Children below the age of 5 are often uncooperative with dental care, especially if extensive treatment is needed. Some children were frightened by previous experiences in the dental office or heard "horror stories" from their siblings or friends who did not have a good experience receiving dental care. Other special patients with medical needs or behavior problems also can present challenges for the operating dentist. In-office anesthesia provided by a dentist anesthesiologist is a great way to treat younger patients comfortably and efficiently.
Adult patients who had bad experiences in a dental office and are not able to tolerate dentistry can greatly benefit from having a dentist anesthesiologist helping them and their dentist. Severe gag-reflex, anxiety, uncontrolled tremors and other problems can be dampened by some sedation or general anesthesia. Dr. Brian Huang is also highly qualified to also help treat patients with severe disabilities and health problems. For example, having a heart condition may increase risk due to stress and pain; however, with careful monitoring, sedation can bring the risk down by removing the stress and anxiety.
What to Expect
The dentist anesthesiologist will bring all the necessary equipment to provide the anesthesia safely in your dentist's office. Monitoring equipment include, but is not limited to: ECG, pulse oximetry, pre-cordial stethoscope, noninvasive blood pressure monitor, and CO2 detectors.
The dentist anesthesiologist will provide the preoperative evaluation, intraoperative management and postoperative care for the safe and effective treatment of the patient. The dentist anesthesiologist is also fully equipped and trained to handle full-codes, including all the advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) and pediatric advanced life support (PALS) protocols.
Potential Risks
The safety record of in-office anesthesia administered by an independent dentist anesthesiologist is unsurpassed by any other system of anesthesia delivery. Nevertheless, it is important to understand some of the associated potential complications.
Nausea and vomiting are among the most common complications. However, the occurrences are rare (only about 10% baseline) with this in-office technique. Patients who have previously experienced postoperative nausea and vomiting or are susceptible to motion sickness are at a higher risk of such occurrence.
Venous irritation from the IV catheter or from drugs administered is also rare but a potential minor complication.
Most people wake up 15 to 30 minutes after anesthesia has been stopped. However, because everybody has a different response to medication, a delayed recovery may happen, especially after extended procedures.
Laryngospasm is a reflex condition in which the vocal cords close in response to a stimulus such as liquid dropping into the back of the throat. This is not a common occurrence. The treatment involves suctioning of the mouth, delivery of oxygen with gentle pressure and, very rarely, the administration of a muscle relaxant.
Respiratory depression, another side effect of anesthesia, may require some airway positioning and ventilation assistance.
Allergic reactions are extremely rare with the drugs used during dentistry but can be managed with use of emergency drugs to reverse the signs and symptoms of the reaction.
A child may urinate during or after a long procedure. Please have them wear a diaper or training pants, and bring an extra change of clothes.