Dental Implants
Adelaide

ANAESTHESIA & SEDATION

Anaesthesia and sedation are an important part of teeth extractions. There are 4 'levels' of anaesthesia and sedation we offer patients at Adelaide Tooth Removals & Dental Implants.

​

Local anaesthetic only
This means the tooth or teeth will be removed at our dental offices with injections to make the area numb. This method is suitable for relatively simple wisdom teeth extractions in patients that are not overly anxious. After the area has been anaesthetised with an injection, removing a tooth is not painful. It is however uncomfortable and unpleasant. Patients will still feel the pressure and pushing aspect of the procedure (but it should not ever be painful).

​

Local anaesthetic with oral sedation

This means that patients are given tablets to offer a mild level of sedation. We often use diazepam (valium) or temazepam. This is an 'anti anxiety' medication and often used as a 'sleeping tablet'. It makes patients feel mildly sedated and helps patients cope with the unpleasant experience. Patient still need an injection to make the area numb. This is suitable for relatively simple wisdom teeth extractions in patients who are mild to moderately anxious. You can not drive yourself to or from your appointment if you take oral sedation.

​

IV sedation

A fully qualified anaesthetist administers sedative medications (such as midazolam and fentanyl) intravenously (via a thin plastic flexible needle that is placed in your vein). This is a strong level of sedation, however patients are still conscious and breath for themselves. Patients under the influene of IV sedation should still be able to obey simple commands whilsts sedated such as 'open wider', or 'turn your head to the left'. However patients often fall asleep and snore during the procedure and often will not remember the majority of the process. This is suitable for simple to moderately complex wisdom tooth cases in patients who are moderately to severely anxious

​

General anaesthetic

Patients are 'put to sleep' in a hospital setting by a qaulified anaesthetist in an accredited hospital and operating theatre. Patients are completely 'asleep'. This is suitable for complex wisdom teeth extractions and/or patients who are highly anxious. If patients have hospital insurance, their insurance will usually cover most of the aneasthetic and hospital fees.

​

What about 'gas'?

We don't encourage the use of 'gas' or nitrous oxide for sedation. Nitrous oxide offers a mild level of sedation. However it requires the use of a relatively large nasal mask with multiple tubes, and it requires patients to continuously breath through their nose. The nasal mask and tubes are cumbersome and often get in the way during a procedure. And patients often breath through their mouth, especially when anxious, making the administration of the gas unpredictible. Whilst we do have the ability to offer 'gas' for patients that have a strong preference for this method of sedation, we would discuss other more favourable and reliable methods of sedation.

​

​