Walter Trautman M.D.

What Is General Anesthesia?

Children may develop serious, potentially painful dental diseases that can have lifelong consequences. Without treatment, dental disease can adversely affect learning, communication, nutrition and other activities necessary for normal growth and development. These children may require extensive dental work requiring the patient to be cooperative and still for the dentist. Many children have anxiety or are too young to cooperate at the dentist’s office. The fear of pain, the sound of drilling or even brief separations from parents can be frightening. For these children, general anesthesia allows the dentist to complete the necessary dental care safely and efficiently, while minimizing fear and ensuring cooperation. When a child (or person of any age) needs extensive dental treatment, general anesthesia may be required. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, American Dental Association, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services support this standard.

General anesthesia is a profound sleep during which children are unconcious, do not remember and do not feel pain. When a child is under general anesthesia, the dentist can work quickly and eficianetly.