Childrens dental treatment under general anaesthetic (Whittington)

Patient Information Leaflet

Information for parents and carers - Roses Day Unit, Whittington Hospital

Appointment location

Roses Day Unit
Whittington Hospital
Magdala Avenue
London
N19 5NF

• If you need to change the appointment, call 020 3316 8353 (Monday to Friday, 8.45am to 11.30am and 2pm to 4.45pm).
• If you need to cancel on the day, call the Whittington switchboard on 020 7272 3070 and ask for Roses Ward.

What is a general anaesthetic?

• A general anaesthetic (GA) is medicine that makes your child sleep and feel no pain during an operation or procedure.
• A specialist hospital doctor called an anaesthetist gives the anaesthetic.

Why does my child need a general anaesthetic?

• It may be used when a child is young or nervous and needs a lot of dental treatment.
• The dentist may feel that your child would not be able to have the treatment while awake.

How safe is a general anaesthetic?

• Serious problems are rare. For a healthy child having a small operation:
  • About 1 in 10 may get a headache or sore throat.
  • About 1 in 10 may feel sick or dizzy.
  • About 1 in 5 may feel upset or confused when they wake up.
  • About 1 in 10,000 may have a serious allergic reaction.
  • The risk of death from anaesthesia in healthy children having minor surgery is very low. It is less than 1 in 100,000.

How can I prepare my child?

• How much you tell your child will depend on their age and what they can understand.
• You can explain that some teeth are not healthy and need to be fixed or taken out.
• A doctor will give them medicine to make them sleep during the treatment. They will wake up when it is finished.
• Encourage your child to talk about the appointment.
• Books, games and stories may help. Play staff may also be available at the hospital.

What if my child is unwell?

• If your child has a cough, cold, fever, vomiting or diarrhoea, the anaesthetic should be delayed to keep them safe.
• Please contact the hospital using the number at the start of this leaflet.

When must my child stop eating and drinking?

• Food or liquid in your child's stomach during the anaesthetic can be dangerous because it could come back up and go into the lungs.

Morning appointment

• Your child must not eat anything for 6 hours before the appointment.
• For a morning appointment, they must not eat after midnight.
• They can have sips of plain water only until you arrive at hospital.

Afternoon appointment

• Your child must not eat anything for 6 hours before the appointment.
• For an afternoon appointment, they must not eat after 7am.
• They must not go to school before the appointment.
• They can have sips of plain water only until you arrive at hospital.

What should I do on the day?

• A parent or carer must come with your child.
• Do not bring other children. You may be at the hospital for up to 6 hours, so arrange childcare for them.
• Remove your child's nail varnish, earrings and jewellery.
• Dress your child in loose, comfortable clothes.
• Your child can bring a favourite doll or teddy bear.

What happens at the hospital?

• You should expect to be at the hospital for about 6 hours.
• Staff need time to prepare your child for the anaesthetic and to make sure they have recovered afterwards.
• A nurse will take your child's temperature, weigh them and check that they have followed the eating and drinking instructions.
• The anaesthetist will talk to you about the anaesthetic.
• The dentist will talk to you about the dental treatment. Please ask if you have any questions.

How will my child go to sleep?

• There are two ways to give the anaesthetic:
  • Anaesthetic gas breathed through a mask.
  • An injection into the back of the hand. Numbing cream is put on the hands about an hour before the injection.
• You can discuss these options with the anaesthetist at the hospital.

Can I stay with my child?

• One parent or carer can stay in the anaesthetic room until your child is asleep.
• You cannot stay with your child during the dental treatment.

How long will the treatment take?

• The dental treatment usually takes about 45 minutes to 1 hour.
• This depends on how many teeth need to be fixed or removed.
• You will wait on the ward and will be called to the recovery room when your child wakes up.

What will my child feel like afterwards?

• Your child may feel confused or tearful when they first wake up.
• They will have had local anaesthetic, which is a numbing injection, near the teeth being treated. This can feel strange.
• Your child will be given pain relief before and during the anaesthetic.
• Most children settle quickly and can soon have a drink and some soft food.

When can my child go home?

• Your child can go home when hospital staff are happy that they have recovered enough.
• Staff will usually make sure your child has had a drink, eaten and gone to the toilet before they leave.
• Please arrange suitable transport home, preferably by car or taxi.

Parking

• There is no patient parking on the hospital site.
• Nearby street parking may not be available for long enough. You may be able to arrange private parking nearby in advance.

Get more information

Royal College of Anaesthetists - information for children and parents: https://www.rcoa.ac.uk/patients/patient-information-resources/children-parents-carers

Contact our service

• Call Community Dental Services on 020 3316 8353 (Monday to Friday, 8.45am to 11.30am and 2pm to 4.45pm).