

ANESTHESIA
Anesthesia is a medical practice used to temporarily block sensation, typically for the purpose of performing surgery or medical procedures. It aims to alleviate pain, anxiety, and discomfort during a procedure.
Dr. Gallagher is one of the only anesthesiologist and oral & maxillofacial surgeons in Austin, Texas. Dr. Gallagher's background includes two years of specialized anesthesia training and extensive experience in various surgeries, intensive care, and emergency resuscitations.
Types of Anesthesia

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Local Anesthesia: The patient remains conscious while a local anesthetic like lidocaine is administered to the surgical area, numbing it and blocking pain. It is often combined with other anesthesia methods for maximum comfort and effectiveness during oral surgery.
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Duration: 30 minutes to a few hours.
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Procedures: Minor soft tissue procedures and simple tooth extractions.

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Nitrous Oxide Sedation (Laughing Gas): Nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, is administered with oxygen through a nasal mask, keeping the patient conscious but relaxed. It acts as both a sedative and analgesic, effectively managing pain during the procedure.
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Duration: The effects wear off quickly once the gas is no longer being administered.
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Procedures: Simple oral surgery procedures such as removal of wisdom teeth and placement of dental implants.

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Intravenous (IV) Sedation: also known as conscious sedation, is used in dental and minor surgeries to induce relaxation and drowsiness while keeping the patient awake and responsive to verbal commands.
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Duration: IV sedation lasts from a few to several hours.
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Procedures: IV sedation is used for oral surgeries, especially for anxious patients or when local anesthesia is ineffective.
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General Anesthesia: Commonly used for oral surgery procedures such as wisdom teeth removal. For extreme surgery, general anesthesia is used in an outpatient surgery center or hospital setting.
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Duration: Effects last through the procedure and wear off gradually after medication stops.
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Procedures: Can be used for in-office procedures such as wisdom teeth or used for extensive surgeries like face and jaw reconstruction or TMJ surgery.
What should I expect before, during, and after anesthesia?
Who Can Benefit from Anesthesia?
Fear / anxiety of dental procedures
Sensitive gag reflex
Previous traumatic dental experiences
Fear of needles or shots
General numbing agents don't work
Dental problems requiring prolonged treatment
TMJ discomfort or difficulty keeping mouth open for long
Restlessness / difficulty staying still
CHOOSE DR. GALLAGHER
Dr. Gallagher's commitment to anesthesia training reflects his dedication to providing optimal pain and anxiety control for oral surgical patients.

TMJ TOUR CHANNEL

As oral surgeons, we perform a lot of surgery in our office, and I wanted to be optimally prepared to offer a full range of pain control and anesthesia to my patients. We can provide safe, effective anesthesia for people of all ages, from small children to the elderly. It is normal for people to be apprehensive about surgery, so comprehensive anesthesia training and experience benefits everyone, particularly very nervous patients.”
- Dr. Dale M. Gallagher
