Anesthesia and Pain Relief

For your comfort, surgery can be performed under local anesthesia only, with light sedation combined with local anesthesia, or under general anesthesia, where you are fully asleep.

Local Anesthesia

Local anesthesia is used most commonly for straightforward surgical procedures, where patients experience little anxiety.  An injection of medication numbs the area where surgery will be performed. You will be fully awake during your procedure and you should not feel any pain.  Local anesthesia is not usually recommended for patients who are uncomfortable with popping and grinding noises.

Light Sedation

This  type of anesthesia is sometimes referred to as “twilight” sleep.  Intravenous sedation, or “IV sedation” is designed to enable you to undergo your surgical procedure, in a very relaxed state, which generally alleviates any anxiety.

General Anesthesia

For patients who want to be fully asleep, we offer general anesthesia. Oral Surgeons are uniquely trained and qualified to provide general anesthesia. The post-graduate residency program in oral and maxillofacial surgery includes intensive training in the administration of anesthesia.  Oral Surgeons gain extensive experience providing anesthesia for patients on a daily basis.

Patients referred to our practice also have the option of having their surgery in our outpatient surgical center, where our surgeons work with an anesthesiologist to administer anesthesia and monitor the patients throughout their procedures.