Welcome to Epione Dental Anesthesiology

Epione Dental Anesthesiology is a team of professionals devoted to making the patient feel comfortable before, during, and after dental procedures.

Anesthetics and sedatives are helpful in mitigating discomfort and keeping patients from experiencing anxiety at the dentist’s office.

In combination with other types of topical anesthetic and pain relievers, conscious sedation and general anesthesia are options for those, who otherwise cannot get treated in a conventional manner.

Epione Dental Anesthesiology

Dr. Sabo and her staff understand the needs of patients who require personalized approach to dental treatment or have individual requirements about a specific procedure.

Is anesthesiology right for me?

There are many patients who can benefit from dental anesthesia. If you experience anxiety over the thought of dental treatment or require extensive dental work that could last hours, anesthesia can help you receive the treatment you need. We treat many types of patients, including:

See “Our Patients” page for a complete list of patient conditions that may require anesthesia. We invite all patients and their families to ask questions about anesthesia in a dental setting. Epione welcomes patients of all ages to explore the option of comforting dental experience since we are committed to finding the best method for every patient no matter what circumstances are. We will review your medical history together with proposed dental treatment plan and help you determine if you could benefit from dental anesthesia.

Our Patients

About Us

Epione Dental Anesthesiology was proudly named after Epione, who was a Greek goddess of soothing pain. Epione means “soothing” in Greek. In mythology, her daughters are Panacea, the goddess of medicine, and Hygieia, the goddess of health.

At Epione Dental Anesthesiology, we hope to provide everyone with a soothing experience, especially those who are anxious about dental treatment. We believe that everyone deserves access to necessary treatment and that our services can help those who are otherwise unable to receive dental care.

Meet Dr. Jana Sabo

Dr. Jana Sabo is a graduate of the University of Alberta Dental School. Focusing on different anesthesia techniques used during dental treatment, she decided to pursue Postgraduate Hospital-Based Training in Dental Anesthesiology at St. Barnabas Hospital, NY.

The program is accredited by both the American Dental Board of Anesthesiology and National Dental Board of Anesthesiology.

Dr. Sabo is highly trained in the provision of all levels of anesthesia in dentistry, from light sedation to general anesthesia. She has the expertise needed to provide anesthesia to uncooperative pediatric patients, special needs patients, anxious adult patients, chronically ill and elderly patients. Dr. Sabo holds certificates in Basic Life Support, Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Pediatric Advanced Life Support and Advanced Trauma Life Support.

Dr. Sabo combined experience in general dentistry and anesthesia gives her a profound understanding of both fields. Her dedication to the profession makes her a compassionate clinician as she provides outstanding services to her patients.

Dr. Sabo is always available to answer any questions her patients may have regarding the treatment and looks forward to working with them and their families!

Our Technology

Pulse Oximeter

The pulse oximeter helps measure oxygen levels in the blood by placing a sensor on the fingertip or other extremity.

This piece of equipment offers a non-invasive way to measure levels of oxygen in the body and ensure patient safety during the procedure.

EKG

Epione uses a 5-lead electrocardiograph to measure the heartbeat of patients and to determine any abnormalities throughout the procedure. The 5-lead EKG can be easily attached to the patient skin in order to help determined the regularity of the heartbeat and to provide the clinician with useful information in a management of the patient under anesthesia.

Blood Pressure Monitor

Blood pressure is evaluated continuously, from the preoperative assessment until complete recovery of the patient.

It is an additive tool which assists the anesthesiologist in the management of the level of anesthesia needed to maintain proper circulation and safety of the patient.

Precordial Stethoscope

This stethoscope helps quickly monitor changes in a patient’s breathing tone and helps maintain a healthy patent airway.

Assuring proper respiration throughout the whole procedure is the key element in current anesthesia practice.

BIS

Bispectral Index System (BIS) monitors the levels of consciousness when under extended sedation. It is a sophisticated non-invasive monitoring system which decreases overall anesthetic requirements due to ability to precisely titrate amount of medication needed to the particular level of unconsciousness. Brain electrical activity is displayed and recorded as a complex pattern of waves. This provides information about the degree of sedation and ensures an adequate amount of medication at all points in the treatment.

CO2 Monitoring

More visual than auditory, the CO2 monitoring system is used to quantify the amount of expired gas released at the end of expiration and during rebreathing.

This type of monitoring helps us indirectly assess gas metabolism and efficacy of the patient gas exchange.

McGRATH MAC Video Laryngoscope

The McGRATH® MAC raises the global standard of care. Combining video and direct visualization the McGRATH MAC supports routine to more difficult intubations and reduces the use of multiple devices.

The McGRATH MAC is designed to improve Grade of view, invests in existing skills and avoids complicating more simple intubations.

Our Services

The safety record of anesthesia services provided in a dental office has dramatically improved in the past decade due to increased specialized training.

The team at Epione is highly trained in the provision of all levels of anesthesia in dentistry, from light sedation to general anesthesia.

There are plenty of patients that cannot easily get numb, are too young to cooperate, suffer from tremor related illnesses, require extensive treatment needs, have an unmanageable gag reflex, or are simply too anxious to receive the necessary dental treatment. Dr. Sabo and her staff understand these circumstances and will carefully choose the right sedation service and method of administration for each patient.

