What to expect with a dental general aneasthetic

Dental General Anaesthetic in Adelaide: What to Expect for Tooth Removal and Extractions

At Adelaide Tooth Removals & Dental Implants, many patients choose to have their procedures performed under a dental general anaesthetic. Whether you’re having a tooth extraction, tooth removal, wisdom teeth removal under general anaesthetic, or dental implants, our goal is to make your experience as calm, safe, and comfortable as possible.

This guide explains exactly what to expect, from your first consultation through to recovery.

What Is a Dental General Anaesthetic?

A dental general anaesthetic is when an anaesthetist administers medication to put you completely asleep for the duration of your procedure.

This is often chosen for:

• Wisdom teeth removal under general anaesthetic

• Tooth extractions or tooth removals involving multiple teeth or complex roots

• General anaesthetic dental implants

• Patients who feel anxious about dental procedures

At our Adelaide practice, only specialist anaesthetists provide and monitor your anaesthetic giving you hospital-grade safety in a calm, supportive environment.

Your Consultation and Treatment Planning

Every patient begins with a comprehensive consultation with Dr Andrew Chan.During this appointment we will:

• Take a detailed medical history and perform an oral examination

• Discuss your treatment options and all levels of anaesthesia (local, oral, IV, or general)

• Outline costs, risks, and recovery expectations

• Determine if a dental general anaesthetic is appropriate for you

If you choose to proceed, our nursing team will help arrange your booking.

Where We Perform Dental General Anaesthetics in Adelaide

We currently operate from two accredited facilities in Adelaide:

• Windsor Gardens Day Surgery

• Calvary Central Districts Hospital

Pre-Surgery Preparation

In the days before your surgery, you’ll receive three phone calls:

1. From the anaesthetist to confirm fasting requirements and discuss your medical history.

2. From the day surgery or hospital – to confirm admission and arrival times.

3. From Adelaide Tooth Removals & Dental Implants to review final details and answer any last minute questions.

Fasting Before Surgery

Your anaesthetist will give you precise fasting instructions. Generally, you’ll be asked to stop eating solid foods about 6–8 hours before surgery and stop clear fluids about 2–3 hours before your surgery.These times can vary depending on your health, the anaesthetist’s protocol, and the facility.

Following fasting instructions carefully is essential for your safety food or drink in the stomach can increase anaesthetic risk. If you eat or drink after the advised times, your procedure may be cancelled.

On the Day of Your Surgery

Arrive at the hospital or day surgery 2-3 hours before your procedure. This time allows for check-in, paperwork, a pre-anaesthetic assessment, and getting changed into a hospital gown. You’ll then wait comfortably until your surgery time.

Before you go into theatre, your anaesthetist and Dr Andrew Chan will meet with you to discuss the procedure and ease any nerves.

When it's time for you surgery, the aneasthetic nurse will escort you to your operating theatre.

Inside the Operating Theatre

There is a team of doctors and nurses in the operating theatre. All of them have your safety as theire number one priorty. Your operating team includes:

• Dr Andrew Chan – Dental Surgeon

• Specialist Anaesthetist – administers and monitors your anaesthetic

• Anaesthetic Nurse – assists the anaesthetist and monitors your safety

• Scrub Nurse – assists Dr Andrew Chan during the procedure

• Scout Nurse – fetches equipment and provides support

When you arrive in the operating theatre, the anaesthetic nurse will help you get comfortable on the theatre bed. They’ll place a warm soft blanket over you and attach a blood-pressure cuff to one of your upper arms, a small oxygen clip on your finger, and a few heart-monitor stickers on your chest. These devices let the anaesthetist monitor you throughout the procedure.

The Needle!

Many patient get anxious about the placement of 'the needle'. Here is what to expect in detail.

Note: It is not actually a 'needle' that gets placed into the vein. It is a soft very flexible plastic tube. There is a needle that initially runs through centre of the canula to place it in the vein, but the metal needle is quickly removed leaving only the soft plastic canula in the vein.

