PROCEDURES

OUT-PATIENT ANESTHESIA MANAGEMENT

A quote from a classic anesthesia text states," Anesthesia is recognized as a major American contribution to medicine". Anesthesia actually has its origins in dentistry with the introduction of nitrous oxide by Dr. Horace Wells in the 1840's and the introduction of ether by Dr. William T. G. Morton in 1846; both dentists. Since then, the practice of anesthesia has split into all areas of medicine and into an integral and daily part of modern dental practice.

The modern Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery residency is currently 4 - 6 years in length, with 6 - 24 months of hospital based anesthesia training. This anesthesia training is the most of all surgical specialties; medical or dental.

Dr. Stephens completed a one year anesthesia residency in which all types of anesthetic techniques were mastered. Anesthetic management for all types of surgery, including regional, spinal, and general anesthesia was performed on patients of all health classifications for elective and emergency or trauma surgery. In addition, three more years of specialized out patient anesthesia training for in-office surgery followed his formal anesthesia residency.

Safety Record and Requirements to Provide In-Office Anesthesia

The extremely high safety record of dental office general anesthesia is second to none and has been developed and refined by the specialty of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery over the generations. Our training background is therefore sound and allows us to provide predictable and safe office anesthesia management for healthy patients. Patients are generally run at levels of anesthesia in which protective reflexes and airways are predictably intact and monitoring of patient vital signs with automated blood pressure units, ECG's, pulse oximetry, and now, end title CO2 monitoring, have increased our predictability in monitoring.

In addition, in order to provide office general anesthesia under a dental license in the State of California, the practitioner must have a general anesthesia permit which is awarded only after showing evidence of advanced training and passing an in-depth office review given by two examiners. This license must be reviewed every five years with the same in-office evaluation. The Pacific Coast Center for Oral and Facial Surgery is permitted by the State Dental Board of California to provide out-patient general anesthesia. In addition, Dr. Stephens has been appointed by the California State Dental Board as a General Anesthesia Evaluator. The adjacent Pasadena Ambulatory Surgery Center, Inc. is California State Licensed and Medicare Certified as a multi-specialty surgery facility; the highest level in the State of California.

What Type of Anesthetic Do You Need?

The Pacific Coast Center for Oral and Facial Surgery is well versed in anesthesia, pain and anxiety control, and can provide a comfortable experience for even the most nervous patient. A complete and supportive consultation with an understandable explanation of the planned procedures is the first step in alleviating patient's fears. Even though, occasionally pre-medication is useful, but not often found necessary.

The choice of anesthetic technique is usually, for the most part, up to the patient. Many procedures are done with local anesthesia or local anesthesia and nitrous oxide. Everyone does not need to go to sleep. The doctors will guide each patient toward the best anesthetic option for them based upon their medical status, anticipated surgical procedure, and their desires for treatment.

Finally, anesthetic management options also exist with in our practice, for high anxiety patients and children for restorative and other dental and/or medical procedures in our adjacent ambulatory surgery center. Through the establishment of the Pasadena Ambulatory Surgery Center, Inc., we now have a unique environment to provide care for those patients requiring general anesthesia or intravenous sedation management for various dental and medical procedures. Our hospital level and state licensed out-patient surgical facility and operating room allows the your general dentist or other dental or medical practitioners, to offer care to patients with special management problems without having to go to the hospital. This includes patients with developmental disabilities and children. We have anesthesiologists on staff who are well versed in all forms of ambulatory anesthesia.

Please feel free to contact our staff if you have any questions about our anesthesia services or the Pasadena Ambulatory Surgery Center, Inc. Also, please click on “Tour our Facilities” to learn more about the Pasadena Ambulatory Surgery Center / PASC.

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