Hi, I’m Dr Lyle, one of the principal dentists here at Dental House Group in Melbourne.
Last Wednesday, one of our patients, Sophia from Melton, came to see us for a dental exam and mentioned she was interested in replacing her dentures with All On 4 Plus® dental implants. She asked about using general anaesthetic during the treatment to help her manage the stress she feels with dental treatments, but was concerned about the side effects. This is an excellent question and so I thought I should make a video about general anaesthetic side effects.
General anaesthetic is used on some patients to help cope with dental phobias and anxieties. It may also be used for more complex dental treatments such as bone grafting for dental implant procedures.
General anaesthetic or sleep dentistry allows the patient to be unconscious or asleep during an entire dental treatment. The medicine used to induce sleep is administered through an IV line and monitored during the surgery by a professionally trained anesthetist. It is done in a purpose built clinical theatre or hospital setting so that all precautions are taken and if any complications should arise, the doctors can quickly intervene.
Like all medical treatments, there are some side effects, but not all patients will experience them. The most common side effect is feeling confusion, nausea and vomiting, and this is usually immediately after the procedure.
Chills and shivering are also common because the body cools down while under general anaesthetic. Dizziness is another side effect which may be due to dehydration, so it helps to ensure you are well hydrated at least a couple days before your treatment. Other side effects can include muscle aches, dry mouth and bruising. Most patients will feel better within a day or two after general anaesthetic.
I hope this video has helped you understand the potential side effects of general anaesthetic. If you need dental treatment and experience anxiety or fears, we would love to look after you. Here at Dental House, we have purpose-built general anaesthetic theatres for our anxious patients, making sure their experience is safe and comfortable.
