Anesthesia

Anesthesia is pain control.  You can be awake or asleep for your procedure.  The first level of anesthesia is called a local.  With local anesthesia, the area of surgery is numbed up.  There will be no pain to the surgery site.  A few small pinches will numb up the area.  You will be aware of movement and slight pressure.

The next level of anesthesia is local anesthesia with nitrous oxide, or laughing gas.  This includes breathing in an odorless, tasteless gas through your nose.  Most people say it makes them feel as if they have had something to drink like a glass of wine or a cocktail.  Children generally say they feel like they are on a roller coaster or see "Mickey Mouse"  dancing around the room.  Children generally do exceptionally well on nitrous oxide.  In addition to the nitrous oxide, the surgery site is numbed up with a local anesthesia.

Finally, there is general anesthesia or conscious sedation.  This form of anesthesia requires that the patient have nothing to eat or drink for eight hours prior to surgery, and that he or she has a ride to drive home.  General anesthesia involves first being put on nitrous oxide with supplemental oxygen, followed by an IV being started in your arm, and several monitors hooked up to you to ensure physical safety.  A titrated  dose of phenergan, fentanyl, and versed are administered by a registered nurse or doctor until you are at a comfortable and safe level of sedation.  A local anesthetic is also administered to the surgery site or sites.  Following surgery, most people are unaware of the surgery taking place and have a comfortable experience.  Some people choose to be deeply asleep while others choose to have some conscious control of the situation.   Both these goals can be achieved with this form of anesthesia.

Our office is equipped with a staff that is trained in basic life saving as well as advanced care life saving.  A complete emergency cart is on site and readily available in the event of an emergency.  EKG, oxygen saturation, pulse and blood pressure are monitored at all times during a general anesthesia and, when necessary, during local anesthetic procedures.

Following surgery, a trained staff member will review post-operative instructions on how to care for the patient and the surgery sites.  It is very important to begin taking your pain medication as soon as you get home before the numbness has worn off.  It is important to stay ahead of the pain and manage it before your mouth begins to hurt.  Postoperative pain medication comes in many different forms and will be discussed with you by Dr. Follmar.  It is also important to refrain from excessive activity the day of surgery.  In other words, no shopping or sports activities.