Skip to main content
Dental Care Kids Logo
The deepest level

General Anesthesia for
Pediatric Dentistry

Full sleep in a hospital or surgical facility, for the most complex cases or the youngest patients.

Make an Appointment Call (203) 324-6171
  • ✓ Board-certified anesthesiologist
  • ✓ Accredited facilities

Practice highlights

Stamford pediatric dentist

Free patient parking onsite

Orthodontic evaluations

Right next door

Emergency dentist for kids

Same-day help + 24/7 calls

1,000+ five-star reviews

Highly recommended by families

A Dental Care Kids dentist working with a young patient in the treatment room

When it is genuinely the right answer

Complete treatment in one visit, entirely asleep

General anesthesia is reserved for very young children, extensive treatment needs, or patients for whom awake treatment simply is not possible. It is performed outside our office, with a full anesthesia team.

  • Performed at a hospital or accredited surgical facility
  • A board-certified anesthesiologist throughout
  • All treatment completed in a single visit
  • Coordinated with your child’s pediatrician

Visit Dental Care Kids

1500 Summer Street, Stamford, CT  ·  (203) 324-6171

What general anesthesia means

The three things that set it apart from every other option.

  1. 1

    It’s not done in our office

    GA cases are performed at a hospital or accredited surgical facility with a full anesthesia team.

  2. 2

    Extensive work, one visit

    Multiple procedures can be completed together, so your child avoids many separate visits.

  3. 3

    Board-certified anesthesia

    A board-certified anesthesiologist administers and monitors the sedation.

Fasting instructions for general anesthesia are strict. We will confirm them with you directly before the day.

What the process looks like

Planned carefully, well before the day itself.

  1. 1

    Pre-op consult

    We review the treatment plan, medical history, and answer your questions.

  2. 2

    Coordination with your pediatrician

    Medical clearance is arranged before the date is confirmed.

  3. 3

    Strict fasting

    8+ hours, with exact timings confirmed with you beforehand.

  4. 4

    Facility arrival

    Arrive about an hour early for check-in and pre-op checks.

  5. 5

    Sedation + treatment

    Typically 1-3 hours, with all planned work completed together.

  6. 6

    Recovery + discharge

    1-2 hours of monitored recovery before you head home.

It is a big decision

We will only recommend it when it is the kindest option.

General anesthesia is never a first suggestion. If we raise it, we will explain exactly why the lighter options are not suitable for your child and what happens if you would rather wait.

  • Why lighter options won’t work
  • Facility and team
  • Safety record
  • Costs and coverage
Book a consultation
A Dental Care Kids team member holding a young patient after treatment Safety comes first

DCK Moments

We have FUN at Dental Care Kids!

View Our Gallery
  • Dental Care Kids patients with a team member by the mural wall
  • A Dental Care Kids team member holding a toddler by the turtle mural
  • Dental Care Kids patients hugging a team member by the fish mural
  • A Dental Care Kids patient with a balloon by the horse mural

Why general anesthesia is sometimes the right call

For a small number of children, it is the safest and gentlest route.

A full anesthesia team

Hospital-grade monitoring and a board-certified anesthesiologist throughout.

Everything in one visit

No repeated appointments, no repeated anxiety for a child who struggles.

No traumatic memory

Children who cannot cope awake are spared an experience that would frighten them.

Care becomes possible

Complex or extensive needs can finally be treated properly and completely.

Care should feel simple

Coverage varies, so our team will help you understand benefits and costs before treatment.

Most insurance plans

We file for you

We submit the claim and explain your benefits before treatment begins.

No insurance?

Clear pricing

Ask about transparent self-pay options before the visit.

Flexible payment

CareCredit + Cherry

Financing options can help families spread out costs.

Parent questions

General anesthesia FAQs

Short answers to the questions families ask most often. Still wondering about something? Call our Stamford team.

Need a personal answer?

Call (203) 324-6171
“Will my child be OK?”
Pediatric general anesthesia, performed by qualified specialists in accredited facilities, is very safe. Serious complications are rare. That said, no anesthetic is risk-free — and we’ll discuss specific risks with you in pre-op consultation so you can make a fully informed decision.
“Could we just do this awake or with lighter sedation?”
Often, yes — and we always try lighter approaches first when appropriate. General anesthesia is reserved for cases where lighter sedation isn’t safe, isn’t tolerated, or can’t accomplish what’s needed. We’ll be transparent about why we’re recommending it.
“How long will my child be asleep?”
Typically 1–3 hours depending on treatment scope. The anesthesia team precisely controls depth and duration.
“Will my child feel anything?”
No. Under general anesthesia, your child is completely unconscious and feels nothing during the procedure.
“What’s recovery like?”
Most kids are groggy for 1–2 hours, fully alert by evening, and back to normal activities the next day. A sore throat from the breathing tube is common and resolves within a day or two.
“How much does this cost?”
General anesthesia cases are the most complex and often the most expensive of our sedation options. Insurance often covers a portion when medically necessary — we’ll verify benefits and coordinate pre-authorization. Financing through CareCredit and Cherry is available for the balance.

Share this page

The Dental Care Kids pediatric team in the underwater-mural hallway

Experience the difference

Where Your Child’s Bright Dental Future Begins!

At Dental Care Kids, every visit is built around your child’s comfort, curiosity, and confidence. Our board-certified pediatric specialists and kid-loving team make dental care something families actually look forward to.

Contact & location

Call (203) 324-6171 to schedule your child’s visit, or reach us at frontdesk@dentalcarekids.com.

1500 Summer St., 2nd Floor, Stamford, CT

We serve families across Stamford, Greenwich, New Canaan, Darien, and nearby Westchester County, NY.

Evening and Saturday appointments available

Request Appointment Call (203) 324-6171