Many Westwood patients, including graduate students, pre-med and dental students, and research faculty who understand healthcare inside and out, still find themselves anxious about oral surgery. Understanding a procedure intellectually and being comfortable going through it are different experiences. If anxiety, a difficult past dental experience, or the complexity of your procedure has led you to defer necessary care, sedation may be the piece that changes the equation. Wilshire Oral Surgery and Implant Center, located at 12300 Wilshire Blvd #326 just east of Westwood, offers IV sedation and general anesthesia administered directly by our board-certified surgeons, not a separate anesthesiologist, keeping the experience streamlined and integrated.
Our practice serves Westwood patients who want qualified, evidence-based care in a setting designed for professionals and students with high expectations and busy schedules.
We offer a full range of sedation options, from local anesthesia for straightforward cases to IV sedation and general anesthesia for more complex procedures or patients with significant anxiety. Sedation level is selected based on your procedure, medical history, and preference, and is discussed in detail at your consultation so you know exactly what to expect.
For Westwood and UCLA community members who have done their research, the distinction between in-office sedation administered by an oral surgeon and hospital-based sedation managed by a separate anesthesiologist is a meaningful one. When your oral surgeon administers the sedation, there is no coordination between two separate providers who have not discussed your case together. The surgeon knows your imaging, your procedure plan, your medical history, and your anxiety level. The sedation is calibrated to that specific context.
Hospital or ambulatory surgery center sedation involves additional scheduling, facility fees, and provider coordination that adds complexity and cost without adding clinical benefit for the types of procedures we perform. Our surgeons, Dr. Jonathan R. Shadi and Dr. Saman Vahedi, hold California anesthesia permits and completed their training in hospital-based residency programs where in-office surgical sedation was a core clinical competency. You can review the evidence base for in-office oral surgery sedation through resources like the National Library of Medicine, which documents the clinical foundations of contemporary oral surgery practice.
For patients who have never experienced IV sedation, understanding what it actually involves can reduce pre-procedure anxiety. Most patients describe the onset of IV sedation as a rapid deepening relaxation within seconds of the medication being administered. Surgery proceeds, and most patients retain no memory of the procedure at all. Waking up feels like coming out of a light sleep. Some patients experience mild grogginess, nausea, or emotional lability in the first hour post-procedure, all of which resolve quickly.
Preparation is important. You will receive specific pre-anesthesia instructions covering fasting requirements and medication adjustments before your procedure. A responsible adult must drive you home and stay with you for the first few hours. You should not drive, operate machinery, or make significant decisions on the day of your sedation appointment. We also provide detailed post-operative care instructions and remain available for any questions that come up during recovery.
When sedation is medically necessary, such as for impacted wisdom teeth or complex surgical procedures, many PPO dental plans provide at least partial coverage. UCLA students on UC SHIP and employees with UC Benefits dental coverage should verify sedation benefits prior to their appointment, which we do on your behalf. For elective sedation in lower-complexity cases, out-of-pocket costs may apply. We provide a full breakdown before any procedure begins. Visit our payment options page and insurance and financing page for more information.
Dr. Jonathan R. Shadi completed his neuroscience degree at UCLA and his DDS from the USC School of Dentistry, where he earned Dean’s List recognition and the John Ingle Research Award in 2009. Dr. Saman Vahedi is a Diplomate of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons and completed his hospital-based residency at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Both surgeons hold the California permits required to administer IV sedation and general anesthesia in an office setting and bring hospital-trained expertise to every sedated procedure.
Absolutely. Clinical knowledge does not eliminate anxiety. Many healthcare students and professionals find that their familiarity with procedures actually heightens anticipatory anxiety because they can visualize what is happening in detail. IV sedation is appropriate based on clinical factors, not on your professional background. If your case and health status make you a good candidate, sedation is available regardless of your field.
Yes. Throughout your sedated procedure, our team monitors your vital signs including blood pressure, heart rate, and oxygen saturation continuously. The equipment and protocols we use in-office are aligned with the standards required by California anesthesia permits for office-based oral surgery sedation.
Yes. You will receive specific fasting instructions at your consultation, typically requiring you to avoid solid food for a minimum number of hours before surgery. Following these instructions exactly is essential for your safety. Contact us before your appointment if you have any questions about the requirements.
We recommend the full day of your procedure be reserved for rest. The sedative effects and residual medication can impair focus, memory consolidation, and judgment for the remainder of that day. Light reading or review work is generally possible by the following morning, though this depends on your procedure and the medications involved.
We review your full medical history before any sedation procedure. Certain conditions require special consideration, medication adjustments, or coordination with your primary care provider. We do this routinely and will let you know if your health profile requires additional preparation or if a modified sedation plan is more appropriate for your situation.
IV sedation is available for any procedure where it is clinically appropriate, including wisdom teeth removal, dental implant placement, bone grafting, and exposure of impacted teeth. Sedation level is determined by procedure complexity, patient health, and patient preference. Local anesthesia alone is used for some simpler cases where sedation adds little clinical value.
Westwood patients who want evidence-based, board-certified oral surgery care with in-office sedation administered by their surgeon, not outsourced to a separate provider, will find what they are looking for at Wilshire Oral Surgery and Implant Center. We are a short drive east on Wilshire Boulevard and committed to the kind of thorough, individualized care that the Westwood community expects.
Request your consultation online or reach us through our contact page. We serve patients from across the Westside, including West Los Angeles, Santa Monica, and Culver City. View all the communities we serve on the Westside.
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