20 Dec FAQs Regarding Intravenous Anesthesia for Oral Surgery
Posted at 18:10h
in oral surgery Manchester
For some patients, oral surgery is the first kind of surgical procedure they ever undergo. In order to experience the best treatment outcomes, it’s important to be prepared for the entire process, including anesthesia. Here are some questions that patients often ask about anesthesia if they want more information on this aspect of their treatment.
- What can I expect from intravenous anesthesia? With intravenous anesthesia, sedative medications are administered directly into your bloodstream in order to put you to sleep. You will remain asleep throughout the appointment, and the oral surgeon will begin to reverse the anesthesia when the procedure is complete.
- Will I remember anything after I wake up? The sedative medications used in intravenous anesthesia have an amnestic effect, so you should not have any memories of the procedure upon waking.
- What do I need to do to prepare for my appointment? Intravenous anesthesia requires the patient to fast (no food or drink) for six hours prior to the procedure. If your oral surgeon has instructed you to take your regular medications on the morning of the procedure, you may do so with a small sip of water. You should refrain from smoking for at least 12 hours before the appointment. We ask that you wear loose-fitting clothing to the appointment and do not wear lipstick or nail polish. You may not wear contact lenses, jewelry or dentures during the surgery either, so you may want to leave these items at home.
- How is my well-being ensured while I am under the effects of anesthesia? Your treatment team will carefully monitor your vital signs throughout the procedure and appointment. If you show any signs of distress, the surgeon will act quickly to address the problem.
- What arrangements do I need to make to get home after the appointment? The anesthesia’s effects will not be fully reversed by the time you leave your appointment, so you will need to identify a responsible adult to take you home afterward. That person should plan to remain with you for at least eight hours to ensure that you have fully recovered. You should also avoid driving or operating heavy machinery for 24 hours after your appointment.
If you have other questions about anesthesia in advance of your oral surgery procedure, please call our office for additional information.