General anesthesia is a method of sedation in which you will be put to sleep for the entire duration of your dental treatment. This is more common for complex procedures such as oral surgery. Medicines that put you to sleep will be administered and you will not be conscious during the procedure, and will be unable to respond or feel any pain.
You will wake up with no recollection of the procedure. You will not be able to drive home afterward and will feel very tired for the rest of the day. You should have another adult monitor you for at least 8 hours after your procedure and get plenty of rest.
Dental sedation is generally considered safe, but the exact risks associated with sedation vary depending on the level of sedation, your medical history, and how you respond to sedation. Most people of all ages respond well to nitrous oxide, which is considered the safest and least-invasive sedative.
This method of sedation is commonly used on children to help them feel relaxed and be more cooperative. As you increase the level of sedation in intensity, the associated risks increase. However, as long as you are receiving sedation from a highly trained, licensed, and experienced professional who has verified your medical history, you don’t have anything to worry about.
Your Austin dentist will monitor you throughout your treatment to ensure that you have adequate oxygen levels, heart rate, and blood pressure. They will also be prepared to reverse the effects of sedation if any complications were to arise.
Not everyone is a good candidate for sedation and some methods of sedation may work better for you than others. This depends on your overall health, medications you are taking, your medical history, and if you are pregnant.
A good candidate is someone who is in good overall health and experiences dental anxiety, a strong gag reflex, has low pain tolerance, or is unable to sit still through long procedures. This type of person would benefit from the effects of sedation and it is unlikely that it would affect them negatively.
However, if you have certain medical conditions, take prescription drugs, or are pregnant or breastfeeding, you will need to speak with Dr. Bonner Morren to verify that sedation is safe for you. If you’re interested in dental sedation, contact us at your dentist in Austin today to schedule an appointment. If you are located in River Place, please still give us a call. We are only a short drive away.
