Dental Treatment under General Anesthesia – Everything You Need to Know

As a modern dental clinic in Biel/Bienne, Famidental offers a variety of treatment options – including dental procedures under general anesthesia.
This method is especially suitable for patients for whom conventional treatment is not possible – for example, those with severe dental anxiety, physical or mental disabilities, a strong gag reflex, very extensive procedures, or young children who are not yet able to cooperate.

The anesthesia treatments are carried out in collaboration with an experienced team of anesthesiologists, directly at our practice – without the need for a hospital stay, in a familiar and calming environment.

Before any dental treatment under general anesthesia can take place, we conduct a thorough consultation at our practice.
During this appointment, we carefully examine your teeth, discuss your individual needs and preferences, create a detailed treatment plan, and explain the entire process step by step.
If you were referred by another dental clinic, this visit also serves as an opportunity to get to know each other and coordinate the next steps together.

Afterward, we forward your information to our anesthesia team, who will contact you or your relatives directly. They will assess your health status, explain the exact procedure of the anesthesia, and provide access to an online medical questionnaire.
If there are any medical concerns, we will consult closely with your general practitioner or other healthcare providers involved in your care. If necessary, the procedure may be postponed for safety reasons.

On the day before the procedure, the anesthesiologist will call you to answer any final questions.
For the safe administration of general anesthesia, it is important that you do not eat or consume dairy products for six hours before your appointment. Up to one hour before the procedure, you may drink only clear fluids such as water or unsweetened tea – after that, nothing at all.

On the day of the treatment, please bring a list of your current medications, any known allergies, and relevant medical documents (e.g. if you are taking blood thinners or have a pacemaker).
Wear comfortable clothing, avoid makeup, jewelry, and facial piercings, and use glasses instead of contact lenses.

Before the treatment begins, you will be connected to a monitoring system.
An IV line will be placed, and once the anesthesia medication is administered, you will fall asleep within seconds. Throughout the procedure, our anesthesia team ensures that you are treated safely, gently, and without pain.

After the procedure, you will be cared for in our comfortable recovery room, located directly next to the treatment area. There, you can rest quietly. Children may, of course, be accompanied by their parents. You will only be allowed to leave the clinic once you are fully awake, free of pain or nausea, and feel stable. An accompanying adult is required. Please do not use public transportation or taxis – the best option is to be picked up by private car.

For the first 24 hours after the procedure, you should not drive a vehicle, operate machinery, consume alcohol, or make important decisions or sign any contracts. Please follow all instructions given by our team. You will also receive all relevant information as well as pain medication for home use, if necessary.

A few days after the procedure, our anesthesia team will contact you to check on your recovery progress. A follow-up appointment usually takes place around two weeks after the procedure at our Famidental practice in Biel.