At Northwest Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, many of the surgical procedures prescribed require the use of IV anesthesia to sedate and relax, as well as relieve pain for our patients. The board-certified oral surgeons at Northwest Oral & Maxillofacial are uniquely qualified to administer anesthesia because of their extensive education, training and clinical experience.
Our surgeons have completed a four-year undergraduate degree, a four-year dental degree and an additional four- or six-year oral and maxillofacial surgical residency. It is during the residency that oral surgeons are trained in a hospital setting, alongside anesthesiology residents, to evaluate patients pre-operatively, administer anesthesia, monitor vitals, recognize complications associated with anesthesia, and to respond accordingly. In addition, the NWOMS surgeons are BLS (Basic Life Support), PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support) and ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) certified on an annual basis. Our surgeons, Diplomates of the American Board of Oral Surgeons, maintain their board certification through ongoing continuing education, passing the American Board of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Recertification Examination every eight to ten years, and successfully completing an Office Anesthesia Evaluation every five years.
An Office Anesthesia Evaluation (OAE) is a program designed by the American Association of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons to assure the public that the surgeon, the staff and the facility are equipped for the successful use of anesthesia. The OAE includes evaluation and inspection of the facility, emergency equipment and emergency medicines. It requires successful demonstration of emergency management procedures by the surgeon and the staff, and subsequent critique and discussion of the demonstration. Lastly, OAE examiners may observe surgery and anesthesia during the rigorous certification process.
The surgical staff at Northwest Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery is trained to assist the surgeons in the safe and predictable administration of anesthesia. Each assistant is BLS (Basic Life Support) certified, engages in ongoing continuing education and has successfully completed DAANCE, the Dental Anesthesia Assistants National Certification Examination. Two surgical assistants are present in each surgery, one to assist the surgeon and one dedicated to the observation and monitoring of the patient’s vital signs.
Dr. Penelope Duke, MD, a board-certified anesthesiologist, serves as our Medical Director of Anesthesia Services for Northwest Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery. She is an integral part of our ongoing commitment to delivering safe, state-of-the-art anesthesia. Dr. Duke also administers and monitors anesthesia to our patients who require additional care because of underlying health conditions, age or other risk factors. To our knowledge, we are the only private practice with this extra measure in place to ensure that we are constantly examining our anesthesia practices including emergency protocols, staff training, and facility evaluations.
Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons are the surgical specialists within the dental profession. Each day their focus is on the safe administration of IV anesthesia and successful surgical procedures. When deciding how to proceed with a surgical treatment plan, the surgeons at Northwest Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery encourage patients to be an advocate in their care. Patients are encouraged to ask questions about their surgeon’s credentials and the safety of the office. Ultimately, the goal at NWOMS is to provide compassionate care in an environment specifically designed for the safest surgical experience.
