Since most dental procedures are painless, It is also possible to complete them easily without the need for injection needles. However, in some dental procedures, it is necessary to use general anesthetics for dull pain and other reasons. General anesthesia may have been heard as a drug used for sedation before starting operations. Although chemically similar, general anesthesia used in dentistry is much less invasive than other medical fields. While going in for other types of surgery, applying anesthesia also involves the use of paralyzed drugs. Paralytics are not used in dentistry and breathing apparatuses are not needed during the dental procedure. You will not feel any pain as the anesthetic medication that your dentist will use will only make you unconscious. If you are very worried about oral surgery, it can be recommended to use the general anesthesia, by your dentist. At Myra Dental Center, the use of general anesthetics will be discussed with your dentist and you and it will be recommended only if you absolutely need drugs.
Anaesthetic Drugs Used in Dentistry
What should be known is that “General anesthesia” is not the name of a single sedative drug, it is just a combination of drugs that make the patient unconscious during the procedure. According to the patient’s condition and tolerance levels, different chemicals are used by dentists in order to sedate patients. Nitrous oxide is the most commonly used anesthetic. Sedative drugs such as Lorazepam (under the name of brand such as Ativan) can also be used in other situations. Nitrous oxide is applied with a mask to inhale it. Note that general anesthetics are different from local anesthetics. Local anesthetics are typically used on one part of the body and numb only the part where it is applied in order not to feel the pain. When you start pulling out a tooth, dentists often use a local anesthetic to numb a particular area. The effect of general anesthetic drugs is stronger than the effect of local anesthetic drugs, and this makes you unconscious.
The Reasons for Using General Anesthesia
General anesthesia is used when absolutely necessary to prevent pain or manage a serious condition such as acute dental anxiety. Other conditions that the dentist can recommend the use of general anaesthetic are as follows:
- in cases where the patient has dental phobia or low tolerance to even moderate pain.
- in cases where the patient is allergic to local anaesthetics or local anaesthetics are not effective.
- in case where the dental procedure is too invasive to highly complex
- In cases where the patient has a strong gag reflex or cannot help choking during the procedure (or cannot keep his/her mouth open during the procedure)
- In case the patient suffers from some kind of disability that makes it difficult to sit through the procedure
- In cases where the patient is restless or unable to stay still for the procedure even when using a local anesthetic.
Your dentist at Myra Dental Center will talk to you about the use of general anaesthetics and explain the reason for its requirement. Your dentist will also ask questions about other medications you use and allergies, if there is a concern. You have to explain any prescription or over-the-counter medication, including herbal supplements you may have taken before undergoing a general anaesthetic.
The Process of Going Under General Anaesthetics
General anaesthesia is not a painful procedure. Because dentists use minimal sedation, the effects of drugs are not as severe as in other types of surgery. After administering the drug, you will become unconscious in a few minutes. You will be “under” during the procedure. However, the effects of general anesthetics last for several hours. You may feel sleepy or drowsy when you become conscious after the procedure. The effect can take two hours or more. Therefore, it is not a good idea to drive yourself home after undergoing general anaesthetic treatment. We recommend having a friend or family member who can do this for you. Or, if you wish, you can contact the patient liaison offices in our clinic to arrange a ride home.
The effects of general anesthetic can continue for at least 24 hours following the procedure. All effects end shortly and you will be back to normal in a short time.
Availability at Myra Dental Center
Myra Dental Center offers general anesthetic treatments in our clinic. There is a highly qualified anaesthetist in our clinic who will administer medications and oversee the procedure. The anaesthetist in our clinic is a highly qualified anaesthetist who will administer the drugs and oversee the procedure. You have the opportunity to discuss any concerns you may have with your dentist and other professionals in our clinic.