For many of Lytle, Tate & Stamper’s Pasadena patients, dental surgery is the first time they’ve ever had a surgical procedure performed. Whether you are getting a tooth extracted, having wisdom teeth extraction, a bone graft or other oral surgery procedure, knowing that you will be having surgery, even an outpatient procedure, can be upsetting. Because our doctors want to make you as comfortable as possible, we offer a variety of anesthesia options to our patients.
Anesthesia Options for Our Patients
During outpatient dental surgery, there are a variety of anesthesia, or sedation options, available for Pasadena dental patients. These include:
- Local Anesthesia
When you undergo dental surgery at Lytle, Tate & Stamper, A Dental Corporation, you will be given local anesthesia, even if you choose additional sedation options. Local anesthesia doesn’t interfere with your state of alertness, and you will still be wide awake after the medication has numbed your mouth.
It’s understandable that many Pasadena residents have a fear of dental procedures, especially dental surgery. And for this reason, local anesthesia can be combined with other dental sedation options. However, some of our doctors’ patients either don’t have a fear of dental procedures or don’t want to receive strong medications during their oral surgery. So for certain procedures, such as a tooth extraction, receiving local anesthesia alone is sufficient for your surgery.
- Light Sedation
Some Pasadena dental surgery patients desire to be less aware while having a procedure performed, but don’t want to be fully asleep. For these patients, light sedation options are available, including medications and nitrous oxide, or laughing gas. If you receive oral or IV medications as light sedation for your procedure, you will not be able to drive yourself home after your oral surgery, as you should not operate heavy machinery after taking these medications. However, nitrous oxide, which is a temporary solution that makes you feel a little relaxed and silly, won’t affect your ability to drive home after your dental surgery.
- General Anesthesia
For dental surgery patients who are severely afraid of dentistry, surgery, or for those dental patients who are having longer, more involved procedures, general anesthesia is available. This medication will put you completely asleep during your procedure so that you are completely unaware of what is going on. Because this medication is so strong, you will not be able to drive yourself home after your surgery if you receive general anesthesia.
How Do I Know Which Anesthesia Option is Right For Me?
Choosing an oral surgery anesthesia option can seem like an overwhelming decision. Don’t worry; our doctors are here to help. If you have an upcoming oral surgery scheduled, talk to our doctors about your procedure, your level of anxiety – if any, and your ability to arrange for transportation after your procedure. By discussing these details with our doctors, we’ll be better able to help you choose the anesthesia option suited for you.
If you have any further questions about anesthesia options for dental surgery, we’d love to answer them. Contact our office in Pasadena at (818) 240 -1805.
