Anesthesia Choices Matter
Our devoted staff strives to make every patient feel comfortable in our care. By offering a variety of anesthesia options to our patients, we are making sure that every individual who undergoes treatment with us is relaxed and treated with the personalized care that they need. During your consultation with Dr. Curtis, your procedure will be discussed in great detail, and we will establish which anesthesia or sedation method suits your needs. This decision will be based on many factors, including your anxiety level regarding oral surgery, your medical history, and the type of procedure. Dr. Curtis is here to assist you and make you feel at home in our office.
Types of Anesthesia
Upstate Oral Surgery & Dental Implants offers in-office anesthesia to maximize your comfort. Here are some of our anesthesia and sedation options:
- Local Anesthesia. This form of anesthesia is used in all forms of oral surgery. It will be applied directly to the surgical site, numbing the area and making sure you do not feel any pain. Local anesthesia can be used in conjunction with other forms of anesthesia.
- Nitrous Oxide. Also called laughing gas, this agent is inhaled through a mask that fits over your nose. It relaxes you and causes a pleasurable feeling of laughter quickly, which makes it a highly effective method of sedation.
- In-Office IV Sedation. Intravenous (IV) sedation is administered into your vein at our practice and will cause you to drift in and out of consciousness without feeling any sensations or pain. This is also sometimes called sleep dentistry or twilight sleep. If you are receiving IV sedation, you cannot have anything to eat or drink besides prescription medication 6 hours prior to surgery. You must also arrange for a responsible adult to drive you home afterward.
- In-Office General Anesthesia. This method is typically reserved for more complex surgeries and causes you to be in a completely unconscious state. If you are going to undergo general anesthesia, it is important that you don’t drink or eat anything besides prescription medication for at least 6 hours prior to treatment. A responsible adult must be present to drive you home following your procedure and help care for you during the first few hours of your recovery.
Regardless of which type of anesthesia or sedation method you will be using, our office will provide you with detailed instructions on how to prepare yourself before and after treatment. These instructions are also available on our website for your convenience, and you are welcome to contact our office at any time if you have questions or concerns.
