Food
Commonly no food, milk or chewing gum for around six hours beforehand. The times on your own written instructions are the ones to follow.
General anaesthesia (GA)
Dental Treatment Under General Anaesthesia in Dubai
For extensive oral surgery, severe dental phobia or special needs, treatment can be carried out while you are unconscious, after a pre-assessment and with an anaesthesiologist giving and monitoring the anaesthetic.
- Given by an anaesthesiologist
- Pre-assessment before every case
- Operating rooms for oral surgery
The first visit is a consultation and assessment. General anaesthesia is booked only after your pre-assessment is complete.
An anaesthesiologist at your sidePre-assessment, written fasting times and an adult escort are part of every plan.
Quick answer
Can dental treatment be done under general anaesthesia?
Yes, for selected cases. At Creative Arts in Dubai, general anaesthesia is considered for extensive oral surgery, severe dental phobia that sedation cannot manage, or special needs that make treatment while awake impossible. It is given and monitored by an anaesthesiologist after a pre-assessment, in our operating rooms or, for major surgery and some medical conditions, in a hospital. Strict fasting and an adult escort home are required.
27 yearsIn-house dental laboratory in the same building
Written planItemised treatment plan before you commit
Open daily10:00–20:00, seven days a week
Jumeirah 3614 Jumeira St, Umm Suqeim 1, Dubai
At a glance
General anaesthesia for dental treatment in brief
- What it is
- A controlled, reversible loss of consciousness, with your breathing supported
- Who gives it
- An anaesthesiologist, who stays with you and monitors you from start to finish
- Who operates
- Dr. Firas Osman, Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon & Implantologist
- Before the day
- A pre-assessment of your health, medicines and past anaesthetics; tests or a letter from your doctor if needed
- Fasting
- Strict times for food and drink, given to you in writing
- Going home
- Usually the same day, with an adult escort; someone should stay with you for 24 hours
- Where
- Creative Arts operating rooms, 614 Jumeira St, Jumeirah 3, Dubai; major jaw surgery takes place in a hospital
General anaesthesia is never the default. It is offered only when the benefit clearly outweighs the extra risk compared with local anaesthesia or sedation.
When it is considered
When is general anaesthesia considered for dental treatment?
Most dental treatment, including most oral surgery, is done safely with local anaesthesia, with or without sedation. General anaesthesia is reserved for situations like these.
General anaesthesia may be discussed for
- Extensive surgery in one session, such as several impacted wisdom teeth, large bone grafts or a larger jaw cyst
- Severe dental phobia where IV sedation has not been enough, or is not possible
- Special needs, such as a learning disability, autism or a movement disorder, that make cooperating while awake impossible
- A gag reflex so strong that treatment cannot be completed even with sedation
- Selected long full-arch implant operations, after discussion of the alternatives
Local anaesthesia or sedation is usually better when
- The treatment is routine, such as a filling, a root canal or a single extraction
- Anxiety is mild to moderate: laughing gas or sedation usually works, with a quicker recovery
- The only aim is not to remember a short procedure: the extra risk is rarely justified for that
- You have significant heart, lung or airway problems, or severe sleep apnoea: a hospital setting may be advised
- You are pregnant: planned treatment under general anaesthesia is usually postponed
From assessment to home
What happens before, during and after a dental general anaesthetic?
Every stage is planned in advance, and your own written instructions take priority over this general description.
Surgical consultation
Dr. Firas Osman examines you, reviews X-rays or a CBCT 3D scan, and explains why general anaesthesia is being suggested. You receive a written, itemised plan.
First visitAnaesthetic pre-assessment
Medical history, medicines, allergies, weight, airway and any past anaesthetic problems, yours or a close relative's, are reviewed. Blood tests, an ECG or a letter from your doctor may be requested.
Before bookingWritten instructions
Fasting times, which medicines to take or pause, and who will collect you. Blood thinners and diabetes medicines are changed only on specific advice.
Days beforeArrival and anaesthetic
Consent and observations are checked and a fine cannula is placed. The anaesthesiologist starts the anaesthetic and supports your breathing, often with a tube passed through the nose so the mouth stays free.
On the dayTreatment
The planned surgery is carried out with continuous monitoring. Local anaesthetic is usually added, so the area is still numb for a while after you wake.
SurgeryRecovery and discharge
You wake in a recovery area under observation and leave with your escort and written aftercare once the anaesthesiologist is satisfied. A review follows.
Same day
Fasting
Why fasting before general anaesthesia matters, and what it means in practice
Under general anaesthesia the reflexes that protect your lungs are switched off. An empty stomach lowers the risk of stomach contents being breathed in.
Clear fluids
Water and other clear fluids are often allowed until a set time closer to the appointment, then stopped completely.
Regular medicines
Most are taken as normal with a sip of water. Diabetes medicines and blood thinners are planned individually at the pre-assessment.
If you have eaten
Tell the team honestly on arrival. Treatment may have to be delayed or rebooked; that is for your safety, not a penalty.
Honest risks
What are the risks of general anaesthesia for dental treatment?
