General Anesthesia/IV Sedation

The use of local anesthesia, intravenous sedation, or general anesthesia is available and widely used to during office based oral and maxillofacial surgery procedures.

• Local anesthesia is the traditional “novocaine” approach where only the nerves to the surgical site are anesthetized (numbed) for the procedure. The patient does not have to bring a driver and will be awake and completely aware of the entire procedure. The use of local anesthesia is also utilized in intravenous sedation and general anesthesia.
• Intravenous sedation (conscious sedation or twilight anesthesia) is defined as a depressed level of consciousness, with the ability to respond to verbal commands. Most patient will have amnesia with this type of anesthesia.
• Deep sedation or general anesthesia is defined as a significantly depressed level of consciousness or unconsciousness. Patients will not have any recollection of surgery with this type of anesthesia.

Patients having any type of IV anesthesia (conscious sedation, deep sedation or general anesthesia) will need to bring a responsible adult with them the day of surgery, and must have no food or drink, with the exception of prescription medications for 6 hours prior to surgery. The final decision regarding the type of anesthesia will be determined by the doctor and patient during the consultation.