• As your anesthesiologist, my top priority is your safety and comfort throughout your dental or oral surgery.

    🛡️ Safety

    • Your airway will be secured and your vital signs continuously monitored.

    • Any changes or concerns during your procedure will be addressed immediately with the appropriate interventions.

    💊 Comfort

    • You will receive medications to manage pain, prevent nausea, and reduce inflammation.

    • Your anesthetic care will be tailored specifically to what is best for you.

    😴 Options for going to sleep

    You will have the choice of:

    1. Inhalational induction – gently fall asleep using a mask (1-2 breaths of a smelly gas)

    2. Intravenous induction – medications given through an IV for a smooth, quick onset (tiny poke for IV placement)

    🦷 During the procedure:

    • Your airway will remain secured.

    • If you requested an inhalational induction you may still get an IV depending on the situation.

    • Vital signs will be monitored continuously no matter what.

    • Once the procedure is complete, you will be gently awakened and monitored as you recover.

    🏠 Postoperative Instructions

    • Arrange transport home — do not drive, operate machinery, or make important decisions for the rest of the day.

    • Feeling sleepy, fatigued, or mildly groggy is normal and usually improves within 24 hours, though some individuals may notice these effects a bit longer.

    • Follow all postoperative instructions given by myself and the dental/oral surgery team.

    • Please always feel free to contact me with any postoperative concerns or feedback. Regular business hours: Monday - Friday, 9AM-5PM PST.

  • Dr. Hine will call you before your procedure day to confirm your medical history and discuss the anesthetic plan.

    • Preoperative instructions:

      • If you have a worsening sore throat/cough/fever, or any acute illness, you should postpone your procedure.

      • Please do not eat anything for at least 8 hours before the surgery. non-human milk/formula 6 hours, breast milk 4 hours, clears 2 hours.

      • Withholding information from your anesthesiologist can potentially compromise the quality of care given, so please communicate everything you can regarding your medical history.

  • Anesthesia services are separate from your dental treatment charges. Payments or deposits made for dental procedures do not apply to anesthesia fees.

    Most dental insurance plans do not cover services provided by a physician anesthesiologist in an office setting, and medical insurance coverage is also uncommon. Insurance policies can be confusing — coverage is usually intended for anesthesia delivered by a physician anesthesiologist in a hospital or surgical center. Even with coverage, co-pays and deductibles often result in a patient balance that is higher than the anesthesia fees themselves.

    Depending on the complexity of the case, dental offices may provide sedation administered by the dentist or oral surgeon while performing the procedure. In these cases you may not have to pay a separate anesthesia fee. This is different from anesthesia delivered by a physician anesthesiologist, which provides the highest level of patient comfort and safety and allows your dentist or oral surgeon to focus entirely on operating.

    On rare occasions, insurance companies may approve anesthesia coverage after an appeal by you and your healthcare team. Please note that Dr. Hine does not bill insurance, and patients or guardians are responsible for anesthesia fees on the day of the procedure.

    Payments can be made on the day of your procedure by mobile payments (Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay), credit card (Visa, MasterCard, or American Express), check, or cash. If you plan to submit an insurance claim yourself, a receipt (digital only) and the necessary insurance codes can be provided.

  • Pending