Non-Surgical Periodontal Procedures

Anesthesia Options

Modern anesthesia techniques now make it possible to perform intricate surgery in the office with no discomfort. Several different types of anesthetics are used by Dr. Gouldin to alleviate pain and control anxiety during a multitude of non-surgical and surgical procedures. 

For example, local anesthesia is utilized to assure a pain free environment, and thus facilitate our periodontal or implant intervention. Nitrous oxide, sometimes called "laughing gas," or oral sedation with medications such as triazolam can also be used as adjuncts to enhance the effectiveness of local anesthetic techniques. 

When deeper relaxation and sedative techniques are required, intravenous (IV) sedation can be used to provide a "twilight sleep" for patient comfort. Dr. Gouldin completed the post-doctoral course in Intravenous Conscious Sedation at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio as a resident, and he has performed over 1000 procedures with the aid of conscious sedation. The doctor is also certified in Advanced Cardiac Life Support.

In summary, different procedures require varying anesthetic techniques – Dr. Gouldin will discuss the options available to you so that you can decide which modality is most appropriate for your needs.