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

Patient Information Leaflet

Information for parents and carers

Appointments at:
Dental General Anaesthetic Unit,
Royal London Dental Hospital,
Whitechapel,
London E1 1FR

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

What is general anaesthesia?

• A general anaesthetic (GA) is medication that makes your child sleep (unconscious) and feel no pain during an operation or procedure.
• It is given by specialist hospital doctors called anaesthetists.

Why is my child having a general anaesthesia?

• It is usually done when a child is young or nervous and needs a lot of treatment.
• The dentist feels that the child would not be able to have the treatment awake.

How safe is general anaesthesia?

• 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.

Before having the anaesthetic

What should I tell my child about the anaesthesia?

• This depends on your child's age and how much you think they can understand.
• It may be enough to explain that some of their teeth are not healthy and need to be taken out before they start to hurt.
• You can explain that the doctor will give them medicine that makes them go to sleep while their teeth are taken out or fixed.
• When it is finished, they will wake up.
• Older children may want to know more.
• Encourage your child to talk about the operation. Books, games and stories can help.
• Our hospital may have play staff on the ward who can explain things.
• They can help your child talk about what's going to happen through play.

What should I do if my child is unwell?

• If your child has a cough, cold, fever, vomiting, or diarrhoea, the anaesthetic should be delayed.
• This is to keep your child safe until they are well again.
• Please contact us using the phone number for the hospital that is listed at the top of this leaflet.

Not eating before the appointment

Why is it important for my child not to eat or drink before the anaesthetic?

• If there is food or liquid in your child's stomach during the anaesthetic, it can be dangerous.
• If there is food or liquid in the stomach, it could come up and go into the lungs.

Morning appointment

• Your child must not eat anything for six hours before their 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 six hours before their 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.

Where can I park on the day?

• There is no patient parking on the hospital site, and nearby street parking may not be available for the amount the time you will need.
• You may be able to arrange private parking nearby in advance.

On the anaesthetic day

• A parent or carer must come to that appointment with the child.
• Do not bring other children with you on the day.
• You may be at the hospital for up to six hours. You will need to arrange childcare for your other children.
• You must remove any nail varnish, earrings and jewellery that you child has.
• Do not dress your child in tight clothing.
• Your child may bring their favourite doll or teddy bear to comfort them.

At the hospital

• You should expect to be at the hospital for about six hours.
• Time is needed to prepare your child for the anaesthetic and for your child to recover afterwards.
• The Nurses will take your child's temperature, weigh them and check that they have fasted.
• The Anaesthetist will talk to you about the anaesthetic.
• The Dentist will talk to you about the dental treatment. If you have any questions, please ask them.

How will my child go to sleep?

• There are two ways of giving the anaesthetic:
  • Anaesthetic gas that they breathe through a mask
  • An injection in the back of the hand. Anaesthetic cream will be placed on your child's hands an hour before to make the skin numb.
• You will be able to discuss how your child will go to sleep with the anaesthetist at the hospital.

Can I stay with my child while the anaesthetic is given?

• One parent/carer can stay in the anaesthetic room until your child is asleep.
• You will not be able to stay with the child during their treatment.

How long will the treatment take?

• The treatment takes between 45 minutes to an hour depending on how many teeth are being fixed or removed.
• You will wait in the ward while they are asleep.
• You will be called into the recovery room once your child wakes up.

After the anaesthetic

What will my child feel like?

• When your child first wakes up, they are likely to be a bit confused and may be tearful.
• They will have been given local anaesthesia (numbing injection) near the teeth being treated.
• This can feel strange, and they may not like it.
• They will be given a painkiller before and during the anaesthetic to help reduce the pain afterwards.
• Most of the children settle quickly and can soon have a drink and some soft food.

When can I take my child home?

• You will be able to take your child home as soon as the hospital staff check they have recovered enough.
• Generally, the longer the anaesthetic takes, the longer the recovery time is.
• Usually, they will make sure your child has drunk, eaten and gone to the toilet before discharging them.
• Once your child is ready to leave the hospital, please make sure you have appropriate transport to go home, preferably by car or taxi.

Get more information about children's general anaesthetics

Royal College of Anaesthetists: www.rcoa.ac.uk/childrensinfo

Contact our service

• Call us on 020 3316 8353 (Monday to Friday 8.45 to 11.30am and 2 to 4.45pm).