WHAT IS GENERAL ANESTHESIA?
General anesthesia is a pharmacologically induced state of unconsciousness administered by a trained anesthesia provider. While under general anesthesia, the patient is unconscious, must be continuously monitored, and may need physiologic support from the anesthesia provider. Outpatient sedation and general anesthesia have had a long history in dental offices. The founder of modern anesthesia, William T.G. Morton was a dentist. Despite advances in local anesthesia, many patients prefer sedation or general anesthesia during their procedure. More recently there has been an increased demand for anesthesia services in dental offices. While some patients do well with sedation, others may require deeper levels of anesthesia such as general anesthesia.
