What is the difference between general anesthesia and sedation?

In the entire scope of anesthesia care, there actually is not a clear demarcation between general anesthesia and sedation. In general, general anesthesia is a deeper level of unconsciousness than sedation. General anesthesia also involves controlling the patient’s airway and breathing, which is one area of expertise emphasized in anesthesiology training.
Some forms of sedation will eliminate any conscious recall. This is typically referred to as deep sedation. Lighter forms of sedation, commonly referred to as ‘conscious sedation’, may or may not leave the patient with recall (awareness) of the procedure. Regardless of the level of awareness, discomfort is always well managed by the anesthesiologist. The nature of the procedure may dictate the depth of anesthesia needed, and sometimes the patient may desire a deeper or lighter level of sedation based on anxiety and other factors.
Our systematic approach to anesthesia care coupled with extensive training and experience allows us to safely perform general anesthesia or sedation in an outpatient setting.

Is anesthesia safe for patients?

An anesthesiologist performing sedation or general anesthesia is very safe. There are many factors in estimating the level of risk for any particular patient, but as a general idea performing anesthesia on a healthy patient is over 1000 times less dangerous than driving a car on an American road. So generally, you are at much greater risk driving to your appointment than you are during the procedure.

That being said, it is never possible to eliminate all risk for any part of our lives. These techniques and methods are well established in medicine over many years and have been proven to be safe.

What does Board Certified mean?

The American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA) is the national organization that certifies and monitors anesthesiologists. After graduation from medical school, the physician completes 4 additional years of training in anesthesiology. This is known as residency. After graduation from residency the anesthesiologist is eligible to take the written examination given by the ABA. Once the written exam is successfully passed the anesthesiologist is then eligible to take the oral examination given by the ABA. After passing the oral examination and meeting all the standards set by the ABA the anesthesiologist is then certified by the ABA to be a competent provider of anesthesia care. This process takes many years and assures patients that the physician caring for them is qualified and competent.

There is an ongoing process after becoming board certified to assure patients that the anesthesiologist is actively participating in lifelong learning to keep abreast of emerging topics within the field of anesthesiology and also broader patient care topics. Renewal of certification is required every 10 years.

What do I do if I have a question or problem before, during or after my procedure?

Our staff is available 24/7 to assist with any problems or questions that may arise surrounding your care. If any patient encounters a serious concern before or after their procedure, we advise calling 911 immediately. During your procedure, the anesthesiologist is uniquely qualified to assess and manage any medical concerns and will initiate a transfer to an appropriate facility if necessary. This is an extraordinarily rare need in outpatient anesthesia.

How will I pay for my anesthesia care?

We coordinate with most dental insurance companies to bill for anesthesia care if benefits are available. We are out of network for all dental and medical insurance companies. We do not bill medical insurance. However, we are happy to help with any forms you may need to submit for reimbursement to your medical insurance after your invoice has been paid in full.

When we schedule your procedure we will be coordinating with your dentist or surgeon to estimate the duration of the procedure. The advance payment will be for the first hour of the procedure and will be applied to the final cost. The remainder of the fee will be paid on our website at the end of your procedure. A receipt will be sent via regular mail or email, whichever you prefer.

Learn more about anesthesia pricing on our pricing page.

Are there any hidden fees?

No. Our fees are strictly based on the duration of care and include all necessary medications, disposable equipment and sterilization of multiple-use equipment.