Dr. Schow at Bonita Medical Center is highly qualified in the safe administration of anesthesia to ensure you are safe and comfortable throughout your treatment. We offer many types of anesthesia at our Santa Fe, NM, practice. You and your oral surgeon will determine the right type of anesthesia for you in advance of your procedure. Health history, personal preference, and the type of surgical procedure(s) involved will all factor into selecting the appropriate anesthesia option. Regardless of the kind of anesthesia that is chosen, you will be closely monitored by your oral surgeon and highly qualified surgical team for the safest experience possible.
Types of Anesthesia
We offer several types of anesthesia or sedation, including
- Local anesthesia. Local anesthesia is localized to the area in and around the surgical site. The patient is completely numb in the area where the oral surgeon performs the procedure and remains comfortable throughout the process. Local anesthesia is commonly used with other types of sedation, such as nitrous oxide.
- Nitrous oxide. Patients who are nervous about their procedure or wish to feel more at ease often opt for nitrous oxide. Also known as laughing gas, this type of sedative is inhaled through the mouth and nose. Patients remain in a conscious but relaxed state throughout the procedure. It is often used with local anesthesia.
- Intravenous (IV) sedation. IV sedation is a common anesthetic option for wisdom teeth and dental implant patients. As its name implies, IV sedation is administered directly into a vein. The medicine acts quickly, and the patient enters a sleep-like state but does not lose consciousness. However, one of the common side effects of IV sedation is amnesia — most patients do not remember the procedure afterward.
- Hospital or Surgery Center-Based General Anesthesia. More complex and extensive procedures usually require general anesthesia in a surgery center or hospital. Patients are completely unconscious under the effects of general anesthesia. This type of sedation is administered by an anesthesiologist.
Anesthesia Options in Santa Fe, NM
Providing safe and effective care for our patients is our highest priority. If you require any oral surgery procedure, Dr. Schow at Bonita Medical Center will design a customized treatment plan, complete with the best option for anesthesia, just for you. Please contact our practice to learn more.
Exparel® for Pain Relief After Surgery
To combat the opioid crisis and provide our patients with a safe, non-narcotic option for pain relief, Bonita Medical Center offers Exparel to help you manage pain after your procedure. This medication promotes a healthy recovery that is not dependent on opioids, and many patients benefit from a pain relief option that is applied directly to the surgical site, unlike opioids, which affect the entire body.
If Exparel will be used during your procedure, your oral surgeon will administer it once to your surgical site. Then, it slowly releases a local anesthetic (bupivacaine) that works as a numbing agent and provides you with pain relief that lasts up to 72 hours following your procedure.
You can expect to encounter these other great benefits when being treated with Exparel at Bonita Medical Center:
- It is not an opioid or a narcotic and is, therefore, not addictive.
- There is no risk of withdrawal.
- It is a one-dose medication, so you won’t need any follow-up doses.
- It is clinically proven to reduce the amount of pain during recovery, which means you save money by not needing to fill pain prescriptions right away.
With Exparel on board, you’re on the right track to recovery with a safe, non-opioid pain relief option that gives you the time and comfort to heal. Dr. Schow wishs for all of their patients to have a smooth and painless recovery, and by implementing medical advancements like Exparel, you can rest assured that you’re receiving the best possible care.