Anesthesia Options at Crescent Oral Surgery

Ease Your Worries: Discover our anesthesia options offered in all of our GTA locations!

At Crescent Oral Surgery, we understand that some patients may experience anxiety or discomfort during oral surgical procedures. That’s why we offer a range of sedation options to ensure a stress-free and painless experience during your treatment.

Our skilled surgeons can guide you in selecting the ideal anesthesia option for your needs. 

We tailor our approach to your pace, offer breaks when needed, and extend calming reassurance whenever necessary.

Anesthesia Options

Local Anesthesia

Local anesthesia is applied directly to the targeted surgical area, providing localized numbness. It does not affect consciousness, allowing patients to remain awake during the procedure. This type of anesthesia is frequently used for minor procedures.

Nitrous Oxide (Laughing Gas)

Nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, is administered through inhalation via your nose or mouth. This mild sedative creates a calming sensation while keeping you awake and able to communicate throughout the procedure.

IV Sedation

We administer intravenous (IV) sedatives directly into your bloodstream for deeper sedation without having to use general anesthesia. It is commonly used for moderate to extensive surgical procedures. Throughout the procedure, your vital signs are closely monitored with specialized equipment, ensuring a safe and comfortable experience. Amnesia of the surgery is a common side effect.

General Anesthesia

Under general anesthesia, you will experience a controlled state of unconsciousness. You’ll be “asleep” during your surgical procedure. This type of anesthesia is commonly used for patients who experience high anxiety, have very low pain tolerance, are medically compromised, or have other special requirements. This option is ideal for complex or invasive treatments.

IV Sedation & Nitrous Oxide Instructions

If your doctor has discussed IV Sedation or Nitrous Oxide as your sedation options, then please consult the following instructions before your surgery. 

If you will be undergoing intravenous sedation or general anesthesia, please ensure to adhere to the following:

  • Please arrive 30 minutes prior to your scheduled appointment.
  • You cannot have anything to eat or drink 8 hours prior to your surgery. This is enforced to avoid complications during and/or after surgery. If you do not comply, your surgery will need to be canceled and there may be an additional charge to you.
  • Prior to surgery, you may brush your teeth and rinse and spit with water (don’t swallow).
  • A responsible adult must accompany you, stay in the waiting room during your appointment and take you home, preferably by car. For your safety, public transportation is not recommended.  Please be advised:  if a responsible person is not with you when you arrive for your surgery, your surgery will need to be canceled and there may be an additional charge to you.
  • Following surgery, you must not drive a vehicle, operate hazardous machinery or consume alcohol for a minimum of 18 hours, or longer if drowsiness or dizziness persists.
  • Please wear loose fitting clothing and comfortable flat shoes for the procedure. If your clothing has sleeves, please ensure that your sleeves can be rolled up past your elbows.
  • Contact lenses, jewelry and dentures must be removed before your surgery. Please do not wear lipstick, excessive makeup or nail polish on the day of your surgery.
  • If you have an illness such as a cold, sore throat, stomach or upset bowel, please notify the office in advance of your surgery.
  • If your surgeon has asked you to begin medication prior to your surgery please ensure to do so. Unless instructed otherwise, you should also continue to take all your regular medications at the appropriate time, with a sip of water but not with food.
  • Before Your Appointment:

    • Eating and Drinking: No food or drink, including water, for 2 hours prior.
    • Clothing: Wear loose clothing; avoid turtlenecks and fitted jewelry. No contact lenses; wear glasses instead.
    • Nail and Makeup: Remove nail polish, acrylic nails, and avoid heavy makeup or lipstick.
    • Health Considerations: Contact us if you have cold symptoms. All minors must have a guardian present. Avoid antidepressants unless approved by your surgeon.

    During Nitrous Oxide Sedation:

    • Breathe only through your nose and avoid talking to ensure effective sedation.
    • You may experience dizziness, nausea, or drowsiness.

    After the Procedure:

    • Effects wear off within 3-5 minutes. Recovery will be assessed before discharge.
    • A responsible adult must accompany you if residual symptoms are present.

The COS Sedation Experience

Say goodbye to dental anxiety and fear. With our sedation options, you can undergo your oral surgery with confidence and peace of mind.

Sedation ensures that you won’t experience pain or discomfort during your treatment. Our team will take care of you every step of the way.

Rest assured, you’ll receive the highest level of care to maximize your comfort throughout the entirety of your treatment.

When you are relaxed, our oral surgeons can work efficiently, resulting in quicker treatment times.

