Anesthesia Options

We are very concerned with the comfort and well-being of our patients at every step along their oral surgery journey with us. When you receive treatment at Roden Oral, Facial, and Dental Implant Surgery, you are in the very best hands before, during, and after your surgical procedures. Our trusted oral surgeons, Drs. Roden and Alling, are highly trained oral and maxillofacial surgeons with special training and experience performing oral surgeries that are minimally invasive using the most advanced surgical techniques. Beyond their degree in dentistry, oral surgeons go on to complete a hospital-based oral and maxillofacial surgery residency program for 4 or more years, where they are trained in emergency medicine, general surgery, and anesthesiology. Oral surgeons are the only healthcare specialists other than anesthesiologists who are trained and qualified to administer all levels of sedation, including general anesthesia.

We offer a variety of anesthesia and sedation options to both ease your mind during your procedures as well as eliminate any sensation during surgery. During your consultation with your oral surgeon, each option for your anesthesia will be discussed in detail, and the ideal anesthesia will be added to your treatment plan based on your specific needs, your level of anxiety about treatment, and your health concerns. For the safest sedation experience possible, you will be monitored continuously by our highly skilled oral and maxillofacial surgical assistants during and after your surgery.

Types of Anesthesia

Roden Oral, Facial, and Dental Implant Surgery offers the following types of in-office anesthesia and sedation:

• Local Anesthesia. Local anesthesia is used in all oral surgeries, usually along with other forms of anesthesia. It is applied directly to the surgical site to calm and numb any painful sensation in the area quickly.
• Nitrous Oxide. Nitrous oxide is an inhaled gas with calming and mild pain-relieving effects. Dentistry has made use of this gas for many years, usually along with other types of anesthesia such as local anesthesia. They call it laughing gas because it’s common for patients to laugh out loud while inhaling nitrous oxide.
• Office-Based IV Sedation. Intravenous sedation, or IV sedation, is also called twilight sleep because not only does it ease any anxiety you may have about your treatment, you will not feel any pain associated with your procedure, and you may drift in and out of consciousness. You must not have anything to eat or drink, excluding prescription medications with a small sip of water, for at least 6 hours before receiving IV sedation, and a responsible adult must be present to drive you home after surgery.
• Office-Based General Anesthesia. This type of intravenous anesthesia puts the patient in a completely unconscious state, unaware of the procedure being performed. It is reserved for more complex surgeries such as wisdom teeth extractions and dental implant placement, though you may request general anesthesia for your routine procedure if you have significant anxiety about surgery. You will be closely monitored by our team while you are under this type of anesthesia. You must not have anything to eat or drink, excluding prescription medications with a small sip of water, for at least 6 hours before receiving general anesthesia, and a designated driver is required to take you home after your procedure.

We will do everything in our power to make sure you are at ease and comfortable during your procedures. As always, Drs. Roden and Alling and your entire care team here at Roden Oral, Facial, and Dental Implant Surgery have your comfort, well-being, and safety in mind every step of the way. Please contact us with any questions you have regarding pain management or anesthesia and sedation at our practice. We are happy to speak with you.