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General anesthesia for dental treatment is aimed at temporary suppression of consciousness (a state similar to a state of sleep) and the sensation of pain, for the purpose of a dental operation, whereby general anesthesia for dental treatment is a medical procedure that requires prior examinations and consent of the patient, comes with obligations before and after the operation and includes side effects Even complications, for these reasons, must inform the patient with complete and informed information to obtain his consent.
General anesthesia for dental treatment
Sometimes it is necessary to use general anesthesia to be able to provide the care the patient needs, in a safe and controlled environment, it allows the dentist to perform the entire procedure without the patient being disturbed if he is restless or uncooperative, thus it can be used in different situations like:
• Children who are too young to cooperate during treatment.
          •         Young and old patients with a specific condition (physical or mental disability, diseases, etc.).
          •         Patients with real dental phobia.
          •         Patients who require intensive treatments (root canal treatment, fillings, etc.).
          •         Patients who are allergic to local anesthetics.
          •         Most often, pediatric dentists use it with children, for example, it may be necessary for a child with early childhood caries .
    .       in the case of surgery such as surgical extractions or implants for example.
          •         For optimum comfort and complete safety, general anesthesia is performed in a facility which provides a safe and equipped place on the basis of a feasibility study with the anesthesiologist.
          •         This procedure is one day surgery, it does not require spending the night on site, and a mobile unit is transmitted to the patient in the operation room.
          •         Conscious sedation is also possible; it is a lighter procedure with the same result to remove the concerns of the dentist or caregiver.
General anesthesia for dental treatment
This anesthesia technique renders you unconscious and insensitive to pain.
The doctor in the anesthesiology department administers certain drugs intravenously or sometimes through a mask placed on the face.
These drugs cause artificial sleep that is completely different from natural sleep. For the duration of the procedure, the doctor in the anesthesia department monitors various parameters such as:
          •         depth of sleep
          •         Effect on respiration
          •         heart beats
          •         the heat
          •         blood loss, etc.
Before general anesthesia the patient must be deemed fit by the anaesthesiologist who evaluates the information provided by the patient and prior examination performed in a laboratory.
The anesthesia session lasts between 2 and 3 hours followed by 3 to 4 hours of observation before the patient can leave the hospital.
          •         After the dental surgery, the patient is escorted until he is Generaly awake, once he regains his senses, he is returned to his home where he rests for the rest of the day.
What are the risks associated with general anesthesia?
          •         nausea, vomiting, headache, momentary confusion, hematoma after injection, inflammation of the veins may occur.
          •         Possible allergic reactions to medicines may also occur.
          •         Weakness is expected after intravenous anaesthesia. The patient cannot walk alone, drive or make important decisions (contracts, legal decisions) within the next 24 hours.
General anesthesia instructions
a set of rules must be respected, among which are the following instructions:
          •         The patient should not eat or drink for 6-7 hours prior to the GA appointment
          •         Shower on the morning of the operation, jewelry, contact lenses, dentures and make-up must be removed (the patient takes his devices with him, but they must be removed).
          •         The patient cannot go home alone, drive, or make any important decisions on that day.
What are the side effects of general anesthesia?
The information below mainly relates to side effects 12 to 24 hours after anesthesia:
          •         The patient feels drowsy, dizzy and weak.
          •         The patient moves in a state of uncertainty (it is therefore recommended to limit his movements, and move with caution, even at home),
          •         The patient may have a sore throat, a feeling of hoarseness or something in the throat, and difficulty swallowing (in this case, keep yourself well hydrated).
          •         The patient may suffer from nausea and vomiting.
          •         The patient may have a temperature.
          •         In the event of inflammation at the site of the operation, medications are prescribed as needed.
          •         The patient must complete the medication.
          •         The patient should not do any strenuous physical activity for 24 hours after the anesthesia and does not drive a car.
          •         The patient may not remember the circumstances surrounding the anesthesia and suffer from temporary memory loss.
          •         Other rare but more serious consequences can occur during general anesthesia, and may even be life-threatening, which is why this procedure is performed under strict conditions under the supervision of an anesthesiologist.
Indications for General anesthesia for dental treatment
The general anesthesia index contains three conditions
          •         Insufficient cooperation from the patient, psychological (pressure, disability) or technical (limited mouth opening, gag reflex), also for urgent treatments (evacuation of infectious foci before heart surgery, transplantation, oncology therapy).
          •         Long and complex oral procedures (cellulitis drainage, excision of cystic lesion or tumor), in which local or local anesthesia will not be sufficient.
          •         A confirmed allergy to local anesthetics.
However, it is acceptable for many patients to request surgery under general anesthesia for dental treatment for fear of a surgical procedure, such as removing wisdom teeth in adolescents or young adults.
Information necessary for the validity of the use of general anesthesia for dental treatment
          •         In addition to the usual information about the care to be performed, the information provided to the patient should explain the specific risks associated with general anesthesia.
          •         For this purpose, a prior oral exam is necessary and the patient’s consent must be achieved and signed.
          •         It seems useful to specify that the treatment plan can be modified during the session, depending on the clinical elements observed at the time.
          •         The anesthesiologist will work in the same way and make sure that the patient’s health condition is compatible with this type of anaesthesia.
 
