For Patients
Welcome to Signature Anesthesia. We are grateful for the opportunity to serve you and your loved ones.
Signature Anesthesia works with your dental provider to help you receive needed dental care. With today’s compact anesthesia equipment we are able to provide you with a safe, comfortable and caring experience in the comfort of your dental office. Our team brings all the necessary equipment to you, eliminating the need to travel to a hospital or surgery center to receive your dental care. Our goal is to increase access to care for dental patients, while providing a safe and comfortable way to a healthy smile for adult and pediatric patients.
The anesthesia will be provided by a Dentist Anesthesiologist. It is the anesthesia provider’s responsibility to keep you or your loved one safe and comfortable during your dental surgery. The anesthesia provider will by your side until you or your loved one are safe and stable in the recovery area.
The type of anesthesia provided for each patient is customized to meet your particular needs. Some of the factors considered are the type of surgery, expected length of surgery, medical history, age and level of cooperability.
Minimal Sedation:
A drug-induced state during which patients respond normally to verbal commands. Although cognitive function and physical coordination may be impaired, airway reflexes, and ventilatory and cardiovascular functions are unaffected.
Moderate Sedation:
A drug-induced depression of consciousness during which patients respond purposefully to verbal commands, either alone or accompanied by light tactile stimulation. No interventions are required to maintain a patent airway, and spontaneous ventilation is adequate. Cardiovascular function is usually maintained.
Deep Sedation:
A drug-induced depression of consciousness during which patients cannot be easily aroused but respond purposefully following repeated or painful stimulation. The ability to independently maintain ventilatory function may be impaired. Patients may require assistance in maintaining a patent airway, and spontaneous ventilation may be inadequate. Cardiovascular function is usually maintained.
General Anesthesia:
A drug-induced loss of consciousness during which patients are not arousable, even by painful stimulation. The ability to independently maintain ventilatory function is often impaired. Patients often require assistance in maintaining a patent airway, and positive pressure ventilation may be required because of depressed spontaneous ventilation or drug induced depression of neuromuscular function. Cardiovascular function may be impaired.
Minimal Sedation:
A drug-induced state during which patients respond normally to verbal commands. Although cognitive function and physical coordination may be impaired, airway reflexes, and ventilatory and cardiovascular functions are unaffected.
Moderate Sedation:
A drug-induced depression of consciousness during which patients respond purposefully to verbal commands, either alone or accompanied by light tactile stimulation. No interventions are required to maintain a patent airway, and spontaneous ventilation is adequate. Cardiovascular function is usually maintained.
Deep Sedation:
A drug-induced depression of consciousness during which patients cannot be easily aroused but respond purposefully following repeated or painful stimulation. The ability to independently maintain ventilatory function may be impaired. Patients may require assistance in maintaining a patent airway, and spontaneous ventilation may be inadequate. Cardiovascular function is usually maintained.
General Anesthesia:
A drug-induced loss of consciousness during which patients are not arousable, even by painful stimulation. The ability to independently maintain ventilatory function is often impaired. Patients often require assistance in maintaining a patent airway, and positive pressure ventilation may be required because of depressed spontaneous ventilation or drug induced depression of neuromuscular function. Cardiovascular function may be impaired.
Eating guidelines are in place to protect the health and safety of you and your loved ones. Under general anesthesia, food content in the stomach may pass up through the esophagus and be aspirated into the lungs. To avoid this rare, but serious complication it’s important that the following fasting guidelines are followed for your dental surgery. If these guidelines are not followed, anesthesia services may be postponed or cancelled. Eating and drinking instructions will be thoroughly reviewed prior to the procedure.
| Food | Example | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Clear Liquids | Water, apple juice, soda, popsicles, clear tea, black coffee | 2 hours |
| Human Milk | Human breast milk | 4 hours |
| Milk | Cow’s milk, infant formula | 6 hours |
| Food | Cereal, toast, orange juice | 6 hours |
| Meal | Eggs, meats, fried foods, proteins | 8 hours |
There are several ways that we can help you or your child fall asleep. For children, we can allow them to breathe into a mask, which means NO needle or shot is needed prior to falling asleep. Other methods of helping patients fall asleep include placing a small IV or administering an intramuscular injection.
Absolutely. We strive to make your child’s dental appointment a positive and stress-free experience. You are welcome to be with your child as they drift off to sleep. Once they are asleep, you will be escorted back to the reception area so we can focus all of our attention on taking care of your loved one. Your child will be continuously monitored throughout the procedure to ensure he/she is comfortable.
Sleepiness and grogginess is expected, and completely normal. During recovery, your blood pressure and pulse will be checked periodically. Most patients are able to go home 30 minutes after their procedure is completed.
The medications we use are very short acting. It typically takes 10-15 minutes to wake up, after which the patient will be moved to the recovery area. Once your loved one is waking up, you will be escorted back to be by their side.
Avoid driving, drinking alcohol, or making important decisions. Ensure that minors are under the supervision of a responsible adult for the remainder of the day. Many patients can resume normal activities by the next day.
General Anesthesia and IV sedation administered in the dental office is very safe. Short-acting medications are used, as are hospital quality monitors and equipment. Your anesthesia provider will be by your side for the entire visit.
Common problems from anesthesia include: Bruising at the IV site, scratchy throat from the breathing tube, and minor nose bleeds. Post-operative nausea is seen in about 10% of patients. If there is a bloody nose, treat by pinching the nose for 10 minutes.
Common problems from anesthesia include: Bruising at the IV site, scratchy throat from the breathing tube, and minor nose bleeds. Post-operative nausea is seen in about 10% of patients. If there is a bloody nose, treat by pinching the nose for 10 minutes.
Consult your doctor’s or dentist’s office if your child has a fever, flu-like symptoms, or another major illness.
Signature Anesthesia is not contracted with any private dental insurance. Private dental insurance generally does NOT include anesthesia for dental procedures as an included benefit. If it is an included benefit, there are often very specific circumstances under which anesthesia is covered. Many times, the dental procedure alone will exhaust the available dental benefits leaving an out of pocket expense for the anesthesia services.
Our fees for anesthesia services are significantly less than if the procedure was performed in a hospital or surgery center setting. Prior to your appointment you will be given a Fee Estimate and Financial Policy from your dental office. The Fee Estimate and Financial policy form will give you an estimate of the anesthesia expenses. The fee for anesthesia is based on the length of your dental surgery. Payment for anesthesia services is due on the day of service and should be made payable to “Signature Anesthesia”. We accept cash, money orders, personal checks, and all major credit cards. Patient financing is also available through Care Credit.
We will happily submit a claim to your dental insurance on your behalf. Any reimbursement that is given will be directed back to the subscriber.
If you have any questions about fees or payments, please feel free to contact us.
Our fees for anesthesia services are significantly less than if the procedure was performed in a hospital or surgery center setting. Prior to your appointment you will be given a Fee Estimate and Financial Policy from your dental office. The Fee Estimate and Financial policy form will give you an estimate of the anesthesia expenses. The fee for anesthesia is based on the length of your dental surgery. Payment for anesthesia services is due on the day of service and should be made payable to “Signature Anesthesia”. We accept cash, money orders, personal checks, and all major credit cards. Patient financing is also available through Care Credit.
We will happily submit a claim to your dental insurance on your behalf. Any reimbursement that is given will be directed back to the subscriber.
If you have any questions about fees or payments, please feel free to contact us.