Novocaine is a local anesthetic used to numb your mouth so you feel no pain when your doctor is working in your mouth. With major dental surgery novocaine is usually used in combination with another form of anesthesia.

Nitrous oxide is administered through a mask that is placed over your nose. Also known as laughing gas, this form of sedation wears off quickly allowing you to drive home.

This form of sedation is where your dentist gives you a prescription medication (a pill) and instructions on how to take it prior to your surgery date. This is mainly used for people having extractions and getting dentures. Oral sedation is effective for many people. You will have to have a someone drive you home after surgery.

IV moderate sedation is a type of sedation that involves giving a sedative like Versed (midazolam) and/or Ativan (lorazepam) through a vein to create a semi-conscious state. This makes a person deeply relaxed, but not completely unconscious. You usually have no memory of the procedure. You will have to have someone drive you have after surgery.

For dental surgeries that are extensive and take more than a few hours to complete, general anesthesia may be required. General anesthesia is where medications are given to put you in a deep sleep-like state so you are unaware and do not feel any pain while the procedure is carried out.