It is normal for many patients to feel anxious prior to a surgical procedure, and our surgical staff wants to ensure you feel as comfortable as possible for your procedure. Therefore, we offer many options for sedation when you undergo any oral surgical procedure at Greater Charlotte Oral & Facial Surgery. The methods used often depend on the preference of the patient and the nature of the surgical procedure.
Anesthesia Options
Local Anesthesia
A local anesthetic is administered in the area that the surgery is performed and can be used in conjunction with other anesthetic options, such as nitrous oxide.
Nitrous Oxide Sedation
Nitrous oxide sedation is also known as laughing gas and is commonly utilized when patients experience mild to severe anxiety prior to the procedure. A mixture of nitrous oxide and oxygen is administered through a nasal breathing apparatus.
Intravenous (IV) Sedation
IV sedation is administered through an intravenous line and allows the patient to fall completely asleep throughout the procedure. This option is commonly used in semi-invasive surgical procedures, such as bone grafting, and can also be utilized when patients experience a high level of anxiety.
Hospital or Surgery Center-Based General Anesthesia
If you undergo an extensive procedure, such as facial trauma surgery or jaw reconstruction, you may undergo general anesthesia in a hospital or surgery center, which is administered by an anesthesiologist.
Is My Oral Surgeon Qualified to Administer Anesthesia?
Yes! All oral surgeons must undergo extensive training and gain valuable experience in the medical field administering anesthesia, including the administration of operating room anesthesia in hospitals, as well as in-office anesthesia in specialty facilities, before they go into oral surgery practice. Unlike the majority of general dentists, they have received the highest level of licensure for dental practitioners to administer anesthesia, which allows them to perform deep sleep or general anesthesia.
Exparel® for Post-Surgical Pain Control
With the growing opioid crisis in our country, Greater Charlotte Oral & Facial Surgery is proud to offer patients an opioid-free method for post-operative pain relief. Exparel is clinically proven to be safe and effective for extended pain relief while eliminating the risk of addiction typically associated with prescription narcotics.
How does Exparel work?
You will have the chance to discuss your anesthesia and post-surgical pain control options with your oral surgeon at the consultation appointment. If you choose Exparel to help manage your post-operative pain, your oral surgeon will administer a single but powerful dose of the medication to your surgical site during your procedure. It will take effect immediately, but because of its slow release into the surgical site, the pain relief will last several days into recovery.
With Exparel, you will benefit in several ways:
- Your need for prescription medications will most likely be delayed if not completely eliminated. Many patients don’t need additional pain relief once the Exparel has worn off.
- The risk of dependence or addiction is nonexistent. Exparel does not contain opioids, which means the side effects commonly associated with narcotics does not accompany this medication.
- One dose is typically all that’s necessary. Exparel is both safe and powerful, which means only one dose is generally necessary to provide adequate pain relief.
Exparel in Charlotte, NC
At Greater Charlotte Oral & Facial Surgery, we are excited to offer this pain-relief solution to our patients. We are proud to be making efforts to combat the opioid crisis in our country, and we are happy to further discuss Exparel and its benefits with you at your appointment.
