IV General Anesthesia for Children

If a patient has extreme difficulty receiving dental treatment, our pediatric dentist may recommend in-office general anesthesia. General anesthesia induces sleep, making it easy for our pediatric dentist and team to provide the necessary care.

General anesthetics are usually administered through inhalation or an injection into the hand or arm. We may also use a long-lasting local anesthetic during the procedure, so that the patient will wake up feeling numb after treatment and remain comfortable after the general anesthetic wears off.

Our pediatric dentist may recommend general anesthesia when:

• A child cannot relax or calm down enough to receive treatment safely

• Oral surgery or other treatment is difficult to provide when the patient is awake

• A patient needs extensive dental work performed in a single visit

• A patient has special needs or a disability that limits his or her ability to understand or comply with directions to safely receive treatment

You will be provided with detailed instructions about eating and drinking before and after your child’s procedure, as well as instructions on post-operative care following treatment. Please follow these instructions as closely as possible.

If you have any questions about general anesthesia, please contact our office at 480-275-5099.