Modern general anaesthesia is very safe for most healthy people, but it is not risk-free and carries more risk than local anaesthesia or sedation. Your anaesthesiologist explains how your own health changes the picture.
| Examples | What usually happens | |
|---|---|---|
| Common and short-lived | Drowsiness, nausea or vomiting, a sore throat from the breathing tube, shivering, headache, dizziness | Settle within hours to a day; anti-sickness medicine and pain relief help |
| Less common | Brief confusion (more likely in older adults), a nosebleed after a nasal breathing tube, bruising where the cannula was, a chest infection | Usually resolve with time or simple treatment |
| Rare but serious | A severe allergic reaction, breathing or heart problems, damage to teeth or lips while the airway is managed | Why the pre-assessment and continuous monitoring matter |
| From the surgery itself | Swelling, bruising, bleeding, numbness, infection | Depend on the procedure, not the anaesthetic; explained in your treatment plan |
Very rarely, general anaesthesia can lead to life-threatening complications. The risk is lowest in healthy people and higher with some heart, lung and other conditions. See sedation vs general anaesthesia for how the two compare.
Who is responsible for what?
Dr. Firas Osman plans and carries out the surgery. The general anaesthetic is given and monitored by an anaesthesiologist, who decides with you whether it is safe to proceed and when you are ready to go home. Creative Arts is a dental centre with operating rooms equipped for dental and oral surgery; it is not a hospital.
Our operating rooms or a hospital: where would the anaesthetic take place?
Many procedures under general anaesthesia, such as removing several wisdom teeth or extensive implant and grafting surgery, can be carried out in our operating rooms in Jumeirah as part of our oral and maxillofacial surgery service, and you go home the same day.
Two situations point to a hospital instead. The first is major surgery: corrective jaw (orthognathic) surgery is performed under general anaesthesia in a hospital. The second is your health: if the pre-assessment shows a condition that raises the anaesthetic risk, the anaesthesiologist may advise a hospital setting. Either way, Dr. Firas Osman explains where the operation would take place and why. Our guide to minor vs major oral surgery explains the difference.
Who treats you
Who plans your surgery under general anaesthesia
Dr. Firas Osman assesses whether general anaesthesia is appropriate, plans and performs the surgery, and explains where it will take place. The anaesthetic itself is the anaesthesiologist's responsibility.
Patient questions
Frequently asked questions
Will I be aware of anything during dental treatment under general anaesthesia?
You are unconscious, so you are not aware of the treatment, and the anaesthesiologist monitors the depth of anaesthesia throughout. Awareness under general anaesthesia is very rare. Once the local anaesthetic wears off the area will be sore, which is usually managed with over-the-counter pain relief or medicine prescribed for you.
How long does it take to wake up after a dental general anaesthetic?
You usually wake within minutes of the anaesthetic stopping but feel drowsy for some hours. You stay in recovery until the anaesthesiologist is satisfied, then go home with an adult. Rest for the rest of the day, and do not drive, drink alcohol or sign important documents for 24 hours.
Is general anaesthesia safe for dental surgery?
For most healthy adults, general anaesthesia given by an anaesthesiologist after a proper pre-assessment is very safe, but it carries more risk than local anaesthesia or sedation. Drowsiness, nausea and a sore throat are common; serious complications are rare. That is why it is reserved for cases where the benefit is clear.
Can all my dental treatment be done at once under general anaesthesia?
Sometimes. Several extractions, wisdom teeth and other surgical procedures can often be grouped into one session. Veneers or crowns, however, need stages and checks while you are awake, so not everything can be combined. Dr. Firas Osman explains what can safely be done under one general anaesthetic.
Who gives the general anaesthetic for dental treatment in Dubai?
At Creative Arts, general anaesthesia is given and monitored by an anaesthesiologist, a doctor trained in anaesthesia, not by the surgeon performing the treatment. The anaesthesiologist reviews your pre-assessment, agrees the plan with you, stays with you throughout and decides when you are ready to go home.
Do I need someone with me after dental general anaesthesia?
Yes. An adult must take you home by car or taxi, and someone should stay with you for the first 24 hours, because judgement and balance can be affected even when you feel fine. If no one can accompany you, the treatment cannot go ahead that day.
Can children have dental treatment under general anaesthesia?
Sometimes, when a child needs extensive treatment and cannot manage it awake or with sedation. The decision is made with the parents after an assessment, alongside a prevention plan. Depending on the child's age and health, a hospital setting may be advised. Ask at the consultation whether it is appropriate for your child.
Keep exploring
Related treatments
Oral surgeryOral & maxillofacial surgery in DubaiDr. Firas Osman, our operating rooms and every level of anaesthesia.GuideSedation vs general anaesthesiaConsciousness, breathing support, fasting and recovery compared.SedationIV sedation for dental treatmentDeep relaxation while you stay responsive, for longer procedures.FacilitiesOur dental surgery operating roomsWhat a surgical suite means, from preparation to discharge.Wisdom teethWisdom tooth removalWhen impacted wisdom teeth need surgery, and how recovery goes.AftercareCare after oral surgeryBleeding, swelling, eating and cleaning in the first days.
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- Address614 Jumeira St, Jumeirah 3, Umm Suqeim 1, Dubai
- Opening hoursClinic open daily, 10:00–20:00
- Phone+971 4 342 4444 · WhatsApp +971 56 677 7537
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