Before general anesthesia, you deserve clear facts and honest guidance. You may feel fear, shame, or confusion about your mouth or your health. You are not alone. Many people delay dental care because they worry about pain or losing control. General anesthesia can help you sleep through treatment. It still carries risks you must understand. This post explains what will happen to your body, your breathing, and your memory. It also covers what you must tell your dental team about your medicines, allergies, and past health problems. You will see why eating or drinking before surgery can put you in danger. You will also learn how a Wichita Falls dentist or any dentist should prepare you, watch you, and keep you safe. With clear steps, you can ask sharp questions, protect yourself, and walk into surgery with more control.
What general anesthesia does to your body
General anesthesia puts your brain into a sleep that you cannot break. You do not feel pain. You do not move on purpose. You do not remember the treatment.
During this sleep, the drugs affect three main parts of your body.
- Your brain. You lose awareness. You cannot follow commands.
- Your breathing. Your muscles relax. You often need help to breathe.
- Your heart and blood pressure. These can rise or fall during surgery.
Because of these changes, your dentist and an anesthesia professional must watch you every minute. They use monitors for your heart, oxygen level, blood pressure, and breathing. They also have rescue drugs and equipment ready.
Who should avoid or delay general anesthesia
General anesthesia is not right for every person. Some people need extra testing. Some should delay it until their health is more stable.
You must tell your dentist and anesthesia team if you have any of these:
- Heart disease, heart rhythm problems, or past heart attack
- Lung disease, asthma, sleep apnea, or trouble breathing at night
- Kidney or liver disease
- Stroke, seizures, or brain injury
- Pregnancy or recent birth
- Very high blood pressure or diabetes that is not under control
- Past bad reaction to anesthesia or a family history of it
- Use of alcohol, opioids, or other drugs every day
Your team may talk with your primary doctor or specialist. They may change your medicines or order labs or an EKG. This is not a delay for no reason. It is how they lower your risk of a crisis during surgery.
The U.S. National Library of Medicine explains anesthesia risks.
Why you must stop eating and drinking
Before general anesthesia, you must have an empty stomach. If food or liquid is in your stomach, it can come back up, enter your lungs, and cause choking or a lung infection. This can be deadly.
Your dentist or surgery center will give exact times. A common plan is:
- No solid food for 8 hours before your arrival time
- No milk or formula for 6 hours
- Only clear liquids like water or clear juice up to 2 hours before
If you do not follow these rules, your surgery may be canceled. That choice protects you from a much higher risk of harm.
General anesthesia vs other dental options
You may not need general anesthesia. For many dental treatments, lighter options work well. You should know how they compare so you can ask for what fits your body and your fear level.
| Type | Awake or asleep | How it is given | Common uses | Main risks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local anesthesia | Awake | Shot in the mouth | Fillings, simple extractions | Numb lip or tongue bite, rare allergy |
| Oral sedation | Awake but relaxed | Pill by mouth | Anxious patients, longer visits | Drowsiness, slow breathing, drug interactions |
| IV moderate or deep sedation | Very sleepy | Drug through a vein | Wisdom teeth, implants | Low breathing, low blood pressure |
| General anesthesia | Fully asleep | IV drugs and gases | Large surgeries, special needs, children | Breathing support needed, rare serious events |
You can ask three questions.
- Can my treatment be done with local anesthesia plus other comfort steps
- If not, what is the lightest option that still keeps me safe
- Why do you think general anesthesia is better for me
What to tell your dental team before surgery
Your safety depends on what your team knows. You might feel shame or fear. Share the truth anyway. The drugs do not judge you. They just react to your body.
Make a written list and bring it.
- All medicines you take. Include over the counter pills, vitamins, herbs, and gummies.
- Any blood thinners like warfarin, apixaban, aspirin, or clopidogrel.
- Allergies to drugs, foods, latex, or tape.
- Past surgery and any problems with anesthesia.
- Use of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs.
- Recent chest pain, trouble breathing, or hospital stays.
Also bring any inhalers, CPAP machine, or rescue medicines you use at home. Your team may want these close during and after surgery.
How your team keeps you safe
During general anesthesia, safety comes from three things.
- Training. The dentist and anesthesia professional have special education in airway control and emergency care.
- Equipment. They have oxygen, suction, airway devices, monitors, and rescue drugs in the room.
- Protocols. They follow written steps for checking equipment, counting drugs, and watching your body signs.
You can ask to see the monitors and have them explained in simple words. You can also ask who will be in the room and who can respond if something goes wrong.
What to expect when you wake up
After surgery, you move to a recovery room. A nurse or trained staff member watches you until you can breathe well, talk, and drink a little.
You may feel three common things.
- Dry mouth and sore throat from the breathing tube.
- Cold, shaky, or confused for a short time.
- Upset stomach or vomiting.
Tell the staff how you feel. They can give warm blankets, pain drugs, or nausea drugs. You can also ask for clear written instructions for the first 24 hours at home.
How to prepare at home
Before the day of surgery, make three simple plans.
- Plan your ride. You cannot drive after general anesthesia. Arrange a trusted adult to stay with you.
- Plan your space. Set up a clean place to rest, with your head raised and your medicines close.
- Plan your food. Stock soft foods that fit your dentist instructions, like soup, yogurt, or mashed foods.
Place the office phone number by your bed. Know when to call for help. Severe pain that does not ease, heavy bleeding, trouble breathing, chest pain, or confusion that gets worse are all reasons to seek care right away.
Taking back control
General anesthesia can feel like giving up control of your body. Honest questions and clear answers give you some of that control back. You have the right to understand why it is needed, what the plan is, and how your team will react if something changes.
Speak up. Ask for plain words. Repeat instructions back. You are not a burden. You are the person everyone in that room is there to protect.
