Anesthesia for Oral Surgery Patient Information
Which type of anesthesia will I receive?
You have been referred to the Oral Surgeon for treatment because of the challenging nature of treatment requested by your dentist. Many times the type of surgical treatment you need requires anesthesia.
As part of his surgical residency training, Dr. Blazic is certified to employ various types of surgical analgesia and anesthesia modalities to make your experience as comfortable and safe as possible. It is important to note, that our ultimate goal is to provide the best and safest anesthetic for each patient. Anesthesia requirements are unique to each patient; the type of anesthesia that's best for your particular situation shall be determined by and discussed at length by Dr. Blazic and will be based on the following patient criteria:
- Nature of surgical procedure
- Existing medical condition(s) you may have
- Your weight
- Lung heath/respiratory status
- Your disposition toward your surgery
LOCAL ANESTHESIA
Local anesthetic can be an effective method for eliminating pain associated with surgery. While local anesthesia is sufficient for "numbing" the surgical area, it may not be the sole anesthetic required for your particular type of surgery. Many times, it has limitations for both the patient and the surgeon. Local anesthesia does not provide sedation or diminish the patient’s awareness of pressure, vibration and/or noise associated with dental extraction or related surgeries. Likewise, if an individual has a badly infected tooth, frequently, local anesthetic will be ineffective in eliminating discomfort as well. Often times, patients will have a medical condition(s) which prohibit the use of local anesthesia alone.
Most patients receive a combination of Local Anesthetic in conjunction with Intravenous Sedation OR General Anesthesia:
INTRAVENOUS SEDATION
As an adjunct to local anesthesia, intravenous (IV) sedative agents are administered to provide patient relaxation and additional pain control. This requires the patient to have an IV placed at the time of surgery and involves complete monitoring of the patient's vital signs and breathing rate. It should be noted that in very anxious individuals, this form of anesthesia can be ineffective. It is important to clarify one of the key differences between Intravenous sedation and General Anesthesia: IV sedation does not fully put the patient asleep; it does not fully diminish one's awareness of the procedure. During this type of anesthesia, it's common for most patients to briefly fall asleep, but the patient may remember having dreams or hearing the voices of the surgical team as they are working. The goal of this type of anesthesia is to provide adequate pain control and comfort necessary for surgery. It does not necessarily mean the patient will "go to sleep". Recovery from IV sedation is generally quite fast. However, you may not drive or operate machinery for 24 hours after you receive sedation of any type. Specifics will be discussed along with your postoperative discharge instructions.
GENERAL ANESTHESIA
This is the most common form of anesthesia administered in our Oral Surgery office. It is extremely safe and effective. The recovery from general anesthesia is quite rapid. General anesthesia allows us to completely eliminate the patient’s awareness of the procedure. It also reduces the risk of any involuntary movement by the patient during surgery, thereby providing the best possible conditions for the surgeon. General anesthesia also requires placement of an IV as well as complete vital sign monitoring. Specifics of this type of anesthesia will be discussed during at your appointment. Please note that not all patients are ideal candidates for general anesthesia in the office setting. Each situation is unique; yours will be discussed with you by Dr. Blazic.
How long will my surgical last?
This depends on the nature of your surgery. You may ask Dr. Blazic about this.
How will I be monitored during surgery and by whom?
Dr. Blazic and his staff are required by state and federal law to have a current general anesthesia permit. This involves a review and on-site evaluation by the state board every three years.
We are responsible for your comfort and well-being during your surgery. Our anesthesia team is certified in BCLS and ACLS. We will monitor all vital signs required during your surgery: EKG, blood pressure, respiration quality and rate, and oxygen saturation levels.
What emergency procedures are in place in the event of complications?
Our office is equipped with the necessary drugs, equipment and procedures to care for you in the rare event of a complication. In rare instances, serious complications may require that you are transferred to a local hospital.
Who will monitor my recovery after surgery and for how long?
All phases of anesthesia, including recovery, will be supervised. We will continue to monitor you after your surgery, until you are fully awake and ready to go home with your responsible driver/caregiver.
Will I have side effects?
We do our best to make your entire surgical experience as pleasant as possible. Your postoperative experience will depend on a variety of factors, especially the type of surgery you have at our office. We will provide you with the necessary prescriptions for pain control medications after your surgery. Your discomfort should be tolerable, but do not expect to be totally pain-free. Remember, you are having surgery.
Nausea or vomiting may be related to anesthesia, the type of surgical procedure or postoperative pain medications. These are generally less of a problem today because of improved anesthetic agents and techniques; however, some side effects continue to occur in some patients. We have a variety of medications to treat these conditions and will address your specific needs should any arise.
Recovery at Home:
Patient Responsibilities
What can I expect?
On the day of your surgery, you must bring a responsible adult to accept postoperative discharge instructions and drive you home. For your safety, it is expected that this person will remain with you at home during the day and throughout the evening of the day you have surgery. This person must remain in our waiting room the entire time you are in surgery. There are no exceptions to this.
Be prepared to go home and finish your recovery there. Patients often experience drowsiness and minor side-effects following ambulatory anesthesia. This may include muscle aches, sore throat, dizziness, headache, nausea or vomiting. These side effects usually decline rapidly in the hours following surgery. The majority of patients do not feel up to their typical activities the next day. Plan to take it easy for a few days until you feel back to normal. Know that a recovery period at home is common and to be expected.
Follow up appointment at our office
Be sure to follow the instructions given to you postoperatively. These instructions are important to permit the fastest, safest and most pleasant recovery possible. Read and follow these instructions carefully. If you have questions, please call our office.
Sometime after your surgery, we will contact you to see how your postoperative recovery is progressing. It is important to use this opportunity to let your caregivers know how you feel so that they may provide us with adequate feedback of your status.
OUR OFFICE CONTACT#: 623-935-5774
AFTER HOURS/WEEKENDS: 623-341-8011
