The Scope of Anesthesia Services

Oral & Maxillofacial surgeons are uniquely qualified to provide excellent local pain control for their patients.

However, situations arise that require the availability of sedation & anesthesia under supervision to manage and complete patient care. These conditions may include:

• Medically Compromised Patients
• Handicapped Patients
• Severe Anxiety
• Difficulty in obtaining local anesthesia
• Long surgical & dental procedures
• Strict sterile procedures
• The Anesthesia Experience

Local anesthesia is the removal of painful sensations, excluding pressure and vibration. For example, the removal of an impacted wisdom tooth involves many of these sensations. Supplementing local anesthesia with nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, provides a relaxing sensation much like having a cocktail. The addition of intravenous sedation removes painful sensation, including lack of recall and unawareness of the procedure, while allowing the patient to breathe normally. This differs from a general anesthetic, where breathing and reflexes are controlled by the anesthetist. A true general anesthetic is induced thru an IV and maintained via an anesthetic gas delivered by a breathing tube. This type of anesthesia is extremely safe by properly maintaining the breathing passages, and can only be administered by an anesthesiologist in a hospital or outpatient surgical facility.

Anesthesia Services

Administration of intravenous sedation and general anesthesia is performed by Dr. Sultan and his clinical staff, who are uniquely sensitive to the needs of his patients. Dr. Sultan, like all board certified oral and maxillofacial surgeons, is fully proficient in the delivery of all types of anesthesia. In addition to being Board Certified in Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Dr. Sultan is a Fellow of the National Board of Dental Anesthesiology. We also provide anesthesia services by a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA), supervised by Dr. Sultan, as well as a Board Certified MD Anesthesiologist in certain situations.

Our Outpatient Facility

Our office is fully accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) as an office based surgery facility. This means that our facility is fully equipped, staffed, and trained to provide the same types of anesthesia as in the hospital, including inhalational general anesthesia. Every aspect of your surgical care can be performed in our state of the art ambulatory surgical facility, including general dental procedures. Your care will be guided by our team of surgical coordinators and technicians, who will assist Dr. Sultan and his credentialed physicians and dentists in performing their tasks in a comfortable, efficient manner.

Does this differ from “Sedation Dentistry”?

For those fearful patients requiring dental care under anesthesia, our surgical facility is fully equipped to provide a totally safe environment to fulfill your needs. Qualified dentists may work in coordination with our anesthesia providers to complete both simple and complex treatment in one session utilizing a variety of anesthetic techniques, including general anesthesia. All our anesthesia staff, including Dr. Sultan, are board certified in anesthesiology. Our facility maintains the highest standards of equipment and supplies, exactly as all hospital operating rooms. Patients undergoing treatment in this environment can be assured of the highest level of care. In the event of an emergency, all staff are trained in advanced life saving techniques. This differs from “sedation dentistry”, where anesthesia is given in the form of a pill. Depending on the office providing this type of care, there are minimal requirements for patient monitoring, as well as doctor and staff training in anesthesia and emergencies.

The Screening Process

Interested patients, after contacting our office, complete a detailed history describing their medical condition and experience with anesthesia. The health history and treatment plan is reviewed by Dr. Sultan and the anesthetist for clearance to perform anesthesia. Depending upon the patient’s medical condition and the type of treatment planned, clearance from your physician and/or preoperative testing may be necessary. Once this has been done, treatment and anesthesia can be scheduled.

Can my Dentist Work in your Facility?

Every dentist, physician and assistant must be credentialed in our facility to provide care under anesthesia. These strict JCAHO guidelines assure full training and competency. If you would like your dentist to become privileged, please have them contact our office at info@browardoms.com for a credentialing packet.