Childrens dental treatment under general anaesthetic (Dental General Anaesthetic Unit)

Information for parents and carers

Dental General Anaesthetic Unit, Royal London Dental Hospital

Appointment location

Dental General Anaesthetic Unit
Royal London Dental Hospital
Whitechapel
London E1 1FR

If you need to change the appointment, call 020 3594 6227.

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).