What Is An Anesthesiologist?

Please click on the link under anesthesia services information which will navigate you to the American Society of Anesthesiologist’s website which can provide specific details of our post graduate medical training and qualifications. 

Oral Surgery Anesthesia Associates provides the full range of anesthesia and sedation services including general anesthesia.  We consult closely with the oral surgeon, dentist, or other operating physician along with the individual patient  to develop a tailored plan of sedation/anesthesia. This includes his/her medical history and the surgeon’s/dentist’s procedural and anesthetic preferences. Our anesthesiologists are Board Certified in Anesthesiology and fully licensed in the state in which they practice. Each physician anesthesiologist is BLS, ACLS, and PALS certified and has extensive experience in the office and ASC practice settings.

Minimal Sedation (Anxiolysis)

Minimal sedation is a drug-induced state during which patients respond normally to verbal commands are relatively awake, but in a relaxed state.

Moderate Sedation/Analgesia (Conscious Sedation)

Moderate Sedation is a drug-induced depression of consciousness during which patients respond purposefully to verbal commands either alone or accompanied by light tactile stimulation. Patients will feel drowsy and may sleep through the procedure and may or may not remember being in the procedure room. Our anesthesiologist will continually monitor vital signs, including heart rate, blood pressure and oxygen saturation levels. These will be watched closely in order to avoid sudden changes or complications.

Deep Sedation

Deep sedation is a drug-induced depression of consciousness during which patients cannot be easily aroused but respond purposefully following repeated or painful stimulation. Patients will have little or no memory of the procedure. During the procedure, breathing can slow-down and patients pay sleep until the medication wears off. Patients typically maintain spontaneous respirations but do sometimes need additional support; supplemental oxygen is given and end tidal CO2 is monitored.

General Anesthesia (Endotracheal Tube/LMA)

General Anesthesia is a drug-induced loss of consciousness during which patients are unconscious and unresponsive, and not arousable, even by painful stimulation. There are a number of medications and general anesthetic agents that are inhaled through a breathing tube/mask and others are introduced intravenously. The patient receiving general anesthesia is continuously monitored by the anesthesiologist with multiparameter monitoring equipment and sophisticated equipment to facilitate delivery of the anesthetic agents and oxygen throughout the procedure. At the end of the procedure, the anesthesiologist will appropriately reverse the effects of the medications and remove the temporary breathing tube/ airway adjunct. Patients are typically drowsy for a period of time and are monitored post procedure until specific criteria are met prior to discharge from the facility.

Total Intravenous General Anesthesia (TIVA)

This is the type of anesthetic that the majority of oral surgeons/dentists/surgeons will request that the anesthesiologist provide in their office. The evolution and clinical utilization of intravenous agents of short and predictable duration has facilitated the use of these anesthetics in the office setting. This allows for rapid onset and elimination of these drug effects (sedation, amnesia, analgesia and general anesthesia). These non-inhalation agents allow anesthesiologists to titrate these medications to induce, maintain, and alter the depth according to the surgical stimulation. This also allows for rapid emergence from sedation and/or general anesthesia.  This intravenous route can also reduce the need for anesthesia machines and volatile agents which can reduce the cost to the patient and also potentially some of the associated side effects.