Yes, very safe. Statistically speaking, a patient is more likely to have a catastrophic accident while riding in a car to the surgery appointment than to have a major complication under general anesthesia. Complications relating from anesthesia are rare, and can usually be brought under control quickly. Most risks are closely related to a patient’s physical health, rather than the anesthesia. This is why the patient is given a thorough preoperative screening by the anesthesiologist. It is important for the patient or guardian to discuss any health history, medications, drug allergies, and past anesthesia experiences. It is also of utmost importance to mention any recent illnesses including coughs, colds, upper respiratory infections, asthma attacks, vomiting, fevers or recent hospitalizations.

General anesthesia is a mix of medications that quickly place a patient into a unconscious state for surgery. Once under general anesthesia pain and reflexes are temporarily turned off in the brain and a breathing tube may be inserted into the back of the throat to maintain an open airway.

Office-based anesthesia is a form of ambulatory anesthesia that has experienced exponential growth over the last two decades and is currently the fastest growing subspecialty of anesthesiology in the United States. With the advent of smaller, mobile monitoring devices and refined anesthetic techniques, select surgical procedures can be performed in the comfort and convenience of your dentist’s office.

A dentist may recommend anesthesia for many reasons. General anesthesia allows extensive work to be done during one appointment instead of having several sessions. This will save the patient time and money by combining multiple appointments. Some patients are simply too young, fearful or uncooperative to tolerate dental work while awake. General anesthesia ensures cooperation while minimizing fear and maximizing safety.

Office-based anesthesia is not suitable for everyone. Patients have to be medically and physically suitable for receiving anesthesia and surgical care in the office. This will be determined through evaluation by your anesthesiologist in coordination with your surgeon/dentist and with your primary care physician if necessary.

Our rates are based on the time our patient is under general anesthesia. Meldahl Medical Billing will contact you regarding rates as well as payment options, if applicable, well in advance of the medical procedure. Not all general anesthesia cases are billed directly to the patient, but all billing and anesthesia costs will be processed through NW Dental GA and are separate from your local dentist office.

We accept Medicaid insurance with no upfront cost to patients. Other private dental and medical insurances rarely cover 100% of the anesthesia cost, if it is covered at all. For that reason, our biller does not contract with any insurance companies. For those who may have a hard time with the upfront cost burden, we offer a variety of payment options through billing while we will work with your insurance company for maximum reimbursement.

Chewing gum or eating candy increases the odds of aspiration or vomiting during surgery. Tell your anesthesia provider about everything you have consumed within 8 hours of surgery, even if it’s one tic tac.

Eating and drinking before anesthesia can be deadly. It greatly increases the odds of vomiting while under anesthesia which can obstruct the patient’s airway leading to suffocation or cause a life-threatening aspiration pneumonia. Surgery may be cancelled or pushed back on the schedule if the patient has consumed anything within 8 hours of scheduled surgery time.

The risks of anesthesia can be decreased by providing thorough information regarding your past medical history to your anesthesiologist, abiding by preoperative fasting instructions, and continuing medications unless instructed by your anesthesiologist or surgeon to do otherwise. Also ensure that any chronic illnesses are being optimally treated. For children undergoing office-based anesthesia, having an anesthesiologist with significant pediatric experience is also recommended.

Avoid a separate visit to your primary care physician for a history and physical prior to you or your child’s procedure. Our team of physicians will accomplish that for you on your scheduled procedure date. Experience a higher level of comfort and convenience by having procedures performed in a place where you are already familiar.

A board certified physician specializing in anesthesia will be monitoring the patient’s safety and comfort at all times during general anesthesia while the dentist or surgeon can focus exclusively on your child’s dental work.

Though we very much respect your desire to be with your loved one during the actual procedure, we will ask instead that you relax in the waiting area. The primary reason is our overwhelming concern for safety and high quality care – best guaranteed when we are free to concentrate totally on monitoring our patients with our undivided attention.

This is the time needed to complete the check-in and registration process. It also includes time for possible pre-medication. You will also have time to ask questions of your dentist, surgeon, and anesthesiologist.

Yes. The medicines used are fast acting. Whether breathing through the mask or for older patients who can handle an IV, the anesthesia process will seem instantaneous.

Typically the grogginess from anesthesia medications wears off within one hour of the surgery ending. However every patient is unique. Deep breaths are encouraged and with every exhale, the patient’s alertness gradually returns. If the patient is of age, NO driving, operating heavy machinery, contact sports, or major life decisions should occur on the day of general anesthesia.

Once our staff and you feel comfortable, you will be allowed to begin your travel home. All patients receiving anesthesia will need a ride home by an adult (18 years or older). For pediatric patients, it is ideal for two adults to be present for the car ride home – one to assist with the patient’s needs, and the other adult to insure a safe driving journey home. Being drowsy and a bit fussy is not uncommon immediately post-op (especially for pediatric patients), and on occasion nausea might be expected. For the remainder of the procedure day, we recommend you refrain from performing any activities that might necessitate high degrees of balance, coordination, or mental alertness that might impact on the safety of you or your loved one (i.e. sports).

Generally, the patient is able to start eating when they return home or feel like they want to eat. If the patient is nauseous or not hungry, it may be better to wait one hour to let the stomach settle before eating or drinking. Local anesthetic in the mouth can last most of the day so avoid hot beverages and chew carefully.