Dental Anesthesia: The Less You Worry, the Easier it Will Be
Every so often, unfortunately, we read news of an unfortunate death involving a patient undergoing routine wisdom teeth extraction. This naturally puts a spotlight on the safety and role of anesthesia in dental procedures. It is helpful to understand the reasons why patients need dental anesthesia. Beyond the obvious need to control and appropriately manage pain associated with procedures, many patients may prefer to have their dental treatments performed under some form of dental sedation or even general anesthesia. These patient groups generally include:
- Patients with dental anxiety or dental phobia
- Patients that are about to undergo extensive and invasive oral surgery (e.g. removal of impacted wisdom teeth)
- Patients with time constraints, who want their dental treatments to be completed in as less appointments as possible
- Patients with sensitive gagging reflex, or very low pain threshold
Regardless of the reason, the proper planning, administration, and monitoring of patients receiving anesthetic agents is paramount to patient safety.
At McGann Facial Design, we make patient safety a priority. Dr. McGann holds a California general anesthesia license and the State, as a matter of routine, periodically evaluates our facility for measures of safety. Our assistants, who have been part of our team for years, undergo extensive anesthesia training and re-training of emergency medical protocols. Our office is resourced with all necessary medical equipment for an anesthesia emergency, and we are located across the street from Sharp Memorial Hospital. In short, we never compromise patient safety.
If you have been putting off an oral surgery procedure because of apprehension related to fear of pain or questions about anesthesia, call McGann Facial Design today and schedule a consultation. Dr. McGann will take the time to explain all the ins-and-outs and get you one step closer to the healthy, active, lifestyle you deserve.
