Understanding Anesthesia

We are dental anesthesiologists dedicated to relieve pain, discomfort, and anxiety before, during, and after your dental procedure. With anesthesia, patients are given medicine that helps make them feel comfortable during the procedure. It is the job of your anesthesia team to help manage your pain and keep you safe during the procedure.

What is Anesthesia?

With anesthesia, patients are given medicine that helps make them comfortable during procedure
It can be given to numb a small area (for example, around the teeth) – this is called local anesthesia
It can be given to put someone into a light to deep sleep (sedation or general anesthesia)
With NDAA, our anesthesia team can provide full range of sedation or anesthesia options ranging from IV moderate sedation, deep sedation, to general anesthesia

Moderate Sedation

This is commonly known as IV Sedation, which can used to put you in a relaxed and drowsy state. However it may not completely knock you out or put you into a deep sleep. The anesthetics can be given through an IV. Under IV sedation, you may be able to speak or respond. Afterward you probably won’t remember much about the procedure. Most patients will have foggy memory of the visit.

Deep Sedation/General Anesthesia

Under deep sedation or general anesthesia, you will be in a deep sleep and fully unconscious during the procedure. General anesthesia can be initiated through intravenous (IV) or potent inhalational (gas) anesthetics. For certain patients, such as a child or one with severe needle phobia, they can fall asleep by breathing anesthetic gases through a face mask. After they are asleep, an IV will be placed for administration of fluids and anesthetic medications until the dental procedure is completed. A soft breathing tube may be placed to help the patient breath and protect the lungs while one is under anesthesia. During your procedure, your anesthesia team will monitor you carefully and adjust your medication for your comfort and safety. Depending on your case, you may also get some local anesthesia to numb the area where your dentist is working on. This way you may have less pain when you wake up.

The Type of Anesthesia will depend on:

The kind of dental procedure you or your child is having.
The patient’s age, weight, anxiety level, and overall health
What the anesthesiologist think is best for the patient and the procedure

NDAA Anesthesia Team

Comprised of the dentist anesthesiologist and recovery staff
Will be with patient before, during, and after the procedure
Develop the specific anesthesia plan for the patient for the particular procedure
Give the patient the medicine and monitor the patient during the procedure
Make sure the patient is as comfortable as possible in recovery

On the Day of the Procedure

You will meet with the dentist anesthesiologist.
The dentist anesthesiologist will review your medical history and perform a physical exam.
It is critical that you provide a complete and accurate information about your health.

During the Procedure:

The anesthesia team will monitor you closely to make sure that you are comfortable and safe throughout the procedure.
Local anesthesia (numbing medication given as a shot around the teeth) may also be used along with IV sedation or general anesthesia, to help control pain during and after the procedure.

After the Procedure:

If you had any kind of sedation, most likely you will feel groggy and a little out of it as you wake up.
The anesthesia team will monitor you closely as the anesthesia wears off.
If you feel uncomfortable at all, let your care team know so they can manage your discomfort after the procedure.