04 Jan FAQs Regarding General Anesthesia for Oral Surgery
General anesthesia can help patients maintain maximum comfort during oral surgery, but patients often have many questions about this part of their treatment, especially if they’ve not had much experience with surgery. Here are some of the most common questions that we get about general anesthesia at our office.
What does general anesthesia do?
In order to keep you as comfortable as possible during your procedure, your oral surgeon can give you general anesthesia to make you sleep throughout the appointment. It makes patients unaware of the surgical procedure going on.
How is general anesthesia administered?
Your oral surgeon will deliver the anesthesia medications intravenously.
How will I be monitored while I am under anesthesia?
Your safety while under anesthesia is our utmost concern. Your oral surgeon will place state of the art monitors on you prior to administering the anesthesia, allowing the surgeon to keep tabs on your vital signs throughout the procedure and take action if something unexpected happens.
What happens as I recover from the anesthesia?
Patients are given time to rest in our recovery room as the anesthesia wears off. After a certain period of time, the patient will be released to go home in the care of the escort.
Will I remember anything after my appointment?
One of the benefits of anesthesia is its amnestic effect. Patients typically have no recollection of the procedure after waking up.
Can I eat in the morning before my procedure?
No, patients may not take in any food or drink by mouth (not even water) after midnight on the day of the procedure. Any food that remains in the stomach while the patient is under anesthesia could create a risk for aspiration.
Will I be able to drive home after my appointment?
No, the effects of the anesthesia drugs will not be fully reversed by the time you leave our office, so it will not be safe for you to drive yourself home. You must make arrangements for a responsible adult to take you home and stay with you until you have fully recovered from the anesthesia.
If you have more questions or want more specific info about any of the Q&As discussed above, call our office to speak to one of our knowledgeable staff members. We are also happy to provide any information that you need at your initial consultation.