Anesthetic Options for Wisdom Tooth Extraction

By Dr. Anup Muduli

Introduction

Dr. Anup Muduli has led Rampao Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in Oakland, New Jersey, since 2008. Board-certified in dental general anesthesia as well as oral and maxillofacial surgery, Dr. Anup Muduli offers intravenous (IV) general anesthesia as well as alternative forms of sedation for wisdom teeth extractions.

Depending on the difficulty of the extraction, an oral surgeon may choose to remove wisdom teeth under either local or general anesthesia.

Anesthesia Options

Surgeons typically reserve local anesthesia for less intensive procedures, though patients may elect this method based on personal preference. When removing wisdom teeth with local anesthesia, a surgeon injects the anesthetic into the gums so that the patient will not feel pain. Patients may be aware of the movement of the instruments and teeth and may feel some pressure as well.

For more involved extractions, a surgeon may choose to use general anesthesia.

Conclusion

The patient may receive this type of sedation either intravenously or via an inhaled gas, both of which render the patient unconscious so that they neither feel nor remember the procedure. An alternative to this method is sedation anesthesia, which inhibits the patient's consciousness so that he or she is awake but less or minimally aware of surroundings.