Introduction
In complicated cases or if all four wisdom teeth are to be removed at once, general anesthesia is recommended for wisdom tooth surgery. The general anesthesia for the wisdom tooth surgery can either take place in the hospital or in the dental practice. The patient is not conscious and feels no pain.
What is the general anesthesia for wisdom tooth surgery?
General anesthesia for wisdom tooth surgery requires special equipment and the presence of an anesthesiologist. After a detailed anamnesis, clarification and time for consideration, general anesthesia begins on the day of the operation with the induction of anesthesia. The patient must appear fasting for this.
There are three phases of general anesthesia: To monitor the patient, an ECG is connected, an intravenous access is placed and a finger clip for oxygen saturation is attached. Before the patient loses consciousness, he or she inhales pure oxygen through a respiratory mask, while the drugs that induce general anesthesia are administered through the access. Afterwards, the patient is ventilated through a tube through the nose during the second phase of general anesthesia.
The patient sleeps and pain stimuli as well as reflexes and voluntary muscle activity are eliminated. The dentist can now remove the wisdom teeth. As soon as the dental procedure is finished, the anaesthetist can initiate the recovery phase. After waking up, the patient must remain there for observation.
- Sleep phase,
- Preservation of anaesthesia and
- Wake-up phase.
Ventilation under general anesthesia for wisdom tooth surgery
Normally the patient is intubated under general anesthesia. A breathing tube, which is led through the mouth to the trachea, provides the oxygen supply. However, this form of ventilation is not possible for dental procedures under general anesthesia. Therefore, for wisdom tooth surgery, the patient is ventilated through the nose via a tube. The oxygen saturation is constantly monitored via a finger clip (pulse oximeter) on the finger.
