In dental settings, an anesthesiologist ,they administer anesthesia, monitor vital signs, and manage the patient’s comfort and safety throughout the procedure.
Here's a more detailed look at their role:
1. Assessment and Planning
Pre-operative evaluation: The anesthesiologist conducts a thorough medical and dental history to identify any potential risks or contraindications to anesthesia.
Risk assessment: They assess the patient’s overall health and the complexity of the dental procedure to determine the most appropriate anesthesia technique.
Patient education: The anesthesiologist explains the anesthesia process, potential risks, and post-operative care to the patient and their family
2.Anesthesia Administration:
Local anesthesia: For minor procedures, local anesthesia is often administered by the dentist or dental hygienist, with the anesthesiologist overseeing the process.
Sedation: For more complex or anxious patients, sedation techniques (e.g., nitrous oxide, conscious sedation) may be used.
General anesthesia: In some cases, general anesthesia is necessary for extensive procedures or patients who cannot tolerate local anesthesia or sedation.
3.Monitoring and Management:
Vital sign monitoring: Throughout the procedure, the anesthesiologist or dental anesthetist closely monitors vital signs like heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen levels, and respiratory rate.
Anesthesia adjustments: They adjust the dosage and type of anesthesia as needed to maintain the desired level of sedation and ensure patient comfort.
Emergency management: They are trained to manage any potential complications or emergencies that may arise during anesthesia.
4.Post-operative Care:
Recovery monitoring: The anesthesiologist or dental anesthetist monitors the patient’s recovery from anesthesia, ensuring they are stable and have regained consciousness.
Pain management: They provide post-operative pain relief as needed.
Post-operative instructions: They provide instructions to the patient and their family regarding post-operative care, including medication, diet, and activity restrictions. General anesthetics are used in a hospital if a patient requires an invasive form of oral surgery such as a:
- Bone graft
- Tooth extraction
- Surgery to treat oral cancer
- Surgery to treat sleep apnea
- Surgery to correct the jaw
- Surgery for a cleft palate or cleft lip
The benefits associated with having anesthesia:
Having a dental anesthetic can allow a number of vital dental appointments to be merged into just one appointment where all the treatment can be carried out at once.
PROCEDURE FOR LOCAL ANAESTHESIA
Depending on whether the dentist uses a surface anaesthetic, the local anaesthetic consists of three or four steps:
- Application of the surface anaesthetic
- Puncturing the skin with the needle tip
- Positioning the needle tip
- Injecting the anaesthetic
POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF LOCAL ANAESTHESIA
- Reduced responsiveness
- Temporary restriction of movement
- Temporary “crooked lip”
- Pain at the injection site
- Self-injury to the anaesthetised area (e.g. by biting the lower lip or cheek)
- Prolonged but temporary numbness if a nerve has been hit (Lingual nerve or mandibular nerve)
- Allergic reactions
Is it possible to have a local anaesthetic at the dentist during pregnancy?
Pregnant women do not have to do without local anaesthesia if dental treatment is necessary. There is a lot of experience with the active ingredient articaine in pregnant women, which has shown no evidence of negative effects such as malformations. Major procedures are often only carried out after pregnancy. During breastfeeding, local anaesthetics are safe and do not require a break from breastfeeding.
