General Anesthesia – Terrell, TX

Sleep Through Your Dental Treatments

We understand that many patients are somewhat apprehensive about dental treatment, which is why we offer multiple types of sedation dentistry. Nitrous oxide, oral conscious sedation, and IV sedation can all provide relief from anxiety and help patients to feel relaxed. However, they all allow patients to remain conscious. General anesthesia produces unconsciousness and is the most powerful type of sedation available. We are one of the few dental offices in our area to offer it.

Why Choose Texas Dentistry for General Anesthesia?

Not available at most dental offices
Patient safety and comfort are top priorities
Sleep through extensive treatments

What Is General Anesthesia?

general anesthesia in black letters to designate general anesthesia in Terrell

General anesthesiology is a method of sedation that uses inhaled gases or intravenously administered medication to make patients unconscious. When you are under general anesthesia, you will be unable to feel sensations. You will also not be able to respond to any outside stimuli. We closely monitor patients while they are under general anesthesia in order to reduce the risk of complications.

Who Should Receive General Anesthesia?

close-up of general anesthesia mask against light background

We do not use general anesthesia as much as we use our other sedation techniques. However, we might recommend it for you if:

You have an extremely high tolerance for other types of sedation, such as the medicines that are typically used for oral conscious sedation or IV sedation.
You suffer from extreme dental phobia that makes you unable to relax during treatment, even when you are sedated by other means.
You are undergoing an especially extensive or complex dental treatment.
You do not have any health conditions that would make it dangerous for you to be put under general anesthesia.

What to Expect with General Anesthesia

male dentist and female patient discussing general anesthesia

Here are some basics of what you can expect with general anesthesia:

To prepare to be put under general anesthesia, you may need to stop taking certain medications (for example, blood thinners) about a week prior to your procedure. You also should not eat for the last several hours before your appointment.
During your procedure, you will not be aware of anything that happens. As the anesthesia wears off, you will wake up in a recovery room. Mild side effects, such as grogginess, are normal.
The anesthesia usually takes at least 24 hours to wear off completely. You should not drive during that time, so it is important to have a friend or family member ready to take you home from your appointment.