Is General Anesthesia in the office for dental treatment safe?
Despite popular belief, in-office General Anesthesia for dental restorations is extremely safe. Our patients are monitored for the entire procedure and all monitors, anesthesia drugs, and equipment are kept up-to-date.
Yes, there is always a risk of something “bad” happening; this is why it is very important that the patients adhere to the pre-operative instructions and guidelines given by Dr. Sophia Tan, DDS prior to the appointment.
What are common post-surgery “side effects?”
Common side effects include grumpiness, lethargy, nosebleeds, and coughing. The anesthesia medications are very short-acting and the younger patients may wake up in a “bad mood.” Nosebleeds are common due to the “breathing tube” placed during surgery. It is also very normal for patients to develop a cough post-surgery. Sometimes after surgery patients are not yet ready to eat, if given solids too quickly or force fed vomiting may occur. If a patient’s cough or any other symptoms worsen and/or you are concerned we ask to please contact Dr. Sophia Tan, DDS immediately or go to the nearest emergency room.
Can I be in the room with my loved-ones during surgery?
When the first medication is administered prior to an IV being placed we ask parents to be with their children. This is the “twilight” phase. At this point we will ask you to carry your child into the dental operatory, give hugs and kisses, and then you will be asked to please remain in the waiting room during surgery.
There are several reasons why we do not allow family members in the treatment rooms. We want to focus solely on our patients. If there are extra people in the room it makes it hard to focus on our patient’s needs. The treatment rooms tend to be small as well; this makes it difficult for staff to maneuver to finish dental treatment quickly and efficiently. We want our patients to be under anesthesia for the least amount of time needed.