IV Sedation and Anesthesia for Oral Surgery

Sedation and Anesthesia Options

Different procedures and different patients warrant different levels of anesthesia. We offer:

Local anesthesia. Numbing of the surgical area only. You remain fully awake. Used for many simple extractions and minor procedures.

Nitrous oxide (“laughing gas”). A mild inhaled sedative that takes the edge off anxiety. You remain awake and responsive, and the effects wear off within minutes. Often paired with local anesthesia.

IV moderate sedation. Medication delivered through an IV produces a state of relaxation in which you respond to verbal commands but feel drowsy, calm, and remember little or nothing of the procedure. Common for wisdom tooth removal, implant placement, and many other oral surgery procedures.

IV deep sedation and general anesthesia. For longer or more complex procedures, deeper anesthesia keeps you fully asleep. You have no memory of the procedure and require an escort home.

Dr. Colgan recommends the option that fits your procedure, your medical history, and your preferences.

Why In-Office Anesthesia Works for Most Procedures

Most oral surgery procedures (wisdom teeth, implants, extractions, grafting, exposure of impacted teeth) can be safely performed in our office under IV sedation, without the cost, scheduling, or recovery commitment of a hospital operating room. In-office anesthesia means:

• Faster scheduling
• Lower cost than hospital-based anesthesia
• Familiar staff and environment
• Same-day recovery and discharge
• Direct continuity between the surgeon, anesthesia provider, and recovery team (all of whom you have met)

Larger procedures such as orthognathic jaw surgery and complex sleep apnea surgery still require a hospital operating room for safety.

Safety

Office-based anesthesia for oral surgery has an excellent safety record when performed by properly trained surgeons in properly equipped facilities. Our office maintains:

• Continuous monitoring of pulse, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, and end-tidal CO2 during every sedation
• A fully stocked emergency cart with reversal medications and resuscitation equipment
• Staff trained in advanced cardiac life support
• Compliance with Florida Board of Dentistry sedation permit requirements
• Routine drills and emergency response training

Your medical history, current medications, and any prior anesthesia experiences are reviewed in detail before your appointment. Patients with certain medical conditions may need a hospital setting instead, and we will tell you up front if that is the case.

What to Expect

Before your appointment. You will receive specific instructions, typically including no food or drink for several hours before sedation, comfortable clothing, removal of contact lenses, and arrival with an adult escort.

The day of. An IV is placed (a brief, well-tolerated step). Monitoring is connected. Sedation is titrated to the appropriate level. The procedure is performed. You wake in our recovery area.

After the appointment. You are escorted home by your adult driver. You should rest for the remainder of the day. Most patients are clear-headed by the following morning.