What is office-based anesthesia? What are the benefits?

While the depth and quality of anesthesia are identical to those provided in a hospital, office-based anesthesia offers several unique advantages for both patients and caregivers:

Firstly, treatment takes place in the familiar and comfortable setting of your dental office. Secondly, overall costs are significantly reduced — in fact, more than half of hospital anesthesia expenses typically come from high facility fees that are avoided with office-based anesthesia. In addition, procedures are often completed more efficiently, allowing for shorter anesthesia times and quicker recovery. Patients are able to return home shortly after their procedure.

Is office-based anesthesia safe?

Yes. When anesthesia is delivered in a properly permitted, accredited dental office by a qualified anesthesia team using the same monitors, medications, and protocols as a hospital, it is as safe as anesthesia in a hospital operating room. Multiple reviews and large datasets show comparable safety for accredited office settings and ambulatory surgery centers/hospitals when appropriate standards and patient selection are followed.

What makes it just as safe as the hospital?

• Same standards & monitoring. We use hospital-grade monitoring (continuous pulse oximetry, capnography, ECG, blood pressure, ventilation assessment) and adhere to national guidelines for office-based anesthesia.

• Qualified team & emergency readiness. Trained anesthesia professionals, team-based drills, and emergency equipment mirror hospital practices.

Is anesthesia safe for children?

For most children, anesthesia is very safe—especially when delivered by a pediatric-trained anesthesia team with hospital-grade monitoring. Large human studies show that short exposures to general anesthesia in infancy/early childhood is not linked to worse thinking, language, or behavior outcomes. This includes the PANDA sibling study, the randomized GAS trial, and the population-based MASK study.

What we do to keep your child safe

• Review your child’s medical history and tailor an individualized plan.

• Use the same monitoring and safety standards as hospitals.

• Coordinate care to minimize the number and duration of anesthetics (e.g., combining needed procedures when appropriate).

• Use proven, kid-friendly techniques that support smooth wake-ups and quick recovery. Guidance from pediatric dental and medical societies aligns with these safety practices.

What are the risks of anesthesia?

Every medical procedure carries some level of risk, and anesthesia is no exception. However, when administered by a qualified dental anesthesiologist, anesthesia is extremely safe. Before your procedure, we take time to thoroughly review your medical history, medications, and any health concerns to create a personalized plan focused on your safety and comfort.

Most patients experience only mild and temporary side effects such as drowsiness, nausea, or a sore throat. Serious complications are exceptionally rare, and our team is highly trained to prevent, recognize, and manage them immediately should they occur.

We use the same monitoring equipment and safety standards found in hospitals, ensuring your care meets the highest level of safety from start to finish. Our goal is to make your experience as safe, smooth, and stress-free as possible.

Like any medical procedure, it is important to weight risks and benefits. Risks of not proceeding with dental treatment can lead to serious problems, such as pain, infection, and difficulty eating, which in children, can contribute to growth and developmental delays.

Can you see patients with special needs?

Our anesthesiologists are experienced in caring for patients who require specialized attention due to medical, developmental, or behavioral conditions. We are equipped to treat individuals with physical or cognitive disabilities, complex medical backgrounds, or those who have experienced challenges during previous dental or medical procedures.