How To Prepare For General Anesthesia at The Dentist

You and your dentist will go over your health history, ensure that you are healthy enough to have general anesthesia, and make sure that it’s the right choice for your procedure.

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General anesthesia at the dentist is one way to deal with severe dental anxiety or safely receive major oral surgeries, such as removing impacted wisdom teeth.

With this type of anesthesia, you are completely unconscious. You won’t remember anything that happened during your procedure. Wondering how to prepare for your treatment at The Dental Anesthesia Center? Here are a few steps you will need to take.

Discuss Risks With Your Dentist Before Your Treatment

While general anesthesia is very safe, certain health conditions like diabetes, sleep apnea, and other complex medical histories may increase the risk of complications during general anesthesia.

You and your dentist at The Dental Anesthesia Center will go over your health history and ensure that you are healthy enough to have general anesthesia – and to make sure that it’s the right choice for your procedure.

Fast According To Your Dentist’s Instructions

You will usually need to fast for at least 6 hours before your surgery. This is because general anesthesia affects muscles in your digestive tract and airway, relaxing them and potentially allowing food and acid into the stomach and lungs. If you have an empty stomach, this is not an issue.

Stop Taking Certain Medications or Supplements

Your dentist will discuss any medications you may not be able to take before your general anesthesia appointment, such as blood thinners.

There are also some other supplements you should avoid before surgery, such as kava, Gingko Biloba, garlic, ginseng, and St. John’s Wort. Again, it would be best to discuss all of your supplements with your doctor to ensure you do not take any supplements that could affect your anesthesia.

Bring Someone With You To Take You Home & Take Care Of You

You will not be able to drive yourself home after your treatment, and the side effects of anesthesia may last for a few hours after your appointment. Along with feelings of confusion and disorientation, you may experience:

• Nausea
• Shivering
• Dry mouth
• Sore throat
• Muscle aches
• Sleepiness
• Itching

It’s important to bring a responsible adult, such as a partner, family member, or close friend with you to your appointment at The Dental Anesthesia Center. After your appointment, you will be released into their care, and they can monitor you at home to make sure you don’t experience any significant side effects or after-effects related to anesthesia.

Consult With Our Team

At The Dental Anesthesia Center, we offer several different anesthesia types, ranging from minimal sedation with laughing gas to complete, full-body general anesthesia. If you are interested in the benefits of sleep dentistry, contact us online or give us a call at (314) 862-7844 for an appointment and explore your options further.