Intravenous Sedation

At North Coast Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery we offer a variety of anesthesia options for your comfort and safety. A major part of the residency training in Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery focusses on the administration of IV sedation and general anesthesia. Our surgeons hold General Anesthesia permits, our staff are certified as Dental Anesthesia Assistants, and we are equipped with all of the necessary monitoring equipment recommended by the American Society of Anesthesiology. We can safely provide the following anesthesia options.

Local Anesthesia: Many procedures can be comfortably completed with local anesthesia nerve block or infiltration. This option will make you “numb” and block any pain from the procedure. For this option, you DO NOT need a driver, you DO NOT need to fast.

Oral Sedation: To calm your nerves, a relaxation pill can be prescribed beforehand to “take the edge off.” For this option, you DO need a driver, you DO NOT need to fast.

Nitrous Oxide (Laughing Gas): This option provides some relaxation similar to the effect of oral sedation. You will have a small mask over your nose that delivers nitrous oxide and oxygen. For this option, you DO NOT need a driver, you DO NOT need to fast.

IV Sedation: Depending on a number of factors, including your overall health and the invasiveness of the procedure, light IV (twilight) sedation or deep IV sedation may be offered. In either case an IV is started, the patient is attached to a number of safety monitors, and medications are administered through the IV until the patient falls asleep. The depth of the sleep is adjusted as needed for your safety and comfort. Our experienced anesthesia team has your safety as our primary objective throughout the sedation process, and you will have no awareness of the surgery or even the injections to numb the surgery site! For this option, you DO need a driver, you DO need to fast for 8 hours, including water.