Mobile anesthesia is a growing trend in United States. With an ever increasing health care cost, more provider will chose to have their patients seen in an office setting because it is more cost effective and convenient.
Advances in anesthetic drugs and equipment enable a trained dentist anesthesiologist to transform any dental office into an operating room, complete with hospital grade monitors, anesthesia machines and emergency equipment. Our anesthetics include airway protection with a flexible LMA (laryngeal mask airway) to protect the airway from foreign substances such as water, blood, tooth particles and dental materials while ensuring oxygen delivery to the lungs. You can take comfort in knowing our highly- trained anesthesiologist will continuously monitor you throughout the case.
Dr. Seifikar and staff will monitor blood pressure, EKG, Temperature, Pulse oximetry (oxygen levels) and gas analysis (CO2, O2, N2O and anesthetic gas levels). Dental Anesthesia Specialists meets and exceeds all state requirements concerning in-office anesthesia.
Are there any side effects?
Post-operative shivering, dry mouth and drowsiness are the most common minor side effects observed. They will run their course fairly quickly (5-15mins). Children may wake up irritable but return to normal after being consoled and can resume their normal activity within several hours. If you have any specific questions or concerns, feel free to contact us directly and Dr. Seifikar will address them directly.
Do you accept insurance?
We DO NOT accept insurance as a form of payment since most insurance companies work hard to deny out of facility anesthesia. We collect the anesthesia fee in full a few days prior to your surgery and at the conclusion of the appointment provide you with the forms so you may submit them to the insurance company directly.
We encourage you to contact your insurance carriers (Medical & Dental) before your procedure and ask questions. It is our belief that if you are persistent, you can obtain some reimbursement for anesthesia services. It is important to note than in most instances, after deductibles, copays, and miscellaneous charges, you will pay less out of pocket with mobile in office anesthesia.
What forms of payment do you accept?
We accept all major credit cards, Care Credit, and cash. We don’t accept personal checks at this time.
What type of medication do we use?
The advantage of having medications delivered via I.V. Sedation/General Anesthesia by a trained Dentist Anesthesiologist is that the medications are individualized to the specific needs of the patient. The specific medications used are selected for their safety, immediate action, accuracy and predictability. The medications will be administered slowly and cautiously without any set dosing to allow the anesthesia to be specific to the needs of each individual patient.
The most common medications used in our dental surgeries are propofol, midazolam and dexamethasone. These drugs are quickly metabolized by the body leading to shorter recovery times and less post-operative drowsiness.
Does the American Academy of Pediatrics Dentistry (AAPD) endorse office anthesia?
Yes. In their most recent Guidelines of Anesthesia Personnel in the Administration of Office-based deep sedation/general anesthesia to the Pediatric Dental Patient in 2012, the AAPD disclosed the following statement.
“Deep sedation/general anesthesia in the dental office can provide benefits for the patient and the dental team. Access to care may be improved. The treatment may be scheduled more easily and efficiently. Facility charges and administrative procedures may be less than those associated with a surgical center. Complex or lengthy treatment can be provided comfortably while minimizing patient memory of the dental procedure. Movement by the patient is decreased, and the quality of care may be improved. The dentist can use his/her customary in-office delivery system with access to trained auxiliary personnel, supplemental equipment, instrumentation, or supplies should the need arise. The use of anesthesia personnel to administer sedation/general anesthesia in the pediatric dental population is an accepted treatment modality”
Is office-based or ambulatory anesthesia endorsed by the ADA?
The ADA made this statement is 2005: “Ambulatory anesthesia is an integral part of the management of anxiety and pain control for dental patients. It is in the best interest of the public and the profession that access to this cost-effective service be widely available.”
