Please browse through the following frequently asked questions.  If you have any other questions, please contact MaiDentalAnesthesia@gmail.com or call Dr. Mai at (619) 339-1188.

Q. What kind of equipment will there be?

A. Comprehensive emergency medications and emergency equipment; non-invasive blood pressure monitor; pulse oximetery to measure the oxygen saturation; Electrocardiogram to monitor the heart rate and rhythm; precordial stethoscope to assess breathing and heart sounds; capnograph to monitor end-tidal carbon dioxide levels and respiratory rate.

Q. Will Dr. Huynh stay with me the entire time?

A. She is connected to the patient via the precordial stethoscope and does not leave the room.

Q. Will I be in pain after the procedure?

A. No. Typically, Dr. Huynh will administer a pain reliever, called ketorolac, in the IV at the end of the procedure. This will help you to remain comfortable for the next 4-6 hours after the appointment, at which time you can take more pain relievers at home if needed.

Q. Will I be nauseous after the procedure?

A. Typically no. Dr. Mai Huynh uses a total intravenous anesthesia technique. Intravenous anesthetics, unlike inhalation anesthetics administered through a gas machine, have a very low chance of causing nausea and vomiting. In addition, if you have a personal or family history of nausea/vomiting, or are prone to motion sickness, please advise Dr. Huynh prior to the anesthesia so she can give you an additional anti-emetic during the anesthetic.

Q. What will the rest of my day be like?

A. Patient tend to recover rapidly from the anesthesia since Dr. Huynh tailors the IV medications to the dental appointment procedures and durations. Most are back to normal after a few hours. However, Dr. Huynh advises you to take the rest of the day off from work or other activities to allow yourself to fully recover from all the effects of the anesthetic.

Q. Parents: Should I send my kids to school in the morning before the appointment?

A. NO!  It is very important that the pre-anesthetic eating instructions are followed exactly as they are written. Since there is usually a low teacher to student ratio at most schools, children are not completely supervised at all times and may unknowingly eat/drink resulting in life-threatening complications under anesthesia.

Q. Will I or my child have awareness under anesthesia (without being able to communicate to the anesthesiologist/dentist)?

A. No. Awareness under anesthesia, without being able to move or communicate to the doctor, is usually a problem under intubated general anesthesia when a muscle relaxant is given to help obtain ideal intubating conditions. The muscle relaxant is what prevents the patient from being able to breath or move, so if they do become “light” during the anesthesia, they are not able to communicate that with their provider. Dr. Mai Huynh does not routinely give muscle relaxants to her patients under general anesthesia. In addition, because she was a dentist first and understands the dental procedures, she is able to tailor the anesthetic to the type of procedure and its stimulation level to ensure there are no episodes of unwanted “light” anesthesia.

Q. Can I stay in the room with my child during the anesthesia?

A. Parents are with their child during the IM shot, and until they go to sleep. Also, before the child awakens from anesthesia, the parents are allowed in the recovery area to be there when their child first starts to wake up. During the anesthesia and actual work of dentistry though, the parents  are asked to remain in the waiting room. This is for your child’s safety. Although anesthesia is usually very straightforward and uneventful, there is always the chance that an emergency could arise. In that event, it is important that the doctors are able to provide undivided attention to your child and the emergency at hand. Just as in flying when passengers must trust the pilot and are not allowed in the cockpit, so too must the parents trust the doctors entrusted with the care of their child during anesthesia.

Q. Will insurance cover my anesthesia?

A. Insurance coverage for anesthesia is dependent upon the specific policy type, annual maximums, and premiums paid by the employer/subscriber. Please check with your insurance representative for specifics. Dr Huynh gives every patient a claim form with the doctor portion, and medical and dental insurance codes filled out so that you can send to your insurance for reimbursement directly to you.

Q. What are the medical insurance anesthesia codes?

A. CPT code 00170-23 for General Anesthesia

Q. What are the dental insurance anesthesia codes?

A. ADA codes D9222 for the first 15 minutes anesthesia time; D9223 for each additional 15 minutes anesthesia time