In-Office Anesthesia

In addition to nitrous oxide (laughing gas) to reduce anxiety during treatment, our office is excited to partner with Dr. Paul Wilson of Southern Comfort Dental Anesthesia to offer in-office general anesthesia for healthy patients without any significant medical history. Dr. Quyen still has privileges to see children for Full Mouth Dental Rehabilitation at Children’s of Alabama.

1. IS ANESTHESIA SAFE?
Many precautions are taken to provide patient safety. Modern day anesthetic medications, monitoring equipment and techniques make an anesthetic given by a properly trained anesthesia provider extremely safe. The anesthesiologist will be with your child the entire time – from the time they falls asleep until you are ready to go home. Your child will be thoroughly monitored during the procedure, and we carry all the emergency medications and equipment you would find in a hospital operating room.
2. HOW WILL MY CHILD BE MONITORED DURING MY SURGERY?
During the procedure, vital signs (blood pressure, heart rate, heart rhythm, amount of oxygen in your blood and breathing patterns and rates) will be continuously monitored and recorded. Equipment includes a blood pressure cuff, a pulse oximeter, an electrocardiogram, and end-tidal CO2 gas analysis. The anesthesiologist will be right beside your child throughout the procedure to ensure their safety and comfort.
3. WILL ANESTHESIA BE COVERED BY MY INSURANCE?

In-office sedation or general anesthesia for dentistry is rarely a covered benefit with most dental and/or medical insurance plans. Be sure to check with your specific insurance provider for policy details, including yearly maximums. When you contact them, they will ask for a procedure code. For dental insurance, the procedure code is D9222 and D9223. Please remember that your dental insurance will have a maximum for the year, so if your procedure hits that maximum, there will be no remaining benefits for the anesthesia fee. The medical insurance procedure code is 00170. Insurance will very rarely cover anesthesia fees at 100%.

We will be happy to supply you with a detailed receipt so that you can be reimbursed directly from your insurance company if anesthesia is a covered benefit on your policy.

Please visit Southern Comfort Dental Anesthesia’s website for more information on Dr. Wilson’s anesthesia fees.

4. WHEN WILL MY CHILD FEEL “NORMAL” AGAIN?
The effects of sedation and/or general anesthesia will usually wear off within a few hours of the procedure, but your child should be monitored closely for 24 hours. Dr. Wilson and his team will review individual instructions with you before your child is discharged.
5. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE SIDE EFFECTS OF THE DRUGS USED?
Anesthetic drugs have occasional after effects including nausea, dizziness, and sleepiness. Some patients may experience a sore throat and minor aches. Usually these effects will resolve within 24 hours after discharge. It is important to keep your child hydrated with plenty of fluids and to give them pain medication as directed.
6. WHAT IF MY CHILD HAS AN ALLERGY TO ONE OF THE DRUGS USED?
The anesthetic agents used by Dr. Wilson in the dental office are highly unlikely to generate any type of allergic response. In the rare event of an allergic reaction, he has all the same medications, equipment and expertise required to treat the reaction as is available in any hospital.
7. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SEDATION AND GENERAL ANESTHESIA?
Sedation and general anesthesia are a continuum.
Minimal (light) sedation: Relief from anxiety.
Moderate sedation: Relief from anxiety, some memory loss.
Deep sedation: Complete relief from anxiety, no memory of procedure.
General anesthesia: Completely asleep and unaware of the surgical procedure, no memory of procedure.
Children most often require general anesthesia.

IF YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT DR. WILSON DIRECTLY.

 

We are proud to serve the dental needs of children in Vestavia Hills, Mountain Brook, Irondale, Birmingham, Leeds, Moody and the surrounding communities.

1950 Stonegate Drive, Suite 100,
Vestavia Hills, AL 35242

Email: [email protected]
Fax: 1-855-438-0697 (toll-free)

205-403-5423

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