What you should know if your child needs Dental Hospital Appointment Procedure

Sometimes a child must be anesthetized during a dental procedure to keep him or her safe and comfortable. Your child’s dentist may decide general anesthesia is necessary if the child needs extensive procedures or if the procedure is complicated, especially if the procedure may take a long time to complete. He may also decide to use anesthesia if there are numerous procedures that must be completed at the same time. If your dentist has determined anesthesia is necessary for your child’s procedure, a pediatric anesthesiologist, a doctor who specializes in anesthesia in children, will perform the anesthesia. General anesthesia will make sure your child does not move during a procedure and will feel no pain or have any memory of it.

Because a hospital and multiple doctors are involved in your child’s procedure, a number of steps must be taken in order to complete the procedure successfully. Keeping all parties informed and on the same page is essential; therefore, we’ve compiled a list of steps to guide you during this process.

Hospital Booking: Anesthesia must be administered in a hospital setting. Before a hospital appointment can be booked, the patient’s parents must make a $60 cash deposit. The deposit is necessary to reserve a time and a room in the hospital, and to process the pre-authorization with the insurance company. The deposit is usually refundable, unless we cannot reach the parent to confirm the procedure or if the patient misses the procedure after it has been scheduled. Parents are always informed of this policy before any scheduling takes place.

Hospital Scheduling: After the deposit is made, the procedure can be scheduled. The time between deposit and the procedure is approximately a one to two-month waiting period. Parents are given paperwork indicating the appointment date, facility location, and the time of the procedure. In addition, they are given a document outlining the need for outpatient hospital dental treatment using general anesthesia. The parent will sign the document at this time. An original is kept in the patient’s file and a copy is given to the parent.

Pediatrician Clearance: Once the procedure is scheduled, the parents must have a clearance form filled out by their pediatrician. The clearance form must be faxed to the dental office three to two (3-2) weeks prior to the procedure date.

Pretesting: If the patient requires pretesting, the hospital staff will arrange it with the parents one (1) week prior to the procedure. Pretesting can only be done in a hospital setting.

Insurance Preauthorization: Insurance eligibility and prior authorization will be confirmed by the dental office one (1) week prior to the procedure. Any problems with authorization will be communicated immediately to the parent.

Reminders: The parents will receive a reminder of the appointment one (1) week prior to the procedure and again, one (1) day prior to the procedure. Date, time, and location of the procedure will be confirmed at this time. Please have a pen and paper handy to take down any information or instructions you may need.

Food and Water Prior to Surgery: For formula-fed infants up to 12 months, formula should be given up to six (6) hours prior to surgery. For breast-fed infants up to 12 months, nursing should be done up to four (4) hours prior to surgery. For all children, no solid food or non-clear liquids should be given after midnight prior to surgery. That includes milk, formula, juices with pulp, or candy of any kind. Clear liquids, such as water, Pedialyte, Kool-Aid and juices you can see through, may be given up to two (2) hours prior to surgery. Any medications given to your child on a daily basis may be given unless specifically asked to stop by your child’s doctor or scheduling nurse.