1. Why are people put to sleep for their dental treatment?
People are put to sleep for their dentistry to solve special concerns. For those who are very anxious or fearful, the patient will not be awake during the procedures, thus allowing them to relax and follow through with needed treatment.
For people who need extensive work, being asleep allows us to perform more procedures with our in-house General Dentists and Specialists in as little as one visit. People who have special needs may be unable to cooperate with requirements to remain still for long periods of time, or may have other problems with dental procedures.
2. What is the difference between General Anesthesia and Twilight Sleep?
As we give more medication, the patient goes through different states of relaxation. The patient can choose to only have nitrous oxide (commonly called laughing gas) for a very relaxed state. However, the patient is still awake and aware of his surroundings. As we give medications, the patient becomes more relaxed where he may think he is sleeping (Twilight Sleep) but actually does not remember being awake. As we give more medication, the patient gently slips into a state of general anesthesia where he is completely asleep and totally unaware of his surroundings.
3. If I receive General Anesthesia, how long will it be before I can resume normal activities?
Usually we give a long acting tranquilizer during treatment so the patient will sleep comfortably after they leave the office. You should rest and relax the first day after treatment; and most people return to normal activities on the second day after treatment.
4. What is the cost of treatment?
There is a fee for the anesthesia depending upon the number of hours of treatment in addition to the fees for the dentistry needed. It is costly for the dentist to have all the required facilities and licensing, but generally is less than it would be for a hospital visit to accomplish the same results.
