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B.C.'s health minister says the province is working to reduce wait times for children and adults requiring dental surgery in hospital under general anesthetic.

Adrian Dix says people who are not safely able to get dental care without anesthesia will have more timely access to treatment as 900 more surgeries are performed in the coming year.

The total number of surgeries for those requiring general anesthetic for dental procedures will grow to 7,100 in 2018-19, up 15 per cent from the previous year.

Dix says in a news release his ministry will also work with the B.C. Dental Association to study wait-time guidelines and protocols that it will use to further improve timely access for patients who require dental care in a hospital setting.

The association's executive director, Jocelyn Johnston, says dental disease leaves people in chronic pain, and quicker treatment would allow them to resume life free from infection.

The Health Ministry says that while dental care, such as fillings, root canals and tooth extractions, is usually provided in dental offices under local anesthesia, some patients with developmental disabilities may need general anesthesia to ensure their safety and comfort.