Schedule Your Consultation Today

Our highly skilled oral surgeons are dedicated to providing personalized and compassionate care, ensuring optimal results for every patient. Discover how our advanced treatments can enhance your oral health and overall well-being.

Sripriya Jayaraman, DDS MPH

Sripriya “Priya” Jayaraman has a DDS degree from the University of California in San Francisco, along with a MPH from Wichita State University. She also finished a two year advanced education program in Orofacial Pain and Dental Sleep Medicine from the University of Kentucky in Lexington, KY. She is a diplomate of American Board of Orofacial Pain and American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine. Her principle areas of interest include TMJ disorders, obstructive sleep apnea, primary headaches, neuropathic pain and restorative dentistry. She is well versed in the fabrication of TMJ orthotics, trigger point injections including Botox, fabrication of oral appliance (mandibular advancement device) for obstructive sleep apnea and nerve blocks. In her spare time she enjoys drawing and painting.

Dr. Oscar Dalmao, D.D.S, M.Sc., F.R.C.D(c)

Toronto born and raised, Dr. Oscar Dalmao received his Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and then went on to obtain his dental degree from the University of Toronto. After a one-year internship at Sunnybrook hospital, he continued his education and completed his specialized training in Oral and Maxillofacial surgery.

Dr. Dalmao currently provides the full scope of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. He has special interest in the areas of dental implants and bone grafting, graftless solutions in implant dentistry, dentoalveolar surgery, orthognathic surgery and reconstructive surgery.

When Dr. Dalmao isn’t at the office he is usually enjoying time with his family and friends or trying to find his next destination, as he is an avid traveller.

Dr. Iona Leong B.D.S., M.Sc., F.R.C.D.(c)

Dr. Leong is an oral pathologist and assistant professor at the Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto. In addition to undergraduate and graduate teaching, she maintains a private practice limited to clinical oral pathology and oral medicine in the Department of Dentistry, Mount Sinai Hospital, where she is head of the Division of Oral Pathology and Oral Medicine.

She is also an associate staff pathologist in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Mount Sinai Hospital and the Department of Pathobiology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Toronto.

Dr. Ernie Lam, Oral Radiologist, D.M.D, M.Sc., F.R.C.D.

Dr. Ernie Lam holds a Doctor of Dental Medicine and Master of Science from University of British Columbia as well as clinical specialty training in Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology and a Ph.D. degree in Radiation Biology from the University of Iowa. He is also a tenured full Professor, Graduate Program Director and Head of the Discipline of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology at the University of Toronto Faculty of Dentistry.

Dr. Lam somehow manages to balance work and teaching with trips to the Canadian Opera Company, cooking and creating cocktails at home, travel and pool time – he’s been active in masters swimming since completing university, and currently swims with the Downtown Swim Club in Toronto.

Dr. Riva Black, Oral Pathologist D.D.S., M.Sc., F.R.C.D. (c)

Dr. Riva Black graduated from the University of Toronto, Faculty of Dentistry in 1998. She completed a general practice residency in Rochester, New York and then entered a combined graduate specialty program where she ultimately received a Masters and Fellowship in Oral Pathology and Oral Medicine.

In addition to Dr. Black’s clinical practice, she is a proud member of the department of Oral Medicine at the Faculty of Dentistry. She also teaches undergraduate and graduate students in the departments of Oral Pathology and Histology. Dr. Black is also involved with the Royal College of Dentists of Canada, and lectures to various general practice and specialty groups in the area of Oral Pathology.

When not working, Dr. Black can be found spending time with her husband Shane and 4 children.

Dr. Marco F. Caminiti BSc., DDS., MEd., Dip OMFS, FRCD(C), FACD

Dr. Caminiti is originally from Montreal and went to McGill University for Undergraduate studies in Anatomy and then completed his dental studies in 1991. He was in the Canadian Armed Forces from 1987-1994 with service with the United Nations in 1993. He came to Toronto for his residency in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. After residency he was a Surgical Education Fellow in the division of Surgery at the University of Toronto. He continued as the Walter Lorenz Fellow in Orthognathic Surgery in the Division of OMFS at the Toronto General Hospital.

Marco currently is:

• Assistant Professor, Head and Program Director of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the University of Toronto;

• Head of OMFS at Humber River Hospital

• Surgical Staff at the Cleft Lip Palate Program at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital.

Dr. Caminiti’s practice and research is focused on surgical orthodontic virtual planning for the management of patients with facial deformities and the development and assessment of surgical skills.

He associates his private practice with Crescent Oral Surgery and is proud and honored to be part of a wonderful group of people and a superb team that focusses on great patient care.

