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Anesthesia Options

At Oral Surgery Specialists of Idaho, we are passionate about performing the highest-level oral surgery care while keeping our patients comfortable, safe, and relaxed during their procedures. In our effort to achieve this goal, we are proud to offer anesthesia services in our state-of-the-art Dental Anesthesia Center, or DAC. By being able to offer the full scope of anesthesia services in our Dental Anesthesia Center, instead of having to travel to a hospital, we can provide surgery at a fraction of the cost. Whether your treatment is corrective jaw surgery, dental implants, wisdom teeth removal, or any of the other surgical procedures we provide, we can do it all in the comfort of the surgical suites in our two southeast Idaho practice locations.

As oral and maxillofacial surgeons, our doctors have hospital-based anesthesia training. In fact, oral surgeons are trained to administer all levels of sedation, including general anesthesia, to help you feel relaxed about your procedure and to eliminate pain during surgery. During your consultation with Dr. Baker or Dr. Jepsen, your options for anesthesia will be discussed in depth, and the anesthesia for your procedure will be chosen based on the type of procedure you are having, your level of apprehension about your treatment, and your health concerns. For the safest anesthesia and sedation experience possible, our doctors and surgical team will monitor you continuously during and after your surgery.

To learn more about what makes oral surgeons uniquely qualified providers to administer your anesthesia and perform your surgery, explore our page on oral surgery. To get to know our oral surgeons, Drs. Baker and Jepsen, we invite you to visit their profile pages.

Anesthesia Options

Oral Surgery Specialists of Idaho offers the following types of in-office anesthesia and sedation.

Local Anesthesia

Lidocaine is a type of local anesthesia that is usually used along with other forms of anesthesia. Lidocaine, also known as local anesthesia, is applied directly to the surgical site to immediately calm any sensation of pain in the area.

Nitrous Oxide

Nitrous oxide is an inhaled gas that offers relaxation and a mild pain-relieving effect. This type of sedation has been used in dentistry for many years and is usually used along with other types of anesthesia to help give the patient a sense of calm. It’s often referred to as laughing gas because it’s common for patients to laugh when they are receiving this type of anesthesia.

Office-Based Intravenous (IV) Sedation

IV sedation, also known as twilight sleep, is recommended for patients that have a high level of anxiety regarding their trip to the dentist or oral surgeon as it is very calming and will ease any anxiety you may have about your treatment. For this type of anesthesia, anti-anxiety medications are injected directly into the bloodstream, producing a very deep sedation. You will have a feeling of complete peace during your procedure, while our staff continuously monitors your heart rate, blood pressure, pulse, and oxygen level. A designated driver is required to take you home after receiving IV sedation.

Office-Based General Anesthesia

Office-based general anesthesia puts the patient in an unconscious state, during which you will be completely unaware of the procedure being performed. During this type of anesthesia, your vital signs will be closely monitored. We usually reserve this type of anesthesia for more complex surgeries such as wisdom teeth extractions and dental implant placement, but you may request general anesthesia for your routine procedure if you are very prone to anxiety about surgery. A designated driver is required to take you home after your procedure if you receive IV anesthesia. Your pre- and post-surgical instructions will provide you with detailed information about all phases of your treatment, including important details about what to do before and after receiving anesthesia and sedation.

Sedation Dentistry

In addition to making sure the best anesthesia is planned for your procedure, we are very sensitive to the fact that oral surgery can cause feelings of apprehension in some patients, so we offer sedation dentistry medications for patients who desire it. For our patients who have dental anxiety, this is a terrific option. Sedation dentistry is well-tolerated by most patients. However, with this type of medication, it’s important that you bring a friend or family member along with you to assist you to and from your appointment. When you receive this type of sedation, an oral dosage of anti-anxiety medication is administered before your procedure — typically in conjunction with nitrous oxide for a deeper state of relaxation. After you take the dose, you will feel completely relaxed but will still be able to respond to questions and requests.

Some of the medications used in sedation dentistry include:

  • Diazepam
  • Triazolam
  • Zaleplon
  • Lorazepam
  • Hydroxyzine

The sedation medication you are administered will depend on your medical history and any pre-existing conditions. As with any medication, our primary concerns are your safety, comfort, and well-being.

Anesthesia Options in Pocatello and Blackfoot, ID

For oral surgery that exceeds your expectations, performed by doctors who are dedicated to your well-being, comfort, and safety, Oral Surgery Specialists of Idaho is an excellent choice. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions you have regarding anesthesia and sedation at our practice. Drs. Baker and Jepsen and the care teams at both of our southeast Idaho practice locations look forward to providing you with an excellent oral surgery experience.

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