Office-Based Anesthesia in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery-The American Model and Training

Anxiety and pain control has been an inherent part of the oral and maxillofacial surgeon’s (OMS’s) armamentarium. In the United States, achieving competency in anesthesia is an integral part of oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMS) training curriculum. Further, OMS’s maintain the highest of standards in their practice of anesthesia outside the operating theaters. OMS-anesthesia-team model emphasizes patient safety. This requires rigorous training and meticulous standards of practice, not only by the surgeons but by the entire supporting team of office personnel. The American Association of Oral Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS) endorses several critical steps in promoting the safety of this model in OMS offices. Periodic review of parameters of care, mandated training for office team and a peer review for office anesthesia evaluation of fellow OMSs are some of the critical components. AAOMS has a simulation based training to train teams in the provision of safe anesthesia in a low risk environment. Emphasis on appropriate patient selection, impeccable advanced anesthesia monitoring, and periodic strong didactic and skills based training supports the OMS-anesthesia-team in being a valid, safe practice model of anxiety and pain control in an outpatient setting.