Patient Percentage

According to the American Dental Association surveys, 10% of Americans are so highly anxious or nervous about dental treatment they avoid the dentist.  Another 20% find treatment so uncomfortable they are unable to follow through with the treatment.  In fact, nearly half of people with dental insurance avoid dental therapy due to fear and anxiety. 

What is Anesthesia?

Anesthesia is the loss of feeling of sensation with or without loss of consciousness.  This can create a state of unawareness, reduced consciousness and relaxation.  So, along with keeping you pain free during the procedure, anesthesia controls your body’s reaction to stress and relieves fear and anxiety.

What does Dentist Anesthesiologist mean?

A Dentist Anesthesiologist is a dentist who is trained extensively in the specialized field of anesthesia.  Training consists of a two-year general anesthesia residency that involves care provided in a hospital operating room, outpatient surgery center and private practice environment.  Clinical training includes rotations in emergency medicine, internal medicine, cardiology, acute and chronic pain management, and many other fields.  The dentist anesthesiologist is equipped with an advanced computer controlled monitor, pulse oximeter, precordial stethoscope, electro-cardiograph, blood pressure monitor, oxygen, all necessary medications and even a portable defibrillator (for cardiac emergencies).  The dentist anesthesiologist uses anesthetics, which are administered intravenously and can be titrated for different levels of general anesthesia/sedation.  The patient is continuously monitored during dental procedures and recovery by the dentist anesthesiologist.

What is different between what my personal dentist might provide for the pain and what a DA might provide for the pain?

If you are faced with the possibility of needing surgery, chances are you will need some type of anesthesia. There are many different types of anesthesia.  Which one you will need depends on a variety of factors such as the type of surgery you are having and your state of health.  Some surgical procedures require only an injection of local anesthesia into the incision area.  Similar to what your family dentist does when doing a filling.  Other procedures cannot be performed unless you are completely anesthetized, unconscious and unaware of pain.  This may be required if invasive and extensive dental treatment is required for children or patients with special needs.