Types of anesthesia used in dental surgery

Dental surgery, especially when anesthesia is used, can be a scary experience for many people. However, when this anesthesia is administered by a trained and certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon, it is completely safe and helps relieve the anxiety and pain of oral surgery. Next, we explain the types of anesthesia used in dental surgery.

Three main types of anesthesia are commonly used in oral surgery: local anesthesia, IV sedation, and general anesthesia. Always follow your oral surgeon’s preparation and aftercare instructions to ensure you have a safe and successful procedure.

Types of anesthesia used in dentistry

Below we explain the types of anesthesia used in dental surgery. Some of them are:

• local anesthesia

If you have a cavity, the dentist will most likely use local anesthesia. A local anesthetic is a numbing medicine that is injected directly into the area to be treated, usually the gums around the affected tooth.

Local anesthesia is usually used during a minor surgery that can be done quickly, such as filling a cavity. You will remain awake and feel no pain during the dental procedure. You will only feel the pressure of the dental instruments.

Nitrous oxide is sometimes used with local anesthesia. Commonly referred to as “laughing gas,” this method is a combination of nitrous oxide and oxygen that you breathe through a mask that is placed over your nose. With nitrous oxide, you will stay alert feel relaxed, and feel no pain during the procedure. After removing the mask, the effects of nitrous oxide quickly disappear.

This local anesthetic is very safe and effective for most minor procedures. Local anesthesia is safe and has few side effects. For a few hours after this procedure, you will feel numbness in your cheeks, lips, and gums. Be careful not to bite too much!

Local anesthesia refers to numbing a specific part or area of ​​the body with a drug. These are available both topically (used as a liquid or gel) and injectable. This type of intervention is usually used for simple procedures to prevent pain signals from being sent to the central nervous system or brain, which ensures that you do not feel pain in the numb area.

Local anesthesia does not put you to sleep, make you unconscious, or change how you feel outside of the injured area. This alone makes it a great choice for easy recovery and treatment, but if your discomfort is too great, it may not be suitable for more invasive and complex procedures.

According to the National Health Service, risks associated with local anesthesia may include:

• Nerve symptoms (such as tingling)
• Allergic reaction and cardiac symptoms (rarely)
• Dizziness or blurred vision
• Muscle spasm
• headache

You should be able to go home safely after local anesthesia, and the affected area should regain feeling within a few hours. Take care while you are still unconscious, as you may have temporary problems chewing and swallowing, and they may accidentally bite your cheeks, lips, or tongue. The dentist will inform you when to eat after the operation.

• IV sedative

IV sedation is a form of deep anesthesia in which an intravenous catheter is inserted and medication is titrated to achieve a short but effective period of sedation. Sometimes patients report that they remember the conversations before and after the operation but have very little memory of the actual surgery.

• general anesthesia

When you think of being “put to sleep” for surgery, it’s general anesthesia. This type of anesthesia uses the same IV sedation drugs as IV sedation but provides a deeper anesthetic experience with no memory of the actual procedure. This procedure is usually used for more intensive procedures such as wisdom tooth extraction, dental implant placement, or any major oral surgery procedure.

You will be completely unconscious during the procedure. You cannot drive yourself home after general anesthesia, so be sure to bring a friend or family member with you!

To ensure a safe and successful surgery, be sure to see a trained and experienced oral surgeon. General anesthesia is usually not required to remove your wisdom teeth. Your dental professional may recommend this option in some cases, especially if the procedure is long, or complicated, or if you experience a high level of stress. General anesthesia involves your dentist giving oral, intravenous (IV), or inhaled medications (or a combination of them) to make you unconscious.

Be sure that from your perspective, it will feel like falling asleep and waking up. From your body’s perspective, you won’t respond to any reflexes or pain sensations, distinguishing it from local anesthesia, which numbs an area. You probably won’t remember anything about the procedure, and you’ll feel like no time has passed or as if you’ve just woken up.

There are potential side effects, complications, and risks associated with general anesthesia that vary based on the type of medication used and your individual health history. Your dentist should discuss these with you before the procedure. Your mental state may be affected after general anesthesia, so you should avoid drinking alcohol, driving a motor vehicle, or signing legal documents for 48 hours after the procedure.

wisdom tooth extraction

Your wisdom teeth are the last in the back of your mouth on the top and bottom rows (also known as your third molars) and are the last teeth to erupt. In some cases, your wisdom teeth can’t erupt into your mouth at the right angle without disrupting your bite or surrounding teeth. This condition is called impacted wisdom teeth.

Your dental professional may recommend an extraction or chronectomy (removal of the top of the wisdom tooth) to prevent other dental problems from developing your wisdom tooth. Some impacted wisdom teeth may not require any treatment.

Another important choice your dental professional makes for your wisdom tooth treatment is how to keep you as comfortable and safe as possible. There is no one-size-fits-all anesthesia and sedation solution, so the right choice for your case will vary based on your health history and individual needs.

• soothing

According to the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, in some cases, sedation is used to treat impacted wisdom teeth. Depending on the drugs used and their dosage, you can use one of three types of sedation:

1. Mild sedative

To help you relax during the procedure, your dentist may recommend a combination of oxygen and nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas. They administer this tasteless, colorless drug through a wearable mask that you can easily breathe through. You will remain alert but relaxed while laughing.

When it comes to laughing gas versus anesthesia, if you are prone to anxiety or are extremely stressed about the procedure, this option is an attractive solution. According to the American Dental Association, nitrous oxide is considered both safe and effective.

Nitrous oxide usually wears off quickly, allowing you to go home after the procedure. However, sometimes your dentist will use a sedative with nitrous oxide and oxygen, so you will be safe to drive.

2. Moderate sedation

This technique (also called IV sedation) involves using intravenous (IV) medication to put you in a “twilight” state between waking consciousness and sleep.

Despite being partially conscious, you should be calm and pain-free during the procedure. Your experience of moderate sedation is usually similar to general anesthesia, where you don’t remember your treatment. The drugs used may also be similar to those used in general anesthesia, but the dosage will be different.

3. Heavy sedation

Like moderate sedation, deep sedation uses the same drugs as general anesthesia and puts you in a lower state of arousal. During this state, you are unresponsive to most stimuli, but you are not completely unconscious. Your deep sedation experience is likely to be falling asleep and waking up with no memory of the procedure.

Anesthesia and sedation safety

If you’re worried about anesthesia or sedation, take comfort in the fact that your dental professional (usually a dentist in Hamilton, oral surgeon, or maxillofacial surgeon) is trained to administer these medications and monitor your health. They put your safety first to minimize the risks associated with these options.

Your dentist will likely take steps to make sure you are healthy enough to have a wisdom tooth extraction or crownectomy, including taking your personal health history, your vitals (such as blood pressure and pulse), and Medicines you take.