Anesthesia is the prevention of pain sensation through various methods and medications before surgeries. These pain-relieving medications can be administered intravenously or through the respiratory tract.
General anesthesia is used in major surgeries such as brain, intestinal, liver, heart, thyroid, vocal cord, ear, and cancer surgeries. It is also required for surgeries performed on children due to their high mobility.
The procedure involves temporary unconsciousness, depending on the condition of the surgery, and the duration varies accordingly. Anesthesia administration and management are performed under the supervision of a specialized doctor. The patient's vital functions such as blood pressure, respiration, and heart function are monitored and controlled.
What is Local Anesthesia?
An anesthetic drug is temporarily administered to only a small area of the body; the person remains awake and aware of the procedures. It has a low risk of side effects, lasts for a short time, and is often used for outpatient treatment procedures.
Dental Treatments under General Anesthesia
Dental treatments under general anesthesia can be performed for patients with dental phobia, children who have difficulty communicating, patients with excessive gag reflex, mentally disabled individuals, and for major surgeries where local anesthesia may be insufficient.
These procedures are performed in a hospital setting under the supervision of an anesthesia specialist doctor.
Dental treatments under general anesthesia are usually single-session and comprehensive. It is not recommended to administer a second general anesthesia within 6 months, so some root canal treatments and multi-session treatments are not preferred.
This treatment is suitable for fillings, tooth extractions, single-session root canal treatments, implant placements, and surgical operations. Extraction of the tooth and transitioning to alternative treatments are preferred for more complicated treatments.
The patient does not feel any pain whatsoever.
There are no cooperation problems since the patient is unconscious.
The unconsciousness experienced by the patient is ideal for performing a dental treatment procedure in individuals with physical and mental discomfort. This condition can be fully achieved with the application of general anesthesia.
General anesthesia drugs are administered intravenously. They act quickly, providing loss of consciousness in about 1 minute.
It reduces stress and anxiety for patients with extreme phobias.
Adequate muscle relaxation is achieved in the mouth, tongue, and cheeks for surgical operations.
It reduces nausea by preventing the patient's reflexes.
However, there are restrictions for this procedure:
History of asthma
Symptomatic heart disease
Kidney and liver disorders
Allergic conditions
Active systemic infections
In cases of sleep apnea, reevaluation should be done under the doctor's supervision.