Is the anesthesia expensive and does insurance pay for some of the costs?
Price is not the most important consideration when a patient is deciding whether to have general
anesthesia or sedation. What matters most is whether the surgery can be done well under local anesthesia
alone. The dental surgeon will answer any questions about the entire anesthesia plan. Since the services
are performed in the office, there is a considerable cost savings compared to the hospital. Reimbursement
for dental sedation varies with dependency on the insurance benefits of a patients plan and the
qualifications of the practitioner administering the anesthesia. A statement of costs can be submitted to the
applicable insurance, dental or medical, to aid in obtaining the estimated benefits allowed under the
insurance plan. Generally a deposit for the anesthesia fees has to be paid at the time of scheduling the
date of surgery. An estimate of benefits will then be assessed. The fees for the anesthesia can be paid with
most major credit cards or the patient may use a personal check. Fee information is available upon
request, but is not discussed on-line.