General Anesthesia

Anesthesia and Oral Surgery

Many patients are concerned about whether procedures are going to hurt. It is possible to perform oral and maxillofacial surgery comfortably with little or no pain. The ability to provide patients with safe, effective outpatient anesthesia has distinguished the specialty of oral and maxillofacial surgery since its earliest days as the surgical specialty of the dental profession, During his training, Dr. Maranon was trained in all aspects of anesthesia administration. As a result of this extensive training, Dr. Maranon is well-prepared to identify, diagnose and assess the source of pain and anxiety of his patients and to appropriately administer local anesthesia, all forms of sedation and general anesthesia. 

Safety and Experience

While in practice, Dr. Maranon has performed thousands of general anesthetic procedures on adults and children of all ages. Sedation and anesthesia are performed with the safety of every patient as a priority. Further, Dr. Maranon and the surgical staff are trained in managing complications and emergencies that may arise during the administration of anesthesia.  Dr. Maranon serves as a general anesthesia examiner for the State of California and is the chair of the California Society of Oral and Maxilloficial Surgeons Anesthesia Committee.

Instructions for Anesthesia

From your first telephone call to the office, the office staff strives to make patients feel comfortable about their procedure.

• Before your procedure, Dr. Maranon and the staff will review your medical history, medications, allergies and previous surgical procedures. It is very important that patients provide us with as much detail as possible and to be frank with us about their concerns. He then discusses any anxieties patients may have about their procedure and anesthesia.
• After reviewing the patient’s medical history, reviewing their concerns, and discussing their procedure, Dr. Maranon will review their anesthetic options. The patient will then decide the type of anesthesia that is best for them.
• The anesthesia technique is discussed and patients are instructed on how to prepare before surgery and after their procedure. Patients are informed about how they are likely to feel during and after the operation. Patients are also given the time to discuss any concerns they may have about any aspect of the operation.

Providing patients with that information is the best way to reduce anxiety and make the procedure uneventful. The more patients know, the less they have to be anxious about.

Anesthesia Options

During surgery, local anesthesia, nitrous oxide-oxygen, intravenous sedation and general anesthesia are available for use to control your pain and anxiety.

• Using local anesthesia alone, the patient remains totally conscious throughout the procedure. A local anesthetic is administered in the area where the surgery is to be performed. Patients will feel pressure sensations, but pain is controlled. Local anesthesia can be used for minor oral surgery procedures such as soft tissue procedures and uncomplicated tooth extractions. Local anesthetic is also used in conjunction with the other methods of anesthesia in all oral surgery procedures.
• Sedation and general anesthesia medications are administered through an intravenous (IV) line. Supplemental oxygen is delivered throughout the procedure and the patient’s vital signs are closely monitored. These techniques are used for all types of procedures. Patients may choose sedation or general anesthetic techniques, depending on their level of anxiety. Frequently these techniques are necessary to control gag reflexes and swallowing and for complex surgical procedures. General anesthesia is occasionally used in those situations when local anesthesia has difficulty anesthetizing the surgical site. This condition often occurs in the presence of infection.

Anesthesia for oral surgery has been proven over and over to be very safe. Most patients describe their feelings during surgery as comfortable and surprisingly pleasant.

Facilities and Technology for Anesthesia

The office surgery rooms are equipped just like an operating room. Occasionally, the decision is made to perform procedures utilizing a physician anesthesiologist. Other times, Dr. Maranon may recommend performing the surgical procedures in a hospital or surgery center. This is indicated for patients undergoing extensive facial reconstruction and jaw surgeries, other complex surgical procedures, or because of a patient’s medical history or condition.