What is Dental Treatment Under General Anaesthesia?
Dental treatment under general anaesthesia involves putting the patient to sleep in a fully equipped hospital setting, under the supervision of a specialist anaesthetist, to carry out dental procedures, and then waking them up in a controlled manner once the procedure is complete. Thanks to this method, all dental procedures that would otherwise be difficult to perform under normal circumstances, or which cause anxiety in the patient, are transformed into a completely pain-free, safe and comfortable experience of which the patient has no recollection.
Who is it suitable for?
This treatment method is the most suitable and safest option for many groups of patients who find it difficult to undergo treatment in a standard dental chair or who require extensive procedures:
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Adults with a fear of the dentist (dental phobia) and very high levels of anxiety,
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Children and adults with mental and physical disabilities,
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Children who are too young to communicate or to be persuaded to undergo treatment in the dentist’s chair,
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Patients with a very sensitive stomach and a very severe nausea and vomiting (retching) reflex,
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Individuals who are allergic to local anaesthetics,
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Situations where local anaesthesia alone is insufficient to provide adequate numbness (analgesia), such as in cases of severe infection,
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Patients who are due to undergo major surgical procedures, such as bone cyst operations or bone graft (powder) procedures,
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Adult patients who prefer to have multiple procedures—which cannot be carried out in a single session under local anaesthesia—completed in one go within a short period of 2–4 hours.
How Does the Treatment Process Work?
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Preliminary Examination and Tests: Prior to the procedure, the anaesthetist assesses the patient’s general state of health; the necessary blood tests are carried out to confirm suitability for anaesthesia.
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Planning: The dentist plans all the procedures to be carried out and, together with the anaesthetist, determines the approximate duration of the operation.
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Anaesthesia and Treatment: In the operating theatre, an anaesthetist puts the patient to sleep. The dentist then carries out all the planned surgical and restorative procedures (fillings, root canal treatment) in a single session.
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Waking up: At the end of the procedure, the patient is safely and carefully woken up by the anaesthesia team. They are then taken to the recovery room and kept under observation for a short while.
Points to Bear in Mind Before Treatment
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The blood tests and examinations requested by the anaesthetist prior to the operation must be carried out in full.
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In accordance with the guidelines for general anaesthesia, you must completely refrain from eating and drinking for the period specified by your doctor (usually the last 6–8 hours before the operation).
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If you are taking any systemic medication on a regular basis (for high blood pressure, diabetes, etc.), you must inform your doctor in advance.
Post-Treatment Precautions
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Same-Day Discharge: After receiving treatment, the patient is allowed to rest in hospital for a short while before being discharged on the same day.
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Recovery: After being discharged from hospital, you should not drive that day, you should avoid strenuous activities, and you should rest at home.
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Return to Everyday Life: As the effects of the anaesthetic wear off quickly, patients can usually resume their normal daily routines without any problems the very next day.
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Depending on the type of dental treatment carried out (extractions, implants, etc.), you should follow the specific instructions and dietary advice provided by your dentist.
1. Do I need to stay in hospital after my treatment is finished?
No. Following dental treatment carried out under general anaesthesia, patients are allowed to rest in the recovery room for a while and are safely discharged from hospital on the same day.
2. Is dental treatment under general anaesthesia safe?
Yes, it is an extremely safe procedure, as it is carried out in a fully equipped hospital setting, under the supervision of specialist anaesthetists, and following detailed pre-operative tests.
3. Kunnen al mijn tandproblemen in één keer worden opgelost?
Yes. One of the greatest advantages of this method is that a large number of procedures – such as tooth extractions, fillings, root canal treatments and implants – which would normally take weeks or months, can be completed in their entirety in a single session lasting just 2–4 hours.