Dental Sedation Side Effects are Possible
Most side effects of general anesthesia occur immediately after your operation and don’t last long. Once surgery is done and anesthesia medications are stopped, you’ll slowly wake up in the operating room or recovery room. You’ll probably feel groggy and a bit confused. At a dental office you awaken in the same chair that you fell asleep.
Dental Sedation side effects are possible
However, you may also feel any of these common side effects:
Nausea and vomiting. This common side effect usually occurs immediately after the procedure, but some people may continue to feel sick for a day or two. Anti-nausea medicines can help.
Dry mouth. You may feel parched when you wake up. As long as you’re not too nauseated, sipping water can help take care of your dry mouth.
Chills and shivering. It’s common for your body temperature to drop during general anesthesia. Your doctors and nurses will make sure your temperature doesn’t fall too much during surgery, but you may wake up shivering and feeling cold. Your chills may last for a few minutes to hours.
Confusion and fuzzy thinking. When first waking from anesthesia, you may feel confused, drowsy, and foggy. This usually lasts for just a few hours, but for some people — especially older adults — confusion can last for days or weeks.
Muscle aches. The drugs used to relax your muscles during surgery can cause soreness afterward.
Itching. If narcotic (opioid) medications are used during or after your operation, you may be itchy. This is a common side effect of this class of drugs.
Bladder problems. You may have difficulty passing urine for a short time after anesthesia.
Dizziness. You may feel dizzy when you first stand up. Drinking plenty of fluids should help you feel better.
Long term side effects
Most people won’t experience any long-term side effects. However, older adults are more likely to experience side effects that last more than a couple of days. This may include:
Postoperative delirium. Some people may become confused, disoriented, or have trouble remembering things after surgery. This disorientation can come and go, but it usually goes away after about a week.
Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD). Some people may experience ongoing memory problems or other types of cognitive impairment after surgery. But it’s unlikely that this is the result of the anesthesia. It seems to be a result of the surgery itself. People over age 60 may be more likely to develop POCD.
Stroke
Heart disease
Lung disease
Cancer
Alzheimer’s disease
Parkinson’s disease
What increases your risk for side effects?
For the most part, general anesthesia is very safe. It’s the surgical procedure itself that puts you at risk. But older people and those having long procedures are most at risk of side effects and bad outcomes. If you have any of the following conditions, be sure to tell your doctor because these conditions can affect how well you do during and after surgery:
history of adverse reactions to anesthesia
sleep apnea
seizures
obesity
high blood pressure
diabetes
heart disease
lung disease
kidney disease
drug allergies
You should also let your doctor know if you smoke, use alcohol heavily or are take blood-thinning medications.
Dental Sedation side effects are possible
It’s important for you to talk openly with your doctors about all your health information. Your anesthesiologist can safely manage your care and treat your side effects, but only if you’re honest.
When you talk with your surgeon and anesthesiologist before the procedure, be sure to talk with them about your concerns and expectations. You should also discuss your:
prior anesthesia experience
health conditions
medication use
recreational drug use
Be sure to follow all of your pre-surgery instructions — including what you can or can’t eat and drink as well as medications you should or shouldn’t take. Following these instructions can help minimize some side effects of Dental Sedation.
At Dental Sedation Services, we provide high-quality, advanced dental anesthesia services to general dentists and dental specialists in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and the New York metropolitan area. The anxiety that many patients experience when receiving dental care is significantly reduced when treated in a familiar environment. Our office-based anesthesia services make dentistry more accessible and affordable, while offering patients the convenience of receiving comprehensive dental care in their own dental practice. For more information, you can contact us at (732)986-3690, or visit our website.