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James A. Snyder, DDS, MS
Sedation/Anesthesia Dentistry Alexandria
Your Experience at the Center for Dental Anesthesiology
Dr. James Snyder is a firm believer in educating his patients about their dental treatments and options for sedation/anesthesia. We believe that dental work should be completed without pain or anxiety and that people with a wide range of dental needs can receive comprehensive care with the proper sedation/anesthesia.
The Initial Visit
During the initial visit to the Center for Dental Anesthesiology you will receive a full examination and assessment but no dental work other than cleaning your teeth will be done unless you have an acute problem requiring immediate attention.This visit is intended to be a fact-finding and getting-acquainted appointment. After matching your needs and goals with our recommendations, a treatment plan will be prepared that will list all recommended treatments and costs.
Treatment with General AnesthesiaYour Anesthetic Plan
What to Expect during Your Appointment
Financing Your Sedation Dentistry Treatment
Treatment with General Anesthesia
People with a wide range of dental needs can receive comprehensive care while anesthetized. We believe that dentistry can and should be completed without pain or anxiety. Our office is equipped with everything necessary to ensure that a pleasant and safe anesthetic is administered.
Any treatment with general anesthesia requires considerable preparation at our sedation dentistry practice. A comprehensive dental evaluation will be done prior to treatment, so that if possible, all treatment can be completed in one visit. This is always easier, safer and less expensive than multiple visits for treatment. After matching your needs and goals with our recommendations, a treatment plan will be prepared that will list all recommended treatment and costs.
Your Anesthetic Plan
The type of anesthetic selected for you will be based on the information obtained during the consultation visit to our sedation dentistry practice and on the type of dental procedures planned. Anesthesia has many levels (or depths). Although no dental procedure requires a level as deep as most surgical levels, it is vital that we select a level that is adequate for you. A detailed medical history will be obtained, and in some cases consultation with your physician and/or other specialists will be needed. Please be sure the doctor is aware of any medical conditions you may have, including allergies or intolerances to drugs. The anesthetic plan can usually be outlined at the end of the consultation appointment at our sedation dentistry office. However, changing conditions at the time of treatment could dictate the use of an alternate plan.
When you visit our dental office every effort will be made to inform you of all treatment options and their risks and benefits. With our help, you will select the best course of action to meet your goals. You will be given a hospital-style informed consent form. This form will contain the risks and alternatives to treatment. You will have to read and sign this form before treatment can begin. You will also be given a list of instructions about how to prepare yourself prior to the sedation/anesthesia visit. The most vital preparations include: not eating for a specified period of time before the appointment, arranging for transportation, and ensuring that no activities are schedules for 24 hours after the appointment. You should read this sheet and keep it where you can refer to it at any time prior to the appointment.
What to Expect During Your Sedation/Anesthesia Appointment
You should wear comfortable, casual clothes with short sleeves to your sedation/anesthesia appointment at office. Women should wear two piece outfits. Shortly after you arrive, a urine specimen will be requested. This and other tests are used to ensure a safe anesthetic. Once seated in the operatory chair, monitors will be applied to measure heart rate, blood pressure and oxygen content of your blood. These monitors will be in constant use throughout the course of the anesthetic. An intravenous line will then be placed in your arm to allow the administration of fluids and medications.
If general anesthesia is scheduled, it is administered by IV injection or inhalation. Since there is no one ideal general anesthetic, combinations of agents are used together. The gases, including oxygen are administered via a breathing tube inserted in the mouth or nose after you are asleep.
Following the procedure, you will be sleepy and some periods of time will be difficult to remember. Although you will be expected to leave the office as awake as when you came, you will prefer to sleep for the following several hours. You must NOT attempt to drive an automobile, operate any dangerous device, or make important decisions for at least 12 to 24 hours after leaving the office.
Financing Your Sedation Dentistry Treatment
Financial planning is also part of your sedation dentistry treatment, and you will need to discuss the payment options with someone from the financial department. All financial arrangements must be completed prior to treatment. There is considerable demand for general anesthesia time and although every effort is made to meet your appointment requests, scheduling by priority must be done. Your scheduled appointment at the sedation dentistry office is valuable not only to you, but to others who may be waiting for the earliest possible day to reduce their risk of dental crisis. You will be required to make an advance payment to be used as a deposit toward your appointment. This amount will be applied to your fees when you are treated, but will be forfeited if you fail to appear or attempt to reschedule your sedation dentistry appointment with less than 48 hours notice.
We hope this discussion has answered many of your general questions. Of course, when you visit the Center for Dental Anesthesiology we will discuss topics covered here and any others that are pertinent to you personally.We are sincerely looking forward to meeting your needs.
Contact Our Dentistry Practice
Please contact our office with any questions or to schedule an appointment. The Center for Dental Anesthesiology serves patients in Alexandria, Washington, D.C., Fairfax County, Virginia, and surrounding communities.