At Bamonte Oral Surgery, we understand that procedures, where anesthesia is required, can be intimidating, so we have put together some helpful information on the different types of anesthesia we use to help our patients better understand the options. Three of the most common types of anesthesia used in oral surgery procedures include:
Below is some information on each type of anesthesia so you can enter your appointment more informed and comfortable.
Local anesthesia is a type of numbing medication that is injected directly into the area that is going to be treated. This is usually injected around the affected tooth. This type of anesthesia is used for a minor surgery that can be completed relatively quickly, such as filling a cavity.
During a procedure with local anesthesia, you will remain conscious, and you will not feel pain but will feel the pressure of the dental instruments. In some cases, local anesthesia will be used with nitrous oxide, also known as “laughing gas.” This is a mixture of nitrous oxide and oxygen that is administered through a mask that is placed over your nose.
You will also remain conscious with nitrous oxide, feeling relaxed. You will not feel any pain during the procedure, and once the mask is removed, the effects wear off quickly, making it a safe and effective option for many.
Local anesthesia is safe and carries very few side effects. After your procedure using local anesthesia, you can expect to feel numbness in your lips, cheek, and gums lasting for a few hours following the procedure. Due to this numbness, be careful when chewing r biting down that you don’t bite down too hard.
This type of sedation is a deeper form of anesthesia. This type of anesthesia is administered through an intravenous catheter and is titrated to create a period of brief, effective sedation. You may recall your conversations with your oral surgeon prior to the procedure and after the procedure, but you will have very little memory of the actual procedure.
General anesthesia is the type of anesthesia where you are “put to sleep” for surgery. Similar to IV sedation, general anesthesia also uses IV sedative but produces more intense anesthesia with no memory of the actual procedure. General anesthesia is generally used for more intensive procedures such as dental implant placement, impacted wisdom teeth removal, or more extensive oral surgery procedures.
During the procedure, you will be completely unconscious, and you will not be able to drive yourself home afterward. If you have a procedure where general anesthesia will be used, be sure to arrange for a friend or family to come along and drive you home afterward.
Nervous about your procedure? The caring and compassionate team here at Bamonte Oral Surgery is here to provide you with the safest and most effective anesthesia options available to ensure you are relaxed and comfortable before, during, and after your procedure. Have questions about the different types of anesthesia? Or need to schedule an appointment? Contact us today!
Dr. John A. Bamonte, a native of the Pittsburgh area, is a graduate of Allegheny College in Meadville, Pennsylvania, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Sciences. He then attended the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine and finished in the top 10 of his class in 1984 with the degree of Doctor of Dental Medicine. Through 1985, Dr. Bamonte practiced general dentistry with his father in Natrona Heights and concurrently earned a Master of Science degree in Anatomy/Histology at the University of Pittsburgh.