Anesthesia for periodontal surgery

This article provides an informational overview of clinical anesthesia for periodontal procedures. Patient health status, physical evaluation, preoperative preparation issues, and anesthetic approaches are discussed. The unique technical challenges offered by periodontal procedures requires both the anesthetist and surgeon to fully consider their surgical goals and patient's needs. Selecting and providing the optimum anesthetic approach is at once both an art and science. In the final analysis, successful patient care is a function of thoughtful planning and operator skill.