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 anesthesia options used in oral surgery procedures: local anesthesia, IV sedation, and general anesthesia. You should consult with your healthcare provider during a consultation, review your medical history, confirm your treatment plan, and follow certain safety measures and even aftercare 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. Many patients want to understand comfort and safety before oral surgery.
Local Anesthesia
Local anesthesia with a local anesthetic is the most common type of anesthesia used in oral surgeries, which plays an important role in your overall health and wellness. It is also used for small procedures, such as cavity removal or filling. Local anesthesia is injected directly into the affected area to numb a specific area during minor dental procedures, 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, or laughing gas, which the patient has to breathe in by wearing a mask over the nose to help them enter a calm state and feel relaxed.
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 form of dental anesthesia for performing minor oral surgery and related oral surgery procedures.
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 which sedative medications are administered through an intravenous catheter and affect the central nervous system. This anesthesia type is used for shorter surgeries, but provides effective patient sedation.
The IV sedation effectively sedates the patient so the procedure can go smoothly, and it is often used in sedation dentistry for patients having multiple procedures or shorter complex procedures. 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.
During IV sedation, vital signs such as heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, and oxygen levels are monitored for safety.
General Anesthesia
Oral surgery general anesthesia literally puts you to sleep during the procedure. This anesthesia type also uses IV sedation, but the anesthetic is administered more deeply and may leave the patient completely unconscious. Patients undergoing general anesthesia often 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 longer or more complex oral surgery procedures such as dental implant placement and wisdom teeth removal. As the anesthesia wears off, the doctor reviews recovery needs and discharge expectations for a smooth recovery.
Conclusion
Oral and maxillofacial surgeons and other qualified dentists generally use three kinds of anesthesia for oral procedures and surgeries, depending on the treatment. No such anesthesia type has severe side effects. However, it is still recommended to discuss any medical conditions and anesthesia administration with your oral surgeon 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, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon in St. George and Mesquite, an oral and maxillofacial surgery office and dental implant center in an office setting with specialized training for complex procedures.