Tag: sedation dentistry

It’s normal to feel anxious before oral surgery, but proper preparation and knowing what to expect will help ensure that everything goes smoothly. One aspect of preparing for oral surgery is discussing your anesthesia options with your physician. Here’s an overview from NYC oral surgeon, Ruben Cohen, DDS, about anesthesia for oral surgery.

 

What does anesthesia do?

The term anesthesia comes from the Greek for “loss of sensation”, but that’s not the only effect it can cause in your body. Depending on the type(s) and amount used, anesthesia can relieve pain, induce amnesia, reduce anxiety and temporarily paralyze your muscles so that a physician can perform pain-free surgical procedures.

 

What types of oral surgeries use anesthesia?

Anesthesia may be used for many types of oral and maxillofacial surgeries. At our accredited Upper East Side practice, procedures commonly performed with anesthesia include:

• Wisdom teeth removal
• Dental implants
• Surgical exposure of impacted canines and other teeth

Park Avenue Oral & Facial Surgery is one of just a handful of New York City practices that also specializes in pediatric oral surgery. Our medical staff is trained in treating infants and young children with special needs and complex health issues. Get more tips to prepare for a child’s oral surgery by reading our blog post, Calming Fears About Your Child’s Oral Surgery.

 

What types of anesthesia are used for oral surgery?

There are several anesthetic options for oral surgery. Depending on a patient’s needs and the procedure he or she is undergoing, more than one kind of anesthesia may be used.

• Local anesthesia – With local anesthesia, the patient remains totally awake and will be fully aware of everything during the procedure. An anesthetic (e.g., lidocaine) is administered in the area where the surgery will be performed. Local anesthesia is commonly administered in conjunction with another type of anesthesia to eliminate pain during a procedure and minimize post-operative discomfort as well.
• Nitrous oxide (laughing gas) – Nitrous oxide is a colorless gas with a sweet odor and taste, which produces insensitivity to pain when inhaled. It is administered with a comfortable mask placed over the nose through which the patient breathes to achieve the sedative, relaxing effects.
• Intravenous anesthesia – Intravenous anesthesia, also referred to as “twilight sedation”, is a form of anesthesia wherein the patient is not fully unconscious, but he or she is drifting in and out of sleep in a comfortable, calm and relaxed state. This type of anesthesia can be administered by Dr. Cohen in one of the operating rooms at our accredited practice. Twilight sedation may also be used for patients who suffer from dental anxiety or dental phobia when they are undergoing minor procedures.
• General anesthesia – With general anesthesia, sedation medications are administered through an intravenous line and closely monitored by Dr. Cohen. The patient is completely asleep during the procedure and will not remember anything about it.

 

What training do oral surgeons receive in order to administer anesthesia?

Oral and maxillofacial surgeons are trained in all aspects of anesthesia administration. Following dental school, they complete at least four years of training in a hospital-based surgical residency program alongside medical residents. During this time, they serve on the medical anesthesiology service, where they evaluate patients for anesthesia, deliver the anesthetics and monitor patients during and after surgery. As a result of this extensive training, oral surgeons are well prepared to appropriately administer all forms of sedation and general anesthesia in an outpatient setting.

 

What is office-based anesthesia?

Office-based anesthesia refers to the administration of anesthesia from the comfort and convenience of the oral surgeon’s medical practice. At Park Avenue Oral & Facial Surgery, we are pleased to offer the majority of oral surgery procedures from our office. The advantage of office-based anesthesia is that it minimizes patients’ waiting and recovery time, as compared to having the same procedure performed in a hospital or outpatient surgery center. In addition, in-office procedures and anesthesia delivery are usually less expensive than similar care in a hospital or outpatient surgery center.

 

Visit our sedation dentistry page to learn more about this topic. If you have any questions about oral surgery and anesthesia, please get in touch with our office by calling (212) 988-6725. We are here to ease your concerns about oral surgery and ensure that you are well informed about your anesthesia options long before your procedure.

The thought of undergoing oral surgery usually elicits feelings of anxiety and fear for patients. If it’s your child that needs surgery, the emotions are intensified even more. At Park Avenue Oral & Facial Surgery, we know firsthand the many worries, concerns, and questions that parents face in this situation and we’re here to walk you through every step of the process.

