Frequently Asked Questions About General Anesthesia
As you prepare for your procedure, it may help to remember that anesthesia is very safe. We use a wide variety of modern medications and extremely capable monitoring technology to ensure that patients are stable and as comfortable as possible before, during, and after their procedure. Here are the answers to some commonly asked questions:
• Is in-office general anesthesia right for everyone?
In-office sedation is a great option for many people but, of course, there isn’t one answer that applies to everyone. A thorough evaluation of a client’s medical history is required in order to determine if one is eligible for in-office general anesthesia.
• Why do I need to see my family doctor for a physical exam before booking an appointment?
Things that may seem harmless could interact with or affect the anesthesia and how you react to it. To ensure your treatment is as safe and comfortable as possible, you may need to visit your family doctor for your pre-op checkup. Please note we require the reports from this visit before booking your dental treatment appointment.
• Will I meet the dentist before the appointment?
You may not meet Dr. Chow until your dental appointment day. However, Dr. Chow will go over your medical history carefully, to ensure you are eligible for in-office sedation and to make choices tailored specifically to your individual needs.
• Why is eating / drinking before anesthesia an issue?
It's important to make sure that you don't eat or drink anything after midnight the day before your appointment. Anesthetic medications can suspend reflexes that prevent food and fluids from being inhaled into the lungs if there is vomiting or regurgitation under anesthesia. We will advise you if you are allowed take specific medications the morning of your appointment.
• What if my child is afraid of needles?
Your child will start transitioning from the normal awake state to the sleepy state of anesthesia by inhaling gases through a mask. He/she won't be awake when the IV is inserted for general anesthesia or when local anesthesia is given to numb an area of the mouth.
Please note this method is not suitable for adults.
• Can Dr. Chow just administer lower levels of sedation?
Although this may be appropriate for certain dental procedures, it is not suitable for most of our patients. In fact, the period requiring the greatest amount of attention is when the patient is only slightly anesthetized, during the start or finish of the procedure (induction and emergence). Deeper levels of anesthesia are the times when problems are not as likely to arise.
• Can parents / accompaniments stay in the operating room during the procedure?
Our main concern is, of course, the safety of our patients. We understand the stress of surgery (both on patients and family members!); however, parents / accompaniments are not allowed in the operating room during the procedure, even if they are physicians. This is potentially disruptive.
• Can parents be there when their child wakes up?
We always do our best to make sure parents are separated from their child for the shortest amount of time possible. Emergence from anesthesia often requires a good deal of work on the part of the anesthesiologist, and children need to regain a certain level of consciousness before it is safe to leave the monitors and equipment in the operating room.
• How long is the recovery period?
While most patients are to some degree awake by the time they are moved into the recovery area, they are slowly emerging from a very deep sleep and won’t be fully awake right away - it may take a while and they may doze off for a bit. It usually takes about 45 minutes to an hour for most people to recover from general anesthesia.
• Is it common for children to cry during the recovery period?
Although every child has a different experience, some children do cry in the recovery room, especially if they are very young. Children may feel groggy, confused, chilly, disoriented, or even sad as they wake up from anesthesia and children tend to cry in stressful situations. However, they usually feel better once they have woken up more fully.
• When will I be allowed to go home?
After recovering from the anesthetic, patients are evaluated to make sure they are ready for discharge from our office. Before you leave the office, you'll receive instructions for further recuperation at home. Once at home, you must remain in the company of a responsible adult for 24 hours following the procedure.
• Do I need someone to take me home after the appointment?
You will not be allowed to drive yourself home, and you will not be able to leave the clinic if there is not a responsible adult that can drive you home and take care of the post-operative recovery period. In the event that you have no escort on the day of the sedation, your appointment may be cancelled and a cancellation fee will apply.
• How much will my treatment cost?
Every case varies considerably; however, if your family dentist provides us with a detailed treatment plan and x-rays, Dr. Chow can prepare an estimate for you.
If you do not have a family dentist or a treatment plan and x-rays are not available, we recommend you come in for a consultation with Dr. Chow so he can assess your dental needs and provide you with a more accurate estimate of cost.
It is important to note that sedation costs are billed in addition to the cost of dental procedures and/ or laboratory charges. Also, sedation is a time based service; therefore, the fees will vary based on the amount of time required to perform the planned dental procedures.
Please note that we follow the current ODA fee guide for Certified Dental Anesthesiologists.
• Will my dental insurance pay for the sedation?
If you are not familiar with your coverage details, we encourage you to contact your insurance company to review your dental coverage before your first appointment. Our office can also request an estimate of the amount covered for the services proposed on your behalf. This way you can be well-prepared at the time of your dental appointment.
Please be aware that NIHB and Healthy Smiles may cover the costs of general anesthesia within certain limits.