Routes of Administration

Sedation is sometimes necessary in some patients, particularly those with disabilities. Sedation may be necessary for individuals with extreme phobia concerning dental treatment; those with involuntary movements – such as tics or other neuromotor symptoms; and patients whose cognitive disability is such that they cannot comprehend the need for dental care, nor understand the intent of the dental provider, despite attempts to explain procedures and gain compliance. Sometimes children are able to tolerate minor procedures fairly well; while more involved procedures may require sedation. Types of sedation range from light, or conscious, sedation, to general anesthesia.

Oral

Some oral sedatives commonly used in dentistry are midazolam, chloral hydrate, hydroxyzine, and diazepam. These agents typically induce conscious sedation. Oral sedatives are easy to administer. They may be used alone or in combination to enhance their effect. The use of oral agents typically allows the patient to remain awake – and thus able to assist with positioning, answer questions, etc.

Intranasal

Administration within the nasal or periorbital sinuses. Intranasal drug delivery is a non-invasive, first line method which results in therapeutic drug levels and effective treatment of pain and anxiety without the need to give a shot or a pill.

Intramucosal

Administration by entering a mucous membrane. These drugs are water soluble, or have high water solubility, and they can be absorbed through mucous membranes.

Intramuscular

Intramuscular (IM) sedative administration may be used occasionally within the dental operatory setting. IM sedation is typically used for procedures of short duration. IM may be used with clients who don’t want to swallow oral medications or are unable to do so. The IM route of administration usually offers more effective absorption, and is faster-acting than medications given orally.

Intravenous

The advantages of IV sedation include its rapid onset of action, effectiveness, and the dentist’s ability to carefully control the level of sedation by adjusting the rate or dose of medication administration continually. Should an adverse reaction occur, emergency medications may be administered through the IV access. IV sedation is especially useful for the completion of lengthy dental procedures. Sedation administered in the dental office is much more cost effective than that performed in a hospital setting.

Inhalation

A combination of oxygen and nitrous oxide (“laughing gas”) is the most commonly used agent for sedation in dentistry. Nitrous oxide is considered safe and can be effective in relieving anxiety. Nitrous oxide is very short-acting; patients typically recover 3-5 minutes after pure oxygen inhalation. Patients are able to follow instructions and cooperate.

Our Dental Anesthesia Patients

Dental Anesthesiology can help treat a wide variety of patients who have difficulty receiving dental care. Below is a list of some of the conditions that can benefit from Epione Dental Anesthesiology services:

  • Information about Anesthesia
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  • Pre-Operative Anesthesia Evaluation
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  • Consent for Anesthesia
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  • Anesthesia Instructions
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  • Financial Agreement for Anesthesia Services
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Forms

Frequently Asked Questions

A:

The majority of dental practitioners encounter at least one patient a week who is anxious or fearful about dental care. Dental fear is a multidimensional, complex phenomenon and was ranked as fifth among commonly feared situations. Fear for dentistry persists despite continuing improvements in dental therapy and pain control modalities.

Severe dental anxiety is a major barrier to seeking professional dental care. Approximately half of the patients who are fearful of dentistry avoid dental care. These patients have significantly more missing teeth and fewer restored teeth compared to non-anxious patients. Using anesthesia to treat anxious dental patients ultimately leads to improvements in the patients’ oral health, overall quality of life, and well-being.

A:

There are plenty of patients who are not responsive to numbing treatment, are too young to cooperate, suffer from tremor related illnesses, require extensive treatment needs, have an unmanageable gag reflex, or are just too difficult to manage due to their underlying anxiety. A trained dental anesthesiologist can facilitate treatment for these types of patients. The ultimate beneficiaries will be highly satisfied patients who are able to get the dental care they need.

A:

The safety record of anesthesia services provided in a dental office has dramatically improved in a past decade due to increased training requirements of the anesthesia provider. A Dental Anesthesiologist has two additional years of general anesthesia training and is specifically trained to provide anesthesia for patients undergoing dental treatment. The risks associated with anesthesia are not any more than with any other surgery and are minimized by thorough preoperative patient evaluation and appropriate intraoperative monitoring.

A:

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recognizes that there are patients for whom routine dental care is not possible using behavioral guidance techniques. Your pediatric dentist seeks to provide oral health care to children of all ages in a manner that simultaneously promotes an excellent quality of care and encourages a positive attitude toward future dental treatment. Minimal or moderate sedation has allowed many children who are less compliant to receive the needed treatment.

A:

The provision of anesthesia services in a dental office is associated with overall improved access to care. Complex and lengthy treatment can be provided comfortably in a child’s already established dental home while minimizing their memory of the procedure. The treatment can also be scheduled more easily and efficiently. Moreover, unnecessary administrative procedures associated with expensive fees are eliminated. The improved quality of care for our youngest patients is of utmost importance, since they are the true beneficiaries of the outstanding dental care.

A:

There are some children and special-needs patients with extensive treatment needs, acute situational anxiety, uncooperative age-appropriate behavior, immature cognitive functioning, disabilities, or medical conditions which require deep sedation or general anesthesia to receive dental treatment in a safe and humane fashion. Your pediatric dentist can offer this treatment modality by having a dental anesthesiologist come to the office to assure the comfort and safety of your child throughout the entire procedure. Epione is committed to caring for individuals that require focused care, finding the right sedation technique and length of procedure for each individual. These circumstances often require medical consultation prior to administering anesthesia.

A:

Dental anesthesiologists have the unique advantage over other anesthesia providers of being specifically trained to provide anesthesia for children undergoing dental procedures. Dental Anesthesiologists specialize in the provision of exceptional care to pediatric patients while assuring their safety during the procedure as well as in the post- operative time period. The long-term reward is absolute parent satisfaction.

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Epione Dental Anesthesiology