Anesthesia Options & I.V. Sedation
I. V. SEDATION (IVS)
Visiting an Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon causes anxiety in many patients due to the fear of the unknown. Individuals are typically concerned with being aware of or feeling pain during their procedure. Modern Oral &
Maxillofacial Surgeons are trained in I.V. Sedation techniques which allow patients to be pleasantly sleepy and comfortable during their surgery. When you come to our Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery office you will have the following anesthesia techniques to choose from:
Choice #1
Traditional local anesthesia injections. a technique routinely used by general dentists. This is commonly refereed to as “getting numb” or “Novocain injections”. This technique usually eliminates much of the discomfort after the injections. It leaves patients completely awake and aware of their procedure.
Choice #2
Traditional local anesthesia combined with Nitrous Oxide Gas. This is commonly called “laughing gas”. This technique is used by many general dentists. Nitrous Oxide Gas takes some of the “edge” off of the injections and the surgery. Patients are still aware and have memories of the entire procedure. During long or complicated procedures, much of the gas can be lost out of the patients open mouth, causing the gas effect to be lost. Whether the gas helps any one patient cannot be accurately predicted.
Choice# 3
Modern Intravenous Sedation. This technique allows your surgeon to predictably control your level of sedation. Surgery can be performed with little or no patient awareness. This technique allows the patient to drift off into a light restful sleep, commonly known as “twilight sleep”. This technique is much lighter than deep hospital general anesthesia. Patients recover quickly and usually feel normal within a few hours. Unlike hospital general anesthesia, a long “hangover” rarely occurs. Reversal medications, commonly known as “antidotes” are available for many modern sedatives, allowing your Surgeon to wake you up very quickly if it becomes necessary.
THE ADVANTAGES OF INTRAVENOUS SEDATION (CHOICE #3)
A] Patients are happier with their treatment choices once they realize how easy it is to have their procedure done.
B] Patients have little or no awareness or memory of the injections, incisions, drill noise, drill vibration & smell, or the surgery itself.
C] Lessening or elimination of a patient’s gagging, coughing and jaw / tongue soreness from mouth opening during an extended period of time.
D] Generally the procedure can be performed more quickly on sedated patients, which lessens the chance of post-operative infections and other complications. Bacteria etc are less likely to get into an incision if it is closed quickly.
E] Patient’s recovery at home is easier. Medications that can only be given by IV are used during the sedation to lessen bruising, swelling, muscle soreness, stiffness and discomfort.
F] Often the procedure is safer and more accurate. The sedatives lessen or eliminate random patient movement. Most procedures require delicate, accurate and careful surgery, If there is movement at a critical point, the best possible result may no longer be possible.
G] Often for elderly, medially compromised, chronically ill, very sick patients, or patients with specific illnesses a IV Sedation is medically safer. Patients who are relaxed and calm are less likely to have breathing problems, asthma attacks, heart beat irregularities, blood pressure problems, strokes, heart attacks etc.
SEDATION FOR MINORS
Multiple studies have proven that if a toddler, child, or adolescent has a bad early experience in any dental or medical environment, they are likely to be fearful of treatment for the rest of their lives. Patients of all ages with anxiety who avoid treatment often let things get so bad that they miss the best opportunities to protect their medical and dental health.
In order to prevent this from happening, Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons are trained in multiple techniques to sedate minors. Our Surgeons offer sedation anesthesia for toddlers, children and teenagers that can be a combination of the following; suppositories, tablets, drinkable liquids, nitrous oxide gas, local anesthesia, muscle injections, IV Sedation etc. Which technique is used depends on the child's age, size, weight, level of cooperation, and the complexity of the surgical procedure.
Our Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons all completed a 4 year hospital based surgical residency training program. Each was extensively trained in both general and IV Sedation. Michigan Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons are required to pass a Michigan Board Exam and have their offices certified by inspection in order to deliver general and IV sedation. Our Surgeons are also certified in Basic Life Support (CPR) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) and are trained to operate a defibrillator (heart shock machine).
If you are interested in IV Sedation for your Oral & Maxillofacial Surgical procedure, contact you family dentist or physician for a referral to our office. During your consultation appointment, you and your surgeon will discuss if sedation is appropriate for your situation.
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