Office Based Anesthesia for Dental Surgery
Today the majority of patients requiring dental surgery under sedation/anesthesia, do not need to have the procedure done in a hospital setting. In most cases, anesthesia and surgical care can be performed in a variety of ambulatory facilities including dental offices. With the development of non-allergenic anesthetic medications, ambulatory (outpatient) anesthesia care has proven to be a safe, cost-effective and convenient option for patients.
What is Ambulatory Anesthesia?
Typically, Office Based Anesthesia is tailored to meet the needs of ambulatory surgery, so the patient can go home soon after his/her procedure. Short-acting anesthetic medications and specialized anesthetic techniques are used to make the patient experience safe and pleasant. In general, if you are in reasonably good health, you are a candidate for Office Based Anesthesia and Surgery. Because each patient is unique, your Board Certified Dental Anesthesiologist will carefully evaluate you and your health status to determine if you are a candidate for Office Based Anesthesia.
After your recovery from anesthesia, you will return directly home in the care of a family member or an adult of your choosing. Appropriate pain management will be included by your dentist as part of your discharge care.
Meeting your Anesthesiologist
Your Board Certified Dental Anesthesiologist will interview you a few days before your procedure to gather the information necessary to evaluate your general health. You will be asked to fill out a medical history questionnaire about your previous anesthetic experiences, medical conditions, allergies and the medications and herbal supplements you may be taking. You should discuss any concerns regarding your anesthetic care with your anesthesiologist at this time.
Types of Anesthesia
There are several types of anesthetic techniques available for your dental surgery, ranging from local anesthesia to general anesthesia.
There are four anesthetic options:
Local Anesthesia involves numbing a specific part of the body to prevent any feeling of pain during surgical procedures.
Conscious Sedation is a minimally depressed level of consciousness that retains the patient’s ability to independently and continuously maintain an airway and respond appropriately to physical stimulation or verbal commands. This is achieved by administering anesthetic medications orally or intravenously.
Deep Sedation produces unconsciousness in which the patient does not feel, see or hear anything during the surgical procedure. The anesthetic medications are administered through an intravenous line or through an anesthesia mask or a combination thereof.
General Anesthesia (GA) is the state of unconsciousness produced when a patient receives medications for amnesia, analgesia, muscle paralysis, and sedation. The anesthetic medications are administered through an intravenous line or through an anesthesia mask or a combination thereof.