Whilst the nurse is attachthing the blood pressure cuff to one arm, the aneasthetist will put a tornique around the other arm and start looking for a good vein to place 'the needle'

Here’s what you can expect:

• In the vast majority of cases, aneasthetist can locate a canula in a vein quickly and easily. It usually takes approximately 30 seconds.

• Some patients have very thin, deep or diffiult veins. And an aneasthetist may have to make several attempts.

• Once the cannula is in place, the metal needle is immediately removed, leaving only the soft tube inside your vein.

• Dr Andrew Chan and the aneasthetic nurse will be doing there very best to distract you and comfort you during this process.

If you’re feeling anxious, the anaesthetist can offer a little “happy gas” (nitrous oxide)  through a mask first, helping you relax before the cannula goes in. For children, the anaesthetist often uses a sweet-smelling gas called sevoflurane to help them drift off to sleep before inserting the IV line.

After the cannula is secured with a small dressing, you will be asleep in about 60 seconds.

The next thing you’ll know, you’ll be waking up comfortably in recovery with a nurse by your side.

Your airway is then maintined using one of the following:

• Laryngeal Mask Airway (LMA) – used for most dental procedures.

• Orotracheal Tube – placed through the mouth for longer surgeries.

• Nasotracheal Tube – placed through the nose, commonly used for wisdom teeth removal or dental implants.

Throughout your tooth extraction, tooth removal, or implant surgery, the anaesthetist carefully monitors your vital signs and adjusts medications to keep you safely asleep.

Safety and Monitoring

Modern dental general anaesthetic procedures are extremely safe when performed in accredited facilities. Our anaesthetists are highly trained medical specialists skilled in airway management and emergency care.

Recovery After Tooth Extraction or Implant Surgery

When you wake, you’ll be in Stage 1 Recovery with a dedicated nurse by your side. Most patients don’t experience significant pain immediately after surgery because local anaesthetic is administered to the surgical site while you’re asleep — this keeps the area numb for several hours. You may, however, feel some pressure, swelling, or mild discomfort as you wake. Your nurse will monitor you closely and provide pain relief if needed.

Once you’re fully awake and stable, you’ll move to Stage 2 Recovery, where you can sit up, enjoy a light snack, and change into your clothes. Uually at this point Dr Chan will check on you personally to confirm your tooth extraction or dental implant surgery went smoothly and explain your home care instructions.

Discharge and Aftercare

You must have a responsible adult to drive you home and stay with you overnight. You cannot go home alone, take public transport, or use rideshare services after a dental general anaesthetic. Our team will call you on Day 1 and Day 4 after your procedure to check your recovery and book any follow-up appointments if required.

BMI Cut-Off for Dental General Anaesthetic

Some day-surgery facilities apply a BMI (Body Mass Index) limit for elective general anaesthetic procedures usually around 40–45.

BMI is a measure of body fat based on height and weight. Higher BMI can increase the risk of airway and breathing complications during anaesthesia. Each case is assessed individually by the anaesthetist and surgeon. Patients with higher BMI may still undergo their procedure safely in a hospital setting in some circumstances.

Other types of dental sedation

Procedures Commonly Performed Under General Anaesthetic

At Adelaide Tooth Removals & Dental Implants, we commonly perform:

• Wisdom teeth removal under general anaesthetic

• Tooth extraction or tooth removal under general anaesthetic

• General anaesthetic dental implants

• Multiple or complex extractions

• Oral surgery for cysts, infections, or bone grafting

Final Thoughts

Having a dental general anaesthetic in Adelaide is a safe and effective option for patients who prefer to sleep through their procedure. Whether it’s a simple tooth extraction, a tooth removal under general anaesthetic, or dental implant surgery, our experienced team ensures every step is handled with care and professionalism.

At Adelaide Tooth Removals & Dental Implants, your comfort and safety are our top priorities from consultation to recovery.