Anesthesia
for Dentistry
Sedation
dentistry involves safe and effective techniques that allow you
to receive comprehensive dental treatment in a relaxed and completely
pain-free environment. The safety record of anesthesia administered by dentist
anesthesiologists in dental offices is impeccable. Frequently, people have questions or concerns relative to the
anesthetic experience. Here are
some answers to frequently asked questions.
Can I safely receive general
anesthesia in a dental office?
To help
determine if you are a suitable candidate for anesthesia in a dental office,
we will contact you by telephone during the few
days immediately before the dental appointment with questions concerning your
health, including:
Have you ever received anesthesia for any previous procedure?
Are
you allergic to any medications or soy products?
Do
you take any prescription medications?
Do
you have any medical conditions diagnosed by a physician?
Do you
presently have a chest cold, cough, or runny nose?
Do you
experience chest pain, shortness of breath, or dizzy spells and if so,
during what circumstances?
Is there any family history of problems associated with anesthesia?
How will the anesthesia be
administered?
The majority of the anesthetic
agents will be administered through an intravenous catheter.
Oral premedication or nitrous oxide (laughing gas) may also be used
according to individual need.
The general risks associated with
anesthesia include aspiration, allergic reaction, respiratory obstruction or
arrest, and cardiac dysrhythmias. Although
these risks are extremely unlikely, we take their possibility seriously.
Accordingly, we carefully guard against such events.
Minor risks include bruising or irritation associated with IV
placement, nausea and vomiting. We can further discuss these risks over the telephone.
What will be done to ensure my
safety?
Utilizing sophisticated
state-of-the-art monitoring equipment, we will monitor you during the entire
procedure. Cardiovascular and
respiratory function will be assessed with a pre-cordial stethoscope,
automatic blood pressure measurement, electrocardiography (EKG), and
pulse-oximetry. Furthermore, we
bring with us emergency resuscitation equipment including a cardiac
defibrillator, emergency medications, and rescue breathing equipment.
How long will it take to recover from anesthesia?
We expect you to remain at the
dental office approximately 30 minutes after the dental procedure. During this
time you will continue to recover both mentally and physically.
However, you will need to be driven home by a responsible adult, as you
will lack judgment and fine coordination for a few hours after the
appointment.
What should I wear to the dental appointment?
We suggest you dress either in loose
fitting clothing or in a short-sleeved shirt.
What can I eat before the dental appointment?
It is important that you do not eat
food or drink milk or orange juice for 8 hours prior to the dental
appointment. You may drink small amounts of clear liquids (water, apple juice,
Gatorade, Sprite or 7-up) until 2 hours before the dental appointment.
Who will be administering the anesthetic?
A licensed Dentist Anesthesiologist will administer medications and monitor all vital signs throughout the procedure.