General anesthesia for pediatric dental treatment
General anesthesia is a treatment option used to provide high-quality dental care in a safe and controlled environment. This alternative may be offered to you when:
          •         Medically endangering the child, either because of a physical or mental condition
          •         the child is uncooperative, too afraid or worried about significant dental needs
          •         A child who needs extensive dental treatment as the use of general anesthesia protects the psychological development and/or reduces medical risks
Prepare for general anesthesia
Fasting before surgery:
          •         Please note that failure to observe the pre-operative fasting will result in the cancellation of your appointment.
 
clothing type:
          •         Comfortable clothes must be worn
          •         Avoid wearing a waist belt, tight collar, and overalls
          •         No jewelry
          •         No nail polish
          •         Tie the hair back so that it is comfortable when lying down (like braids)
          •         We recommend that your child be accompanied by two adults (including at least one legal guardian) who are responsible and able, if necessary, to carry them.
General anesthesia procedures for dental treatment
          •         When you arrive at the anesthesia clinic, you will be greeted by a friendly staff, who will then measure your weight or the child’s weight and vital signs, and the patient will be given a pain reliever prior to the start of the surgery.
          •         When it is your turn, you will be asked to accompany the patient to the surgery room. This is where you will meet with the anesthesiologist.
          •         Most of the time, the anesthesiologist will install a small IV line on the back of the hand.
          •         You will be at the patient’s bedside to reassure him at this time, the effect of the drugs is very fast (about 10-15 seconds).
          •         Once the patient is asleep, companions will be invited back to the waiting room.
          •         Once the procedure is complete, the dentist will discuss with you the necessary post-operative and follow-up tips, when the patient wakes up, you can join him until he is discharged.
Post-surgery advice
          •         Diet and activity
          •         Encouraging adequate hydration with clear fluids after surgery
          •         Follow a lean diet on the day of surgery if clear fluids are well tolerated
Oral hygiene instructions
          •         Use a towel to clean the teeth the night of surgery
          •         Regular brushing and flossing the day after surgery
Pain control
Tylenol or other pain killers will often suffice every 4-6 hours as needed depending on the pain.
What types of anesthesia are there?
It goes without saying that all dental care services are currently painless, however, there is a direct link between dental pain and anxiety, part of the pain we feel when we go to the dentist is anxiety and fear of harm, the more one fears harm, the more likely they are to feel pain, because anxiety and fear make the patient very sensitive to pain.
Interventions that require complete dental anesthesia, other than local or regional, are performed  with the most modern equipment by our specialized and experienced doctors.
In our clinics, the patient is guaranteed to benefit from the type of anesthesia that is optimal for his condition. In fact, each intervention is preceded by a visit and a pre-anesthetic assessment, which makes it possible to better understand the patient’s health profile, and provide him with the safest conditions for surgery.
1. conscious sedation (inhalation sedation)
          •         The patient is supposed to remain conscious throughout the operation. Sedation does not have an anesthetic effect. The patient breathes nitrous oxide, known as “laughing gas,” which puts the patient in a good mood and  elevates his tolerance to pain.
          •         It is easy to use, has minimal side effects and patients are happy with it. Patients can leave the clinic themselves after the operation. With inhalation, fear gives way to a pleasant feeling of warmth and well-being. The patient is in a state of euphoria.
          •         He follows the gentle and suggestive thread of his thoughts and time passes in the blink of an eye, sensitivity to pain and unpleasant reactions such as gagging  are greatly reduced.
          •         The  flow and  concentration of the gas (oxygen / nitrous mixture) can be adjusted according to the requirements. This is important because the sensitivity to laughing gas can vary greatly from person to person.
          •         The attachment effect observed with other sedatives, which remain in the bloodstream for longer and still work hours later, is not present with nitrous oxide.
 
General anesthesia service for dental treatment in our clinics
          •         Pediatric dentists in our center are qualified to work with young patients to provide their dental care under general anaesthesia. To do this, our team collaborates with anaesthesiologists, as well as with qualified respiratory therapists in partner hospitals.
          •         Any patient with a specific health condition should contact us to determine if it is safe to perform general anesthesia in their case, the intervention is always preceded by an interview with the anesthesiologist so that they are aware of the patient’s health condition.