What is Sedation and Anesthesia?

Kelowna Oral & Facial Surgery is a General Anesthesia facility that offers all levels of sedation to ensure patient comfort and safety for all oral surgery procedures. The sedation spectrum includes minimal sedation, moderate sedation, deep sedation, and general anesthesia (GA).

General Anesthesia (GA) uses a combination of IV and inhaled (gas) medications that results in a complete loss of consciousness. During your surgery under general anesthesia, you will be completely asleep, feel no pain, and have no memory of the procedure.

At Kelowna Oral & Facial Surgery general anesthesia will always be provided by one of the three medical anesthesiologists on our team. Our anesthesiologists are on staff at Kelowna General Hospital and are certified specialists with the College of Physicians and Surgeons. The anesthesiologist will be responsible for ensuring your comfort and safety while our surgeons completes your dental surgery procedure.

Deep sedation is an IV drug-induced depression of consciousness during which you cannot be easily aroused. During the surgery you will be extremely relaxed, and only very rarely have any recollection of the surgery.

Moderate sedation is an IV (intravenous) drug-induced depression of consciousness during which you respond purposefully to verbal commands, either alone or accompanied by light touch. During the surgery you will be very relaxed but will remain responsive. You will still hear the surgery and have some sensation. Your recollection of the surgery may be patchy.

Minimal sedation is a minimally depressed level of consciousness during which you respond normally to touch and verbal command. It is most often produced by an orally administered drug that you take before a procedure. During the procedure you will be relaxed but will remain responsive and remember the procedure.

Minimal and moderate sedation can be administered by many general dentists, but deep sedation and general anesthesia may only be administered by a medical anesthesiologist or a certified dental specialist with extensive anesthesia training. At Kelowna Oral & Facial Surgery, general anesthesia is always administered by a medical anesthesiologist who is fully trained in all levels of monitoring and life support.

The administration of sedation in our clinic is regulated by the College of Dental Surgeons of BC. The appropriate level of sedation for each individual procedure will ensure that our patients are safe and comfortable. Our staff at Kelowna Oral & Facial Surgery are trained in Basic Life Support (BLS). All doctors and registered nurses are certified in Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS).