Dental treatment with general anesthesia (GA) is reserved for patients whose behavior cannot be controlled by non-pharmacological techniques, such as "show how to do", positive reinforcement, voice control, or distraction, or pharmacological techniques, such as nitrous oxide sedation or oral sedation. A visit to the dentist's office to fill a cavity, obtain a crown, or perform a root canal usually involves the administration of local anesthesia to numb the affected area so that the patient does not feel anything at the site of the procedure. For more complicated surgeries, such as wisdom tooth extraction or reconstructive jaw surgery, the patient may need more comfort. General anesthesia leaves the person unconscious during the operation and sedation affects the person's entire body. Oral anesthesia is considered to be very safe and can ease people's anxiety about going to the dentist.
However, people with certain medical conditions or allergies may have a higher risk of having an adverse reaction. Professionals who specialize in anesthesia (doctors, dentists, or certified nurse anesthetists) will administer medications and monitor the patient while another dentist or oral surgeon performs the procedure or dental surgery. Some dental procedures require the patient to remain completely still. There may be a lot to fix, or the noise of the drill may scare them. Other staff may also be present to help with deep sedation and general anesthesia or dental surgery. In addition, dentists often prefer nasotracheal intubation to allow treatment in the oral cavity.
This person will administer and monitor deep sedation and general anesthesia while the dentist or oral surgeon is performing dental surgery on the patient. General anesthesia is commonly used to facilitate dental treatment for patients with anxiety or challenging behavior, many of whom are children or patients with special needs. Ideally, the dental evaluation of any patient undergoing general anesthesia would involve a thorough clinical examination and preoperative radiographs in order to establish a treatment plan. When performing procedures under general anesthesia, dental surgeons must perform a thorough preoperative evaluation and ensure that patients are aware of the potential risks and that their informed consent has been obtained. For some of these patients, dental treatment is only possible through other modalities, such as sedation or general anesthesia. After discussing sedation and anesthesia options with their dentist or oral surgeon, patients should find out exactly who will administer the medications and who will monitor them during the dental procedure.
However, dental assistants cannot administer sedatives or rescue medications on their own in a dental office. He completed his dental studies at USC and his residency in anesthesiology at The Ohio State University. Dentists and oral surgeons can safely administer these medications while performing dental treatment, since the patient stays awake. This is an overview of the different medical and dental professionals who may be involved in a patient's dental procedure. Patients with special needs often require that dental treatment be tailored to their oral health needs.
