Anesthesia
What types of sedation does Fort Bend Oral Surgeons offer?
We offer multiple levels of sedation and work with you to determine the best option for your surgery and comfort level.
Levels of sedation:
- Nitrous Oxide: Decreases anxiety, increases comfort and clears your system quickly so that you are able to drive yourself home following your procedure.
- Oral Sedation: Decreases anxiety and increases comfort. If you’re scheduled to have this type of sedation, it is required that you arrange for someone to escort you to your appointment, remain with you in our office for the duration of your surgery, and drive you home.
- IV Moderate Sedation: You sleep through much of the procedure. If you’re scheduled to have this type of sedation, it is required that you arrange for someone to escort you to your appointment, remain with you in our office for the duration of your surgery, and drive you home. A period of 8 hours of fasting prior to the procedure is also required.
- IV Deep Sedation: You sleep through much (and often all) of the procedure. If you’re scheduled to have this type of sedation, it is required that you arrange for someone to escort you to your appointment, remain with you in our office for the duration of your surgery, and drive you home. A period of 8 hours of fasting prior to the procedure is also required.
Is sedation safe?
A large percentage of our patients undergo IV Sedation. Each of Fort Bend Oral Surgeons doctors is licensed to provide IV Deep Sedation, as all of our surgeons have undergone extensive training in anesthesia as part of their residency training. They are able to provide you with a very safe and comfortable experience. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons have more anesthesia training than any other medical or dental specialty other than anesthesiologist. The record of oral and maxillofacial surgeons is excellent in regards to anesthesia, safety and comfort.
What should I expect if I will be undergoing sedation?
- Transportation: You will need to arrange for an adult to escort you to your appointment, remain with you in our office for the duration of your surgery, and drive you home. You will also need to be without food or drink for a period of 8 hours prior to your procedure.
- Day of Surgery: On the morning of your appointment, when you arrive at our office, our surgical care team will escort you to a room that has been set up just for you and allow you to recline in one of our chairs. We will gently place multiple monitors on you that allow us to evaluate your vital signs and the oxygen levels in your blood. You will then inhale pure oxygen and laughing gas through a small mask.
- During Surgery: Once you are comfortable, an IV will be gently placed, and your surgeon will administer medication that allows you to sleep peacefully during the procedure. The procedure will be performed while you are comfortably sedated, and you will be awakened at the end of the procedure.
- After Surgery: When you awake, you will remain with us in our recovery room where you may lie peacefully while we monitor you as your body clears much of the anesthetic. Once it is safe for you to go home, you will be released and escorted by one of our staff to your car and your driver may take you home