Local Anesthesia
Local anesthesia is given to render the body insensitive to pain and discomfort without affecting consciousness. It is routinely used in dental and medical procedures and may be supplemented with other forms of anesthesia. With local anesthesia, you will be awake and aware during your surgery, but you will be numb and without discomfort.
You will ALWAYS be given local anesthesia prior to your surgery for pain control, however, you may choose to supplement the local anesthesia with one or more of the following: nitrous oxide sedation, intravenous (IV) sedation and/or general anesthesia.
Intravenous (IV) Sedation
Intravenous or IV sedation involves general anesthesia medications given via a vein in the arm or hand and is considered a deep sedation. Advantages of IV sedation include: sedation within seconds, rapid recovery, total relaxation, decreased level of consciousness and near complete amnesia of the procedure. Our office specializes in IV sedation and performs numerous IV sedations daily. Our surgical staff is certified in Basic Life Support (BLS), Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and emergency prevention. Our anesthesia team has also completed rigorous training and certification in anesthesia and monitoring techniques. Dr. Haggerty possess an anesthesia certificate through the State of Missouri that is awarded to oral and maxillofacial surgeons based upon the completion of 5-6 months of hospital based anesthesia training in their residency traiing program. Our nurse and doctors are all certified in BLS, CPR, ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) and PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support). Our state of the art facility, spacious and modern operating rooms and advanced training ensure the safest environment for your patient care.
Patients undergoing IV sedation should have nothing to eat or drink for 8 hours prior to their appointment. Normal daily medications may be taken at there normal time with several small sips of water. For patients undergoing IV sedation, the patient should have a friend or family member escort the patient to their appointment, stay in the doctor’s office during the procedure, escort the patient home and observe the patient for 24 hours. Please wear loose and comfortable clothing to your appointment and please DO NOT wearing jewelry, finger nail polish, acrylic nails, gel nail nails or contact lenses to your appointment. For minors undergoing IV sedation, a parent or legal guardian must accompany them to their appointment.
Nitrous Oxide Sedation
Also known as laughing gas, nitrous oxide is the most commonly used inhalation anesthetic in all of dentistry and medicine. Nitrous oxide is a safe and predictable anesthetic, which produces both pain reduction and decreased awareness during the procedure. Both onset and recovery from nitrous oxide are rapid, with a complete regaining of senses in a matter of minutes following cessation of the gas.
General Anesthesia
For patients undergoing extensive surgical procedures or for patients with multiple significant medical problems, Dr. Haggerty may elect to perform your procedure in a hospital setting. Dr. Haggerty has privileges at numerous local hospitals and surgicenters. Please inquire directly with our nurse regarding specific hospitals/surgicenters and insurance providers.
