Patients undergoing surgery often experience a great deal of anxiety.  The drugs available today allow surgery to be performed with little or no discomfort while under anesthesia.  Oral and maxillofacial surgeons have been administering anesthesia since modern anesthesia was developed and are the only dental specialists with thorough training in this area.

Office anesthesia may be safely performed by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon on healthy patients when the appropriate emergency equipment is present.  An evaluation of your medical history will allow the surgeon to determine if office anesthesia is appropriate for the individual.  If a patient is unhealthy their primary care physician may be consulted and/or surgery in a hospital may be indicated.  Using these guidelines, oral and maxillofacial surgeons have established an excellent safety record in the United States over the last century.

Greater Louisville Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Associates offers the following types of office based anesthesia.

    Nitrous Oxide

Nitrous oxide or "laughing gas" takes effect quickly and rapidly wears off.  It does not "put people to sleep" but rather provides relaxation.  It is appropriate for minimally invasive procedures when combined with local anesthetic.

    Conscious Sedation

Conscious sedation involves starting an IV and administering drugs which cause significant relaxation.  Patients will respond to commands and may remember parts of their surgery.  This sedation requires the patient to have nothing to eat or drink eight hours prior to surgery and have an escort present.

    Deep Sedation and General Anesthesia

Deep sedation and general anesthesia may be administered by IV drugs or breathing gas.  Patients are completely asleep and have no recollection of their surgery.  These types of anesthesia require the patient to have nothing to eat or drink eight hours prior to surgery and have an escort present.