Administration of Anesthesia

There are several types of dental anesthesia, all of which work to help you relax and stay comfortable during your dental procedure. Some simply control pain, while others help you relax into a sleepy state. There are even options that allow you to rest in a deep, sleep-like state while your procedure is performed.

Local Anesthesia

This type of anesthesia is administered via injection. It blocks pain signals, allowing you to tolerate procedures that remove a portion of tooth tissue such as root canals, fillings, and gum treatments.

Intraosseous Local Anesthesia

In order to achieve complete numbness, it is occasionally necessary to deliver local anesthetic in a more targeted fashion. Your WisNova specialist is trained to deliver local anesthetic directly to the area being worked on using more advanced techniques than a regular numbing injection. This ensures that you will be comfortable and rest easy knowing that you will feel no pain during your procedure. Talk to your WisNova specialist to see if intraosseous local anesthesia is right for you.

Nitrous Oxide

This is the mildest form of conscious sedation, and is administered by breathing gas through a nose mask. You will still be aware of your surroundings, but feel relaxed and sleepy. Although you may wish to bring an escort to your appointment, it isn’t necessary. You will be able to drive yourself home once the procedure is completed.

Oral Pre-Medication

This approach involves taking an oral medication in the hours prior to your procedure. This is a great option for those with mild dental anxiety. During your consultation, your doctor will help you determine which medication is right for you. An escort IS required to drive you home.

Intravenous Sedation

This approach involves placing an IV line and administering sedation medication as needed. It is possible to adjust the level of sedation depending on how your body responds. The options range from light sedation to general sedation.

The team at WisNova is fully credentialed and prepared to provide most levels of anesthesia for your procedure. Practitioners and support staff receive ongoing training in the latest dental anesthesiology practices. The WisNova team also has a close relationship with area anesthesiologists who can provide even more advanced forms of anesthesia when necessary, all within our facility.

There is always a level of risk inherent in any type of anesthesia. However, when you work with highly skilled professionals who perform dental anesthesia on a frequent basis, that risk level is very low.

Furthermore, many men and women are unable to tolerate certain dental procedures without a more advanced form of anesthesia. For example, if you’ve delayed dental care because of anxiety and have advanced decay, you might need several procedures. 

Moderate or deep sedation, as well as full general anesthesia, allows your dental team to complete multiple procedures while you are completely asleep. Your dental health is directly tied to overall health and wellness, taking care of decay or gum disease can prevent numerous negative health outcomes. 

At WisNova, you can even have your general dentistry performed under sedation or general anesthesia. We can accommodate your dentist and his or her staff in our specially designed facility. Speak with your general dentist or call us directly to learn more.

Dental anesthesia requires little preparation. It’s important that you share the details of any health conditions, medication, or supplements you’re taking so your dentist can guide you toward the best anesthesia option. 

With the exception of nitrous oxide, most forms of dental anesthesia will make it unsafe for you to drive yourself home after your appointment. Prepare by asking a friend or loved one to take you home on that date. 

If you have additional questions and/or concerns about dental anesthesia, please give our office a call.