Anesthesia Options for a Comfortable and Stress-Free Oral Surgery Experience
At Crompton Park Oral Surgery in Worcester, we understand that undergoing any surgical procedure can be a source of anxiety. That’s why we offer a range of anesthesia options to ensure you feel comfortable, relaxed, and pain-free throughout your treatment. Whether you’re having a simple tooth extraction or a more complex surgical procedure, Dr. Bui and our team will work with you to determine the best anesthesia option based on your needs and preferences. From local anesthesia for minor procedures to sedation and general anesthesia for more extensive surgeries, our goal is to make your experience as stress-free and comfortable as possible while prioritizing your safety at every stage.
To schedule a Consult appointment with Dr. Bui, use the online form below or call us:
Frequently asked questions
What types of anesthesia are available for oral surgery?
At Crompton Park Oral Surgery, we offer several anesthesia options to ensure your comfort during procedures. These include local anesthesia (numbing only the area being treated), sedation (to help you relax or sleep through the procedure), and general anesthesia (for more complex surgeries, where you will be completely unconscious). Dr. Bui will discuss which option is best suited for your treatment.
Will I feel any pain during my oral surgery with anesthesia?
Our goal is to ensure that you are completely comfortable during your procedure. With local anesthesia, the area being treated will be numbed, and you shouldn’t feel any pain, although you may feel pressure. For more complex procedures, sedation or general anesthesia can be used, ensuring that you remain relaxed or completely asleep, so you won’t feel any discomfort at all.
Are there any risks associated with anesthesia?
While anesthesia is generally very safe, every patient’s needs and health history are unique. Dr. Bui will thoroughly assess your medical history and discuss any potential risks before recommending an anesthesia option. Our team monitors you closely throughout the procedure to ensure your safety and comfort at all times.
Oral Surgery Sedation Options
Several methods of anesthesia are available for your oral surgery at Crompton Park Oral Surgery and Implant Associates, LLC. The method of anesthesia that is chosen for or by a patient depends upon the nature of the surgical procedure and the patient’s level of apprehension.
Local Anesthetic
Description of Technique:
The patient remains conscious throughout the procedure. A local anesthetic (e.g. lidocaine) is administered in the area where the surgery is to be performed. Local anesthetic is used in conjunction with the other methods of anesthesia in all oral surgery procedures.
Usual Indications:
Simple oral surgery procedures such as minor soft tissue procedures and simple tooth extractions.
Office-Based General Anesthesia with Local Anesthetic*
Description of Technique:
Medications are administered through an intravenous line (IV). The patient falls asleep and is completely unaware of the procedure being performed. Medications most commonly used are Fentanyl (opiate), Versed (benzodiazepine), Ketamine, and Diprivan. Supplemental oxygen is delivered through a nasal breathing apparatus and the patient’s vital signs are closely monitored.
Usual Indications:
General anesthesia is available for all types of oral surgery. A patient may choose general anesthesia for simple procedures depending on their level of anxiety. Most people having their wisdom teeth removed or having a dental implant placed will choose general anesthesia. General anesthesia may be necessary if local anesthesia fails to anesthetize the surgical site which often occurs in the presence of infection.
Hospital or Surgery Center-Based General Anesthesia
Description of Technique:
A patient is admitted to a hospital or surgery center where anesthesia is administered by an anesthesiologist.
Usual Indications:
General Anesthesia
To administer general anesthesia in the office, an oral surgeon must have completed at least three months of hospital-based anesthesia training. Qualified applicants 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.
Intravenous Sedation (Twilight Sedation)
Our office offers our patients the option of Intravenous Sedation or Dental Intravenous Anesthesia or to some, it is referred to as “Twilight Sedation” for their dental treatment. Intravenous Sedation or “twilight sleep” helps you to be comfortable and calm when undergoing dental procedures. Your treatment can be completed under intravenous sedation. Intravenous sedation or “IV sedation” (twilight sedation) is designed to better enable you to undergo your dental procedures while you are very relaxed; it will enable you to tolerate as well as not remember those procedures that may be very uncomfortable for you. IV sedation will essentially help alleviate the anxiety associated with your treatment. You may not always be asleep but you will be comfortable, calm, and relaxed, drifting in and out of sleep – a “twilight sleep”. If you choose the option of intravenous sedation your IV sedation/anesthesia is administered and monitored by the doctor, therefore, eliminating the costly expense of having your treatment carried out in an operating room or same-day surgical facility.
How is the IV Sedation Administered?
A thin needle will be introduced into a vein in your arm or hand. The needle will be attached to an intravenous tube through which medication will be given to help you relax and feel comfortable. At times a patient’s vein may not be maintainable, in these situations, the medications will be administered and the needle retrieved – both scenarios will achieve the same desired level of conscious sedation. Once again some patients may be asleep while others will slip in and out of sleep. Some patients with medical conditions and/or on specific drug regimens may only be lightly sedated and may not sleep at all. The goal of IV sedation is to use as little medication as possible to get the treatment completed. It is very safe, and much safer than oral sedation. With IV sedation a constant “drip” is maintained via the intravenous tube. At any time an antidote can be administered to reverse the effects of the medications if necessary. Along with IV sedation, there are also other different “levels” of sedation available to you in our office. Call our Worcester office for more information: Worcester MA Oral Surgery Office Phone Number508-799-2550.