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Sedation & General Anesthesia

Not every child can feel at ease in the dental chair. For these children, we provide treatment during a peaceful sleep or a state of deep relaxation, with an anesthesiologist by their side.

Get your boarding pass ✈️ Frequently asked questions
Pediatric dentist · Prepared by the dentist

What are sedation and general anesthesia?

Sedation uses medication to calm a child and ease their anxiety. Under general anesthesia, the child is fully asleep and feels nothing during treatment; in most cases, all of their treatment needs can be completed in a single session.

Both methods are carried out with an anesthesiologist present, in a properly equipped setting, and only after your child has been evaluated beforehand. We decide together with you which method is right after examining your child.

The goal of these methods isn't only to make treatment possible, but also to keep your child from forming a bad memory of the dentist. Treatment done under fear and struggle can turn into dental anxiety that lasts for years. Once treatment under sedation or general anesthesia is complete, we rebuild trust with your child through shorter, more comfortable follow-up visits.

Who might it be right for?

  • Very young children who need a lot of treatment
  • Children who can't cooperate in the chair because of intense fear or anxiety
  • Children with special needs
  • Children with a strong gag reflex
  • Cases that require long, extensive treatment

How does it work?

  1. Pre-treatment evaluation: We do a dental exam and put together a treatment plan. The anesthesiologist evaluates your child's overall health.
  2. Getting ready: We give you written instructions on fasting times and what to expect on treatment day.
  3. Treatment day: We complete all of the planned treatment while your child is asleep or calm; the anesthesiologist stays with them throughout.
  4. Waking up and going home: After an observation period, you usually go home the same day. We call you the next day and schedule a follow-up visit.

What is discussed at the pre-treatment evaluation?

Before sedation or general anesthesia, a detailed evaluation is done to keep your child safe. At this visit, you'll usually be asked about:

  • Your child's overall health, past illnesses, and any surgeries
  • Medications they take regularly and any known allergies
  • Whether they have had anesthesia before, and if any problems came up at that time
  • Breathing-related conditions such as snoring or sleep apnea
  • Whether they have had a fever, cough, or runny nose in recent days

If the anesthesiologist feels it's necessary, they may order some tests. Please feel free to ask all your questions at this visit.

Practical tips for treatment day

  • Follow the fasting instructions you were given exactly; this is the most important safety rule.
  • Dress your child in comfortable clothes that open in the front.
  • Bring along a favorite toy or blanket; having it nearby while waking up is a big comfort.
  • If possible, plan for your child to spend treatment day and the following day resting at home.

We walk through the whole process, along with the questions parents ask most often, in our article on dental treatment under general anesthesia.

The long-term plan after treatment

Once all treatment under sedation or general anesthesia is complete, our main goal is to make sure the same process is never needed again. To get there, we set checkup intervals based on your child's cavity risk and review brushing and eating habits at home together with you. We see these follow-up visits as the start of a new, comfortable relationship between your child and our clinic.

Sedation or general anesthesia?

We make this decision together with the anesthesiologist after examining your child. The main things we consider are: how many teeth need treatment and how long the treatment will take, your child's age and level of cooperation, their overall health, and their past experiences.

For a few short treatments, sedation may be enough, while for young children who need many teeth treated, or when cooperation isn't possible, general anesthesia can be the safer and more comfortable option. We explain the pros and cons of both methods to you openly.

How we explain it to your child

“You're going to drift off into a sweet sleep, and maybe you'll dream about a giraffe. When you wake up, your teeth will be sparkly clean, and we'll be right there with you!”

Frequently asked questions

As with any medical procedure, there are risks; these are kept to a minimum by having the procedure performed by an anesthesiologist, after a pre-treatment evaluation, and under continuous monitoring. We talk through all your questions in detail at the pre-treatment visit.

With sedation, your child calms down and relaxes but is usually awake or lightly asleep. Under general anesthesia, they are fully asleep and won't remember anything.

Fasting time depends on your child's age and the method used; we give you the anesthesiologist's instructions in writing. Following these instructions is very important for safety.

Most children go home the same day after an observation period. We recommend that your child spend the rest of the day resting at home.

Signs of infection such as fever, cough, or a runny nose can affect anesthesia safety, so treatment may need to be postponed. Please let us know if your child shows any signs of illness before treatment day.

Yes. Some children wake up from anesthesia a little restless for a short time; they may cry or have trouble understanding where they are. This usually passes quickly, and having you by their side is the best comfort.

Age alone isn't the deciding factor. Whether it's suitable is determined by the anesthesiologist's evaluation, based on your child's overall health and treatment needs.

The information on this page is for general guidance only and does not replace an examination. Please talk to your dentist for advice specific to your child.