| The surgeons at Northern Essex Oral Surgery utilize many forms of
anesthesia to help keep their patients comfortable and apprehension-free. The
patient can make the decision to have the work done with local anesthesia
alone, or if they prefer and are in proper health they may have a choice of
oral or intravenous sedation. There can be light sedation, which simply takes
the edge off any discomfort or apprehension, or there can be full general
anesthesia for people who have great dental anxiety. Part of every oral
surgeon's residency training includes a rotation through the anesthesia
department and as a result anesthesia and the delivery of anesthesia is a large
part of an oral and maxillofacial surgery office. Patients are monitored in
ways very similar to that of a hospital operating room and every five years the
office is certified by an anesthesia certifying committee of the Massachusetts
Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Those people that desire anesthesia
will require someone to accompany them to the office and stay at the office
while the work is done. They are to have nothing to eat or drink for 6 hours
prior to the surgery and cannot drive themselves home. IV anesthesia allows
work to be done in an office environment that simply couldn't be done under
local anesthesia and does a great deal to alleviate the natural anxiety that
many people have during dental visits. |
