General Anesthesia (Sleep Dentistry)
General anesthesia provides a safe and effective way to complete all necessary dental treatment in a single visit while your child sleeps peacefully. It is the most supportive of the three comfort options Dr. Andrea offers, reserved for children who need it.
- Your child is
- Fully asleep for the whole treatment
- Who is there
- Dr. Andrea and a pediatric dental anesthesiologist
- Treatment
- Everything completed in a single visit
- Monitoring
- Continuous, by the anesthesia team
- Good for
- Extensive treatment, significant anxiety, special healthcare needs, very young children
Who it is for
General anesthesia is particularly beneficial for children who:
- Need extensive dental work that would take several visits awake
- Experience significant anxiety that lighter options cannot manage
- Have special healthcare needs
- Are too young to cooperate for lengthy treatment
For many children a lighter option is enough. Nitrous oxide keeps a child awake and relaxed, and oral conscious sedation is the middle step. Dr. Andrea will talk through which level fits your child.
Our anesthesia partners
We proudly partner with Bay Anesthesia, a highly respected team of dental anesthesiologists specializing in pediatric care. Dr. Andrea has worked alongside their experienced team for years, creating a trusted partnership that prioritizes your child's safety and comfort.
How the visit works
During treatment, your child is continuously monitored by the anesthesia team while Dr. Andrea completes the dental work. This teamwork approach ensures the highest level of care throughout the procedure, and it means every planned treatment is finished in one appointment rather than spread across several.
Before and after
Every step of the process, from pre-operative preparation through recovery, is carefully managed with your child's wellbeing in mind. We will provide detailed instructions to help you prepare for the appointment, including eating and drinking guidance, and guide you through the recovery process afterward.
Questions parents ask
What sedation options does Poppy Kids offer?
Three levels, matched to your child's age, anxiety, and treatment needs. Nitrous oxide (laughing gas) provides mild relaxation while your child stays fully awake. Oral conscious sedation — a liquid medication given in the office — helps children who need more than nitrous but not full sleep; Dr. Andrea holds a certificate in oral conscious sedation and monitors continuously following AAPD guidelines. For extensive treatment, very young children, or kids with special healthcare needs, we provide general anesthesia in partnership with Bay Anesthesia's pediatric dental anesthesiologists, completing all treatment in a single visit while your child sleeps.
Why fix a cavity in a baby tooth that's going to fall out anyway?
Because a cavity doesn't wait politely for the tooth to fall out. Decay in a baby tooth can cause real pain, spread to neighboring teeth, and turn into infection that harms the permanent tooth developing underneath. Baby molars are also in the mouth far longer than parents expect — often until age 10 to 12 — and losing one early lets other teeth drift into the gap, crowding the adult tooth meant to replace it. Treating decay early is smaller, gentler, and less costly than treating the problems it grows into.
Who gives the anesthesia?
A pediatric dental anesthesiologist from Bay Anesthesia, a team Dr. Andrea has worked alongside for years. They monitor your child continuously while Dr. Andrea focuses on the dental work.
Is a lighter option enough for my child?
Often, yes. Nitrous oxide keeps a child awake and relaxed, and oral conscious sedation is the middle step for children who need more than nitrous but not full sleep. Dr. Andrea matches the level to your child's age, anxiety, and the treatment planned.
Related
Part of sedation dentistry at Poppy Kids, or see everything we offer.
Ready to book your child's visit?
New patients are welcome, and first visits are complimentary for children under 3. Book online any time, or give us a call and we'll find a time that works.
