Anesthesia

Several methods of anesthesia are available. The method of anesthesia that is chosen by a patient depends upon the nature of the surgical procedure and the patient’s level of apprehension.

To administer general anesthesia in the office, an oral surgeon must have completed six months of hospital based anesthesia training including one month dedicated to pediatrics. Qualified oral surgeons will then undergo an in office evaluation by a state dental board appointed examiner. The examiner observes an actual surgical procedure during which general anesthesia is administered to the patient. The examiner also inspects all monitoring devices and emergency equipment and tests the doctor and the surgical staff on anesthesia related emergencies. If the examiner reports successful completion of the evaluation process, the state dental board will issue the doctor a license to perform general anesthesia. The license is renewable every two years if the doctor maintains the required amount of continuing education units related to anesthesia.

Again, when it comes to anesthesia, our first priority is the patient’s comfort and safety. If you have any concerns regarding the type of anesthesia that will be administered during your oral surgery procedure, please do not hesitate to discuss your concerns with your doctor at the time of your consultation.