 

Our patients and their parents can take comfort knowing that our practice specializes in treating pediatric patients in need of oral surgery or sedation dentistry, in fact, we’re one of the only private practices in Manhattan that does. You can rest assured that our friendly office staff and Dr. Ruben Cohen — a father of two young daughters himself — will provide treatment in a safe, warm and compassionate environment. Our Upper East Side office is accredited by the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities, Inc. (AAAASF) which means that we’ve met strict requirements and standards as an ambulatory surgery setting. Since Dr. Cohen is affiliated with several top hospitals in New York City including Mount Sinai Hospital, Lenox Hill Hospital and Beth Israel Medical Center, he can perform pediatric oral surgery procedures in a hospital setting as well, particularly for more complex cases.

 

Dr. Cohen is uniquely trained and experienced with treating pediatric patients who have special needs or complex dental and health issues. He is committed to making sure that every child can get the oral care he or she needs.

 

Park Avenue Oral & Facial Surgery offers a wide range of surgical procedures for pediatric patients, including:

• Tooth extractions
• Surgical exposure of impacted teeth and canines
• Cleft lip and cleft palate repair
• Frenectomy of the lip and tongue
• Treatment for dental injuries and trauma
• Treatment for facial fractures and lacerations
• Treatment for craniofacial conditions and anomalies

 

Our practice is designed with our smaller patients in mind and features a procedure room just for children. We strive to ensure that every trip to our office is a pleasant and enjoyable one for children and parents alike.

If your child needs oral surgery and you have questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to contact us by email or call our office at (212) 988-6725. You can also schedule an appointment using the form on the right-hand side of this page. Dr. Cohen looks forward to meeting you and your child and easing your fears about pediatric oral surgery.

As 2014 comes to a close and many of our patients are thinking about New Year’s resolutions, Dr. Cohen and the staff at Park Avenue Oral & Facial Surgery want to remind you to make oral health a priority in 2015. The health of your mouth mirrors the condition of your body as a whole – when your mouth is healthy, chances are your overall health is good too. In fact, good oral health may actually prevent certain diseases from occurring.

If the thought of undergoing a dental procedure provokes feelings of fear or anxiety, you’re not alone. In fact, up to 75% of adults in the U.S. report having at least some anxiety about visiting the dentist, according to a report by WBUR, an NPR affiliate station.

Each patient may have a different concern or reason for putting off a dental procedure. At Park Avenue Oral & Facial Surgery, we want to help our patients conquer these obstacles.

Here are 5 pointers to help you overcome your dental anxiety and schedule that long overdue appointment in 2015:

• Preventative care will keep your teeth and gums healthier. While the fear of pain is what keeps some patients from scheduling an appointment, you are less likely to develop painful problems down the line, such as gum infections and jaw pain, if you visit an oral surgeon when you first recognize that a problem is occurring.
• Sedation dentistry allows you to undergo dental procedures without experiencing any of the negative feelings, sounds or sensations associated with your visit. Cohen is a leader in sedation dentistry and has advanced training in IV sedation and general anesthesia. Our practice also offers nitrous oxide and oral medications to help patients relax for all types of dental procedures. We are committed to ensuring the comfort and well being of patients and we strive to make every trip to our Upper East Side office a pleasant experience.
• Communicate with our staff – it’s ok to be nervous or ask for a break during your visit. Communicating your concerns can help normalize your nervousness, and it will also help us to tailor your visit to ensure the maximum level of comfort. If you feel uncomfortable and want to take a break, just let us know. We always want our patients to feel in control.
• Make yourself at home in our office. Our state-of-the-art exam rooms and operating rooms are designed to make you feel at ease. If music helps you to relax, we invite you to bring your own music device to listen while you receive treatment. We can also adjust the music volume in our exam rooms, depending on each patient’s preferences.
• Bring a loved one to your visit. The presence of a loved one can make you feel more relaxed in an environment where you are nervous. If you’re feeling anxious about your visit, make sure you schedule it on a day that a friend or family member can accompany you.

Remember that dental anxiety is nothing to be embarrassed about. Many patients face the same fears. Your comfort is a top priority at Park Avenue Oral & Facial Surgery and we have extensive experience in treating patients who have dental fears. If you would like to get more information about sedation dentistry options, please contact our office.

We wish everyone a happy and healthy holiday season and look forward to seeing you in 2015!

If you’re ready to schedule an appointment, visit our scheduler page.