Private general anaesthetic

We are now accepting referrals for Children and Young People who require dental extractions (tooth removal) under General Anaesthesia. This service addition has been prompted by long waiting times within NHS services resulting from the COVID-19 Pandemic. Our team has the skills and experience to provide general anaesthetics to all ages so we decided to make this a unique addition to our services. 

Anyone who is resistant to treatment under sedation or not suitable for care in a dental practice can be suitable. A general anaesthetic is mostly considered for children aged under 5 years who (in the United Kingdom) are not permitted to have conscious sedation in a dental practice. 

The current NHS waiting lists for a general anaesthetic are extremely long; up to several years in some parts of the country. During this wait individuals who require dental extractions may suffer from repeated pain or infections that can have a negative impact on their general health, mental wellbeing and ability to eat comfortably. Uncontrolled dental infection can also spread through the body, making you very sick and requiring admission to Hospital, especially in young children. 

If you don't want to sit and wait a dentist referral or self-referral can be made to us so we can arrange treatment for you on a private basis. This is beneficial for patients who are in pain or are suffering from the long waiting times and continued delays for necessary dental care.

Upon referral, we will invite you to a consultation and assess if your child is eligible for treatment under any other means of sedation such as Inhalation Sedation. You will be assessed by a dentist with extensive experience in dental sedation who can ascertain if a general anaesthetic is an appropriate choice for you. We are often faced with individuals who have only ever had treatment under a GA or simply request this due to severe anxiety but we can often provide a quicker and more cost-effective way to successfully have safe treatment, avoiding the risk of a general anaesthetic. We will consider all options and discuss them with you.

Children under 5 years of age who present with active dental infection and cannot manage any dental treatment will immediately be considered for the general anaesthetic to remove sources of dental infection which if left could make them poorly. 

All private GA referrals will be sent to the care of Dr Danielle Ormandy (Consultant Anaesthetist) and Dr Leo Vassiliou (Consultant Oral and maxillofacial Surgeon). We are currently not able to provide any restorative (fillings, root canal etc) treatment under a General Anaesthetic. If you are happy to be referred your details will be forwarded to the team and you will be contacted to schedule a date for your assessment and treatment. Treatment date appointments are currently offered on a Saturday only. 

General Anaesthetic is NOT risk-free. After a general anaesthetic, it is imperative that all is done to prevent the reoccurrence of dental infection and the need for future anaesthetics. Both adults and children will be provided essential preventative education and support to help maintain improved dental health.