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Before Oral Surgery Anesthesia, Play it Safe & Ask These Questions

When administered by an experienced and qualified professional, oral surgery anesthesia is both safe and effective. Thanks to advances in medicine and technology, using anesthesia for a comfortable, pain-free experience is safer today than ever before.

If you still have concerns — and many patients do — talk to your oral surgeon. Research has proven that all forms of anesthesia carry little risk of complications or serious side effects, but proper use requires expertise. In addition, though anesthesia emergencies are rare, the oral surgery office must be prepared for problems.

To ensure your oral surgeon can keep you safe, ask the questions below.
Before Oral Surgery Anesthesia, Play it Safe & Ask These Questions

Are You Qualified to Administer Oral Surgery Anesthesia?

If your oral surgeon is board-certified by the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (ABOMS) — as are the professionals here at Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery of Utah — you can rest easy in knowing that they have extensive training in administering anesthesia.

And since the ABOMS requires continuing education to maintain certification, their knowledge and skills are current.

Is Your Surgical Team Trained to Respond to an Anesthesia Emergency?

Oral surgeons don’t administer anesthesia and perform surgery alone — procedures require assistance from registered nurses, certified surgical assistants and support staff.

Anesthesia emergencies rarely occur, but the entire surgical team needs to be able to work together as a unit in unexpected situations. Regular training and practice dealing with emergency scenarios ensure the ability to respond quickly and appropriately if an issue happens to arise.

Is the Office Equipped to Handle an Oral Surgery Anesthesia Emergency?

Knowledge, training and experience are essential to effectively deal with the rare anesthesia complication, but so is having the proper supplies on hand. Most oral surgery offices are equipped with everything that might be necessary in an emergency situation, as that’s a requirement to maintain ABOMS certification. The equipment should be in excellent working order and the rescue drugs should be current, as surgeons must regularly undergo a thorough office anesthesia evaluation.

At Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery of Utah, patient safety is our primary concern. Our board-certified oral surgeons, Dr. Partridge and Dr. Maxfield, take every possible step to ensure a safe anesthesia experience. All three of our Salt Lake City area offices are equipped to handle the rare emergency, and our surgical teams are highly trained and capable of providing proper care in every situation.

If you have questions or concerns about getting anesthesia for your upcoming procedure, the professional team at Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery of Utah can put your mind at ease. Contact our Cottonwood Heights, South Jordan or Tooele office to discuss oral surgery anesthesia today.

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