Frequently Asked Questions

Fasting guidelines are always changing. We recommend sticking to the latest guidelines put out by the ASA:

• 8 hours fasting for heavy meal (i.e. steak and potatoes)
• 6 hours fasting for light meal (i.e. toast)
• 4 hours fasting for formula fed babies
• 2 hours for breast fed babies and clear liquid (i.e. water, apple juice)

While there are risks associated with every anesthetic administered anywhere we have done our best to mitigate those risks. All of our anesthesia providers carry emergency airway and rescue equipment/drugs and are BLS, ACLS, and PALS certified. If you have any specific questions or fears about the anesthesia please call us at (859) 619- 9811 and we will be happy to answer your questions.

We understand that complex procedures can be intimidating for a number of reasons. However, because we specialize in large cases requiring general anesthesia we have extensive experience in the pain relief required for these cases. The majority of patients wake up in little to no pain. It is also important to remember that everyone is different and everybody metabolizes drugs differently.

We provide both IV anesthesia and Deep/General Anesthesia. We have a base rate then bill every 15 minutes thereafter until the procedure is finished. The dental office will discuss with you the anesthesia plan and discuss the cost which will be included within your dental plan. All anesthesia is prorated after the first hour and all payments are due on the day of service.

We do not bill your insurance. Most dental procedures are out of pocket since it is considered cosmetic procedures. However, if it is billed to the insurance company by the dental Office then any icd-10 codes will be provided to help with billing to help the patient.

One of our CRNA's would be glad to go over your medical history and determine if you or a loved one is healthy enough for office-based anesthesia. Patient safety is our number one concern and we will not provide anesthesia to anyone who is not a good candidate.

Research suggests that there are number of drugs we commonly give that are teratogens (can cause birth defects) at any point during a pregnancy. If there is ANY chance you are pregnant we suggest taking a pregnancy test prior to coming to the office. If you are pregnant, congratulations! But, it is better to wait until after you deliver to provide anesthesia.

This is a great question and one that is frequently misunderstood. Anesthesia in general is on a continuum and people commonly pass through deeper and lighter levels of anesthesia during a single anesthetic. To keep things simple IV anesthesia ( Moderate or Deep Anesthesia) does not involve placement of breathing tube and is a lighter plane of anesthesia. But keeps a person very comfortable. General Anesthesia requires intubation(placement of a breathing tube) and is a deeper plane of anesthesia.