Anesthesia Options at COFS
We at Commonwealth Oral & Facial Surgery are committed to making your experience during surgery as comfortable as possible. We offer several different options for anesthesia. After a comprehensive medical evaluation, you and your doctor will decide which option is best for you.
As board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeons, we have completed extensive anesthesia training. We maintain our offices to the highest standard possible and complete required anesthesia reviews as well as facility and equipment inspections every five years.
Local Anesthetic
Commonly referred to as “Novicaine.” Examples of local anesthetics we use are: Lidocaine, Carbocaine, Septocaine, and Marcaine. These are all types of numbing medications that are administered in the area where the surgery is to be performed. Local anesthesia is always utilized regardless of what additional anesthetic is administered (i.e. nitrous oxide or IV sedation).
Exparel
Exparel is a unique, long acting local anesthetic that can be utilized to provide pain control over multiple days after your procedure. It is designed to gradually release into your surgical sites to reduce the need for taking oral pain medication.
Nitrous Oxide
Nitrous oxide (commonly referred to as “laughing gas”) is a colorless gas with a slightly sweet odor that is mixed with oxygen and then inhaled through a nose mask. Nitrous oxide helps to relieve anxiety and can reduce pain during the procedure. Once the nitrous oxide is stopped the effects wear off quickly.
Non-intravenous Sedation
The most common type of medication we use for this type of sedation in children is a liquid or pill form of a Benzodiazepine (i.e. Ativan, Versed, Halcion).
For children, at the time of your child’s evaluation you will be given the prescription. This prescription should be filled and brought with you on the day of the surgery. We normally ask that you and your child arrive at the office an hour before your appointment. When your child is brought into the treatment area, the doctor will verify the medication. After the medication and dosage are verified, we will have your child take the medication.
He or she will then stay in a treatment room for monitoring while the medication takes affect. This usually takes approximately 30-60 minutes. The duration of the sedation varies from child to child, but it can last approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour for the actual dental treatment, followed by another 4 to 6 hours during which your child will be sleepy/drowsy.
IV Anesthesia/Sedation
IV anesthesia/sedation is a moderate type of anesthesia. It’s administered through an intravenous line (IV) that directly enters the bloodstream. The effects are usually immediate. The patient falls asleep and is unaware of the procedure being performed. Supplemental oxygen is delivered through nasal breathing apparatus and the patient’s vital signs are closely monitored. When the IV medications are stopped, patients wake up quickly and may feel groggy and sleepy.
A reliable adult must accompany the patient to the appointment and remain in our office during the procedure. After escorting the patient home, it is suggested that an adult remains with them throughout the day.
There are strict dietary restrictions associated with this type of anesthesia. You must not have anything to eat or drink anything including water, for six hours before the appointment. If you are prescribed medications to be taken an hour before the appointment then you will take them with a sip of water.
We recommend you wear comfortable and loose fitting clothing on the day of surgery so that we can easily place monitoring devices (short sleeve shirts are helpful).