During general anaesthetic a patient is fully asleep. We may suggest a general anaesthetic if you require more complex oral surgery, for example the removal of impacted wisdom teeth, implant surgery that includes bone grafting or sinus augmentation or full dental clearance. General anaesthesia may be the most suitable option for people with disabilities or for those with a dental phobia and who are unable to sit in the dental chair for treatment.
This service is offered at Caboolture Private Hospital under the care of our Dental Surgeon Dr Sean Keren and our regular anaesthetist. Once surgery is completed you can recover for a short while in the comfort of a private room before being discharged from the hospital. You will need to be accompanied by a family member or friend as someone must stay with you for a while afterwards, just to ensure you are completely recovered.
Intravenous sedation is slightly different from a general anaesthetic, as although you will be heavily sedated, you will still be aware of your surroundings and able to respond to our dental team. You will be in a relaxed state which allows you to receive treatment without any fear, discomfort or anxiety. Afterwards, you will remember very little, if anything about the actual procedure and it may seem as if only a few minutes have passed.
Once treatment is completed then we will reverse the sedation. You will need to stay with us for a short while before we can send you home. As with a general anaesthetic, it is important that you are accompanied by a family member or friend who can stay with you for a few hours until the sedative has fully worn off. We will generally recommend intravenous sedation for someone who is medically unfit for a general anaesthetic or who is a phobia patient.