Dr. Kris Lee, B.Sc., D.D.S., M.D., F.R.C.D.

For Dr. Kristopher Lee, a Bachelor of Science in 1999 from the University of Toronto led to a Dental Degree from the same institution in 2003. After that, he completed a year of Periodontics training at the University of Pittsburgh and a Medical Degree and Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Certificate at the University of Michigan.

Dr. Lee’s training at the University of Michigan focused on facial trauma, head and neck oncology/reconstruction, cleft lip and palate surgery, orthognatic surgery, dentoalveolar surgery and dental implant surgical treatment with associated alveolar reconstruction.

When he’s not working on his patients, he’s working on his tennis game and tries to play several times a week. As a father of 2 young children (and the early mornings that entails), he’s also developed a passion for great coffee.

Dr. Amir Mousavifar DMD, FRCDc

Dr. Amir Mousavifar has attended both medical and dental faculties at McGill University, where he obtained his DMD degree in 2004. After that, he completed his General Practice Residency at the Carolinas Medical Centre and an oral surgery fellowship in New York at the Mount Sinai Medical Centre in Manhattan, the Elmhurst Hospital Centre in Queens and the VA Medical Centre in the Bronx.

Dr. Mousavifar then completed his Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery training with one year of general surgery at McGill University Health Center, with extensive training in anaesthesia, reconstruction, dentofacial deformity, corrective jaw surgery, facial trauma and complex implant surgical procedures.

He is an active Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon staff at the state-of-the-art Humber River Hospital in Toronto. He also works as part-time faculty at the University of Toronto and is a fellow in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery of the Royal College of Dentists in Canada.

A Crescent team member since 2010, Dr. Mousavifar practices across the full range of surgeries at all three locations. He has special interest in applying digital and cone beam CT scan technology for guided complex dental implant and corrective jaw surgeries.

Dr. Mousavifar is a member of Dentsply Sirona’s coveted implant PEERS network-a platform for the exchange of clinical experience, research and science between dental implant manufacturers and key clinical leaders in implantology across the globe.

Dr. Mousavifar has an Advanced Cardiac Life Support certificate, teaches CPR and management of medical emergencies to numerous dental offices and speaks multiple languages. He has been involved in many charities including Operation Smile and UNICEF. He has worked in underprivileged communities in Montreal, Northern Quebec and the Northwest Territories. He has also judged a beauty pageant. The best smile won.

When not adding to his list of achievements, Dr. Mousavifar spends time with his family and enjoys swimming, biking, basketball, soccer and skiing.

Dr. Peter Gioulos B.Sc., D.D.S., M.Sc., F.R.C.D.

The son of Greek immigrants and a Torontonian from birth, Dr. Peter Gioulos received his Bachelor of Science from the University of Western Ontario. He received his Doctor of Dental Surgery training from the University of Toronto. An externship in Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery at Baylor University in Texas soon followed, as did a one-year hospital General Dental Residency at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto. He completed his specialty training in Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery at the University of Toronto.

Peter now practices the full scope of his specialty including wisdom teeth & dental extractions, reconstruction & grafting, dental implant placement, pathology, and orthognathic surgery. He has had extensive experience and training in full arch dental implant placement including “All-on-4” treatment as well as placement of specialized “zygomatic” and “pterygoid” implants.

He is an active member of the Canadian Dental Association, the Ontario Dental Association, ITI, and the Asclepius Dental Society. He has hospital appointments at the Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital and Scarborough Health Network Centenary Hospital

Peter spends as much time outside of work as he can with his big fat Greek family and his lovely wife and three kids – you’ll find them skiing in Ontario Cottage Country or, as often as they can manage it, skiing in the Rockies.

Dr. Brian Rittenberg B.A., D.D.S., M.Sc., F.R.C.D.

A Toronto native, Dr. Brian Rittenberg graduated from the University of Western Ontario in 1992 with a Bachelor Degree in Psychology. He then completed his Dental Degree, specialized training in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and a Masters in Bone Biology at the University of Toronto and Toronto General Hospital in 2003.

Since starting his practice, Dr. Rittenberg enjoys teaching dental interns and residents at Mount Sinai Hospital, where he has also cultivated an interest in the surgical management of Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Disorders. He is also an attending surgeon in the Regional Treatment Centre for Temporomandibular Joint Reconstruction there.

In addition to having a special interest in the surgical management of TMJ disorders, Brian enjoys practicing all facets of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, including the removal of wisdom teeth, the placement of dental implants, the evaluation and surgical treatment of pathology (diseases of the mouth) and corrective jaw surgery.

Dr. Rittenberg has also served as a line officer and ultimately