Hospital dentistry when an office visit is not the right setting
Most children can receive dental treatment in the office. A smaller group is safer or more comfortable completing necessary care in a hospital operating room under general anesthesia. SmileWorks evaluates the whole picture before recommending it.
Educational content only. Your child's diagnosis and treatment plan require an in-person dental evaluation.
Reviewed by Dr. Gabriela Asensi, DMD, MPH · Last updated September 22, 2026
SmileWorks provides hospital dentistry for children at Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare (TMH). Three of our doctors hold privileges there: pediatric dentists Dr. Gabriela Asensi and Dr. Safiya Smith, and orthodontic specialist Dr. Brion Long. This is planned, scheduled treatment under general anesthesia, not the emergency room. For a dental injury or sudden pain, see emergency dentistry.
Who may benefit from hospital dentistry?
Hospital-based dental treatment may be considered when a child has extensive dental needs that cannot reasonably be completed awake, is very young and unable to cooperate for necessary treatment, has significant anxiety or special healthcare needs, or has medical considerations that make a hospital setting preferable.
The goal is not to make treatment "faster at any cost." The goal is to select a setting where the needed dentistry can be completed safely and predictably. Hospital care sits at the far end of our sedation continuum, after nitrous oxide, oral sedation, and in-office IV sedation have been weighed.
Who provides it
Hospital dentistry is provided at Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare by SmileWorks doctors with privileges there:
- Dr. Gabriela Asensi, DMD, MPH, board-certified pediatric dentist
- Dr. Safiya Smith, DDS, MPH, board-certified pediatric dentist
- Dr. Brion Long, DMD, MS, orthodontic specialist
Meet the pediatric team on our Tallahassee pediatric dentist page.
What happens under general anesthesia?
When general anesthesia is recommended, the anesthesia team manages the child's level of consciousness, breathing, monitoring, and recovery while the dental team completes the planned treatment. Parents receive detailed fasting and preparation instructions before the procedure.
The hospital's anesthesia team, not our office, administers and monitors the general anesthesia. Our doctors perform the dental treatment.
Why comprehensive treatment planning matters
Because hospital dentistry usually involves anesthesia and a carefully scheduled operating setting, the pediatric dentist plans treatment comprehensively. Teeth are evaluated for whether they can be predictably restored, which restorations are most durable, and which problems need to be addressed during the same visit.
This may include fillings, crowns, pulpotomies, extractions, preventive care, or other treatment depending on the child's diagnosis.
After the procedure
Children are monitored during recovery and discharged according to the anesthesia team's criteria. Sleepiness, changes in appetite, or mild mouth discomfort may occur depending on the procedure. Families receive individualized instructions and a contact plan for questions.
Hospital or anesthesia-supported dentistry is not appropriate for every child. The recommendation is made only after clinical and medical evaluation.
Questions families ask
Why not split the treatment into several office visits?
Sometimes that is the best approach. In other situations, repeated visits would be unrealistic or more stressful than completing care in an anesthesia-supported setting. The pediatric dentist weighs both options with you.
Is hospital dentistry only for children with special needs?
No. Special healthcare needs are one reason it may be considered, but age, anxiety, medical history, and the amount of dental treatment can also influence the recommendation.
Will all dental work be completed at once?
The goal is usually to complete the planned necessary treatment during the scheduled procedure, but the final plan depends on the findings and what can be treated predictably.
How do I know if my child qualifies?
A pediatric dental evaluation at our Tallahassee office is the starting point. The dentist reviews treatment needs, behavior, health history, and available care settings before making a recommendation.
Is this the same as going to the ER for a toothache?
No. Hospital dentistry is scheduled, planned treatment under general anesthesia. Emergency rooms can manage pain and infection but usually cannot repair a tooth. For urgent problems, call us first; we hold same-day emergency time at our Tallahassee office.
Where this fits in the bigger picture
Pediatric sedation dentistry
The full continuum, from nitrous oxide to in-office IV sedation with a pediatric anesthesiologist, and when hospital care fits.
Pediatric sedation dentistry →Special needs dentistry
Visits built around your child: familiarization visits, sensory-aware pacing, parents chairside.
Special needs dentistry →Restorative pediatric dentistry
Fillings, SDF, crowns, pulp therapy, and extractions, matched to the tooth and the child.
Restorative pediatric dentistry →Dental crowns for kids
Why a weakened baby tooth may need a crown, and how the material is chosen.
Dental crowns for kids →Tallahassee pediatric dentists
Meet the board-certified pediatric dentists and request a pediatric appointment.
Tallahassee pediatric dentists →Cavity treatment for kids
What happens next after "your child has a cavity," stage by stage.
Cavity treatment for kids →For some children, the right dental plan starts with choosing the right setting.
An exam at our Tallahassee office is where that decision begins. Call to schedule.
Call to schedule pediatric visits — online booking returning soon.