Surgeries of any nature can be intimidating and overwhelming for most people. Even though patients are under the effects of anesthesia, the fear and anxiety can be quite troubling for them. However, when used by a trained and skilled oral surgeon, anesthesia can help the patient avoid pain to a great extent and relieve their fears.
There are mainly three types of anesthesia used in oral surgeries: local anesthesia, IV sedation, and general anesthesia. You should consult with your healthcare provider and follow certain safety measures and even after-care instructions to have a successful and safe oral surgery.
Let’s have a look at the different types of anesthesia in greater detail in this article.
Local Anesthesia
Local anesthesia is the most common type of anesthesia used in oral surgeries. It is also used for small procedures, such as cavity removal or filling. Local anesthesia is injected directly into the affected area to provide a numbing sensation, so it can be treated successfully without the patient feeling any pain.
The patient, in these cases, is always conscious during the oral surgery and will feel the pressure of the surgical instruments. Occasionally local anesthesia is combined with nitrous oxide, which the patient has to breathe in by wearing a mask over the nose.
With the combination of local anesthesia and nitrous oxide, the patient remains conscious while feeling no discomfort or pain during the surgery. Local anesthesia is widely the safest and most effective for performing minor surgeries.
Local anesthesia has little to no side effects; however, the patient can feel a little numbness in the gums, lips, and cheeks for a few hours before the procedure.
IV Sedation
IV sedation is deeper and stronger anesthesia in a medicinal form that is titrated into a person’s body through an intravenous catheter. This anesthesia type is used for shorter surgeries, but provides effective patient sedation.
The IV sedation effectively sedates and makes the patient unconscious for the surgery, so that the procedure can go smoothly. However, some patients report remembering details and conversations at the beginning and end of procedures, but have little to no memory of the surgical procedure.
General Anesthesia
General anesthesia literally puts you to sleep during the procedure. This anesthesia type also uses IV sedation but injects more profound anesthesia into the patient’s body. Patients injected with general anesthesia report having no memory of the actual procedure.
Such patients will be unconscious during the procedure and unable to drive back home after the surgery, which is why the patient should arrange for someone to do that. General anesthesia is mostly used for intensive or longer surgical procedures such as dental implant placement, wisdom tooth removal, or any other intense oral procedure.
Conclusion
Three kinds of anesthesia are generally used for oral procedures and surgeries. No such anesthesia type has severe side effects. However, it is still recommended to consult your physician regarding preparation or post-surgery care.
If you are looking for the best option to have your oral surgery without experiencing any major pain and discomfort, feel free to contact our experts at Shawn B. Davis, DMD Oral and Facial Surgery Institute, for the best solution.