As you prepare for your procedure, it may help to remember that anesthesia is very safe. We use a wide variety of modern medications and extremely capable monitoring technology to ensure that patients are stable and as comfortable as possible before, during, and after their procedure. Here are the answers to some commonly asked questions:
• Is in-office general anesthesia right for everyone?
In-office sedation is a great option for many people but, of course, there isn’t one answer that applies to everyone. A thorough evaluation of a client’s medical history is required in order to determine if one is eligible for in-office general anesthesia.
• Why do I need to see my family doctor for a physical exam before booking an appointment?
Things that may seem harmless could interact with or affect the anesthesia and how you react to it. To ensure your treatment is as safe and comfortable as possible, you may need to visit your family doctor for your pre-op checkup. Please note we require the reports from this visit before booking your dental treatment appointment.
• Will I meet the dentist before the appointment?
You may not meet Dr. Chow until your dental appointment day. However, Dr. Chow will go over your medical history carefully, to ensure you are eligible for in-office sedation and to make choices tailored specifically to your individual needs.
• Why is eating / drinking before anesthesia an issue?
It's important to make sure that you don't eat or drink anything after midnight the day before your appointment. Anesthetic medications can suspend reflexes that prevent food and fluids from being inhaled into the lungs if there is vomiting or regurgitation under anesthesia. We will advise you if you are allowed take specific medications the morning of your appointment.
• What if my child is afraid of needles?
Your child will start transitioning from the normal awake state to the sleepy state of anesthesia by inhaling gases through a mask. He/she won't be awake when the IV is inserted for general anesthesia or when local anesthesia is given to numb an area of the mouth.
Please note this method is not suitable for adults.
• Can Dr. Chow just administer lower levels of sedation?
Although this may be appropriate for certain dental procedures, it is not suitable for most of our patients. In fact, the period requiring the greatest amount of attention is when the patient is only slightly anesthetized, during the start or finish of the procedure (induction and emergence). Deeper levels of anesthesia are the times when problems are not as likely to arise.
• Can parents / accompaniments stay in the operating room during the procedure?
Our main concern is, of course, the safety of our patients. We understand the stress of surgery (both on patients and family members!); however, parents / accompaniments are not allowed in the operating room during the procedure, even if they are physicians. This is potentially disruptive.
• Can parents be there when their child wakes up?
We always do our best to make sure parents are separated from their child for the shortest amount of time possible. Emergence from anesthesia often requires a good deal of work on the part of the anesthesiologist, and children need to regain a certain level of consciousness before it is safe to leave the monitors and equipment in the operating room.
• How long is the recovery period?
While most patients are to some degree awake by the time they are moved into the recovery area, they are slowly emerging from a very deep sleep and won’t be fully awake right away - it may take a while and they may doze off for a bit. It usually takes about 45 minutes to an hour for most people to recover from general anesthesia.
• Is it common for children to cry during the recovery period?
Although every child has a different experience, some children do cry in the recovery room, especially if they are very young. Children may feel groggy, confused, chilly, disoriented, or even sad as they wake up from anesthesia and children tend to cry in stressful situations. However, they usually feel better once they have woken up more fully.
• When will I be allowed to go home?
After recovering from the anesthetic, patients are evaluated to make sure they are ready for discharge from our office. Before you leave the office, you'll receive instructions for further recuperation at home. Once at home, you must remain in the company of a responsible adult for 24 hours following the procedure.
• Do I need someone to take me home after the appointment?
You will not be allowed to drive yourself home, and you will not be able to leave the clinic if there is not a responsible adult that can drive you home and take care of the post-operative recovery period. In the event that you have no escort on the day of the sedation, your appointment may be cancelled and a cancellation fee will apply.
• How much will my treatment cost?
Every case varies considerably; however, if your family dentist provides us with a detailed treatment plan and x-rays, Dr. Chow can prepare an estimate for you.
If you do not have a family dentist or a treatment plan and x-rays are not available, we recommend you come in for a consultation with Dr. Chow so he can assess your dental needs and provide you with a more accurate estimate of cost.
It is important to note that sedation costs are billed in addition to the cost of dental procedures and/ or laboratory charges. Also, sedation is a time based service; therefore, the fees will vary based on the amount of time required to perform the planned dental procedures.
Please note that we follow the current ODA fee guide for Certified Dental Anesthesiologists.
• Will my dental insurance pay for the sedation?
If you are not familiar with your coverage details, we encourage you to contact your insurance company to review your dental coverage before your first appointment. Our office can also request an estimate of the amount covered for the services proposed on your behalf. This way you can be well-prepared at the time of your dental appointment.
Please be aware that NIHB and Healthy Smiles may cover the costs of general anesthesia within certain limits.