A Day in the OR: What Really Happens When Your Child Has Dental Surgery Under General Anesthesia
Many parents come to us after weeks — sometimes months — of wondering how to help a child who needs significant dental work but simply cannot be treated in a traditional dental office. Maybe their child is two years old with several cavities. Maybe their child has autism and finds dental appointments overwhelming. Maybe they’ve tried nitrous oxide and it just wasn’t enough.
When we sit down with these families and explain that their child can have all of their dental work completed safely — in a single visit, while asleep, in a world-class hospital — the relief on their faces is something we never take for granted.
This post is for every parent who has typed something like “pediatric dentist who does surgery under anesthesia near me” into a search engine and felt overwhelmed by what they found. We want to walk you through exactly what a day of pediatric dental surgery looks like at Eastshore Pediatric Dental Group.
Why Some Children Need Dental Treatment in the Operating Room
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recognizes general anesthesia as an appropriate, safe, and sometimes the most child-centered option for treating dental disease in certain patients. Children who may benefit from hospital-based dental care include:
Very young children (under age four) who have extensive decay and lack the developmental ability to cooperate through a lengthy procedure. Forcing treatment in this scenario is unsafe and potentially traumatic — the operating room is the kinder, safer option.
Children with special health care needs — including autism spectrum disorder, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, or sensory processing challenges — for whom the dental environment presents significant obstacles to safe, effective treatment.
Children with severe dental anxiety or dental phobia where lighter sedation options have been unsuccessful or are medically inappropriate.
Children who need a large volume of dental work — multiple extractions, crowns, nerve treatments, or full-mouth rehabilitation — that would require many stressful visits but can be completed compassionately in a single OR session.
Where We Operate: Kaiser Oakland and UCSF Benioff Shadelands
Dr. Teri Kim and Dr. Thea Dosanjh are two of only a small number of pediatric dental specialists in the entire East Bay with active staff privileges at both Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center and the UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Outpatient Center in Walnut Creek (Shadelands).
Holding hospital privileges is not automatic — it requires a formal credentialing process, peer review, and ongoing compliance with hospital standards. It is a meaningful distinction that reflects the advanced training and professional standing of both doctors.
A Step-by-Step Look at Your Child’s Day of Surgery
Here is what a typical surgical day looks like for our families — from the moment you arrive to the moment you head home.
The night before: Your child follows fasting instructions provided by our team — typically nothing to eat or drink after midnight. Following these guidelines precisely is essential for safe anesthesia.
Morning of surgery — arrival: You and your child arrive at the hospital facility. After checking in, you’re taken to a pre-operative area. Your child changes into a hospital gown and is seen by the pediatric anesthesiology team, who review their medical history and explain the anesthesia plan. You remain with your child during this entire phase.
Anesthesia induction: Most children receive anesthesia through a soft mask that delivers a gentle gas — they simply breathe in and fall asleep peacefully within moments, often before they even realize what’s happening. There’s no needle at the start. Once asleep, an IV is placed for fluids and any medications needed during the procedure.
In the operating room: Dr. Kim or Dr. Dosanjh performs all planned dental treatment while your child is comfortably asleep. Because the child is completely still and relaxed, our team can work with great precision and efficiency — completing in one visit what might otherwise require four, five, or more separate appointments.
Recovery: After treatment, your child is moved to the recovery room under continuous nursing care. You are brought in as soon as they are awake and stable — typically within 30 minutes. Most children are a little groggy and may be cranky when they first wake up, which is completely normal. Within an hour or two, most are alert enough to go home.
Going home and recovery: You receive detailed written post-op instructions. We call the next day to check in, and a follow-up appointment at our Pinole office is scheduled a few weeks later to confirm everything has healed beautifully.
What About the Cost? (Especially for Kaiser Families)
This is one of the questions we get most often, and we’re always glad to share the answer.
For Kaiser Permanente members, the hospital facility fee at Kaiser Oakland is frequently covered — in many cases fully — under the member’s medical insurance plan. That means families who are Kaiser members may pay little to nothing for the hospital portion of their child’s surgical dental visit.
Compare that to in-office anesthesia programs, which are typically not covered by any insurance and paid fully out of pocket — often in the thousands of dollars. The dental treatment cost is the same regardless of whether it is performed in our office or the OR.
We always encourage families to contact their insurance carrier to confirm their specific benefits. Our team is also happy to help guide you through the process. Call us at (510) 964-0168.
You Don’t Have to Figure This Out Alone
If your child has been struggling with dental care and you’ve been wondering whether the operating room might be the right answer — please reach out. We’ve helped hundreds of East Bay families navigate this process, and we’ll walk alongside yours every step of the way.
Learn more about pediatric dental surgery under general anesthesia at Eastshore Pediatric Dental Group, or contact us to schedule a consultation.
