is what is known as analgosedation. The term “analgosedation” combines the words “analgesic” (pain reliever) and “sedation” (calming agent), and the patient is placed in a state of twilight sleep.

In general, general anesthesia is a safe procedure. However, immediately after general anesthesia, the patient needs some time to come to.

They are often monitored for a while longer at the hospital or in the doctor’s office. This allows doctors to ensure that the patient has tolerated the anesthesia well. Afterward, they can leave the doctor’s office accompanied by a support person.

Before treatment, the patient’s medical history and current state of health are assessed.

Anyone with any serious

• pre-existing conditions,
• allergies,
• intolerances, or
• chronic conditions

may not be able to receive general anesthesia under certain circumstances. The doctor can assess the risk of anesthesia on a case-by-case basis, as well as determine which type of anesthesia is appropriate for the individual patient. If there are specific risks associated with general anesthesia, local anesthesia may be an alternative.

Some patients experience nausea or headaches after anesthesia. A certain degree of drowsiness or fatigue is also completely normal.

The effects of nitrous oxide, on the other hand, wear off very quickly, so you’ll hardly feel tired or groggy after the procedure. Nitrous oxide is therefore a very gentle form of anesthesia for the body. Nitrous oxide anesthesia is highly recommended for both older adults—who may also have cardiovascular disease—and for children.

However, acute respiratory diseases or severe lung damage are contraindications for nitrous oxide sedation.

Side effects may also occur with analog sedation under certain circumstances. These include, for example, fatigue and drowsiness, so you should under no circumstances drive a car after the procedure.