Anesthesia & Pain Relief for Oral Surgery
Anesthesia is an essential and safe part of surgical procedures.
At Carolinas Center for Oral & Facial Surgery, our surgeons and in-house anesthesia teams provide a full range of anesthesia, sedation, and pain management options in our comfortable surgical centers for painless and relaxing oral surgery experiences.
Elevated Anesthesia Care
Your comfort and safety are always our priority.
That’s why we have an advanced in-house anesthesia team, complete with board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeons, a board-certified anesthesiologist and director of anesthesia, and certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs), focused solely on oral and facial surgery patients like you.
This collaborative model allows us to treat a wider range of patients, including those with complex medical conditions, and perform more advanced procedures like jaw surgery and facial reconstruction safely and efficiently.
Our specialized team is also experienced in caring for patients with sensory sensitivities and special needs, children, patients with high anxiety, and those who may need just a little extra reassurance along the way.
So whether you need a single tooth extracted or complete reconstructive jaw surgery, you’ll receive a personalized experience and the highest standard of care.
Types of Anesthesia for Oral Surgery
Different types of anesthesia are recommended and necessary for different types of procedures. For most treatments, your oral surgeon will administer anesthesia during your procedure in our fully equipped in-office surgical suites.
For complex surgeries like TMJ or jaw surgery, our in-house anesthesiologist and CRNAs work alongside your surgeon to administer anesthesia and monitor sedation in our AAAHC-accredited operating rooms, with hospital-grade monitoring and advanced emergency protocols.
Local Anesthesia
Local anesthetic numbs only the area being operated on, right where it is administered. It takes effect within a few minutes and does not affect consciousness, so you remain awake during the procedure. Local anesthesia is commonly used for minor procedures on soft tissue and simple tooth extractions.
Nitrous Oxide
Also known as laughing gas, nitrous oxide is a mild sedative that you breathe in to alleviate feelings of anxiety and help you relax. It does not cause you to lose consciousness and is often used together with local anesthesia.
IV Sedation
Administered using an intravenous (IV) line in your arm, IV sedation helps you feel completely at ease and comfortable during oral surgery. You’ll remain in a drowsy, semi-conscious state, able to respond if needed, but you likely won’t remember much of the procedure. Since you can breathe on your own and the monitoring is less intensive, recovery is generally quicker and easier compared to general anesthesia.
General Anesthesia
General anesthesia provides complete unconsciousness, so you are fully asleep and pain-free during surgery. Our specialists administer anesthesia, support your airway with a breathing tube, and use advanced monitoring and equipment to ensure the highest level of safety during and after your procedure. Because this is a deeper level of anesthesia, recovery takes longer than IV sedation.
Hospital-Quality Sedation, No Hospital Required
Feeling nervous about oral surgery and anesthesia is completely normal.
At Carolinas Center for Oral & Facial Surgery, you have specialized providers and an MD-directed anesthesia team committed to making your experience safer, smoother, and more personalized from start to finish.
With our advanced, licensed team and fully equipped surgical suites and ORs, you’ll receive hospital-level anesthesia and sedation in a calming and familiar outpatient setting.
Post-Surgical Pain Management
Your surgeon will create a custom post-surgical pain management plan designed to keep you comfortable and safe while your body heals.
This plan may include a combination of over-the-counter medications, prescription pain relief when needed, ice therapy to reduce swelling, and antibiotics to help prevent infection. The goal is always the same: effective pain control with a smooth, comfortable recovery.
Opioid-Free Pain Management
Before your procedure, your provider may discuss Exparel®, which is a long-acting opioid-free anesthetic that helps ease post-surgical pain.
Administered during surgery, Exparel numbs the surgical area for up to three days, making the first few days of recovery easier and often eliminating the need for narcotic medications.
Many patients who receive Exparel manage their recovery using ibuprofen or Tylenol alone, avoiding the risks and side effects of prescription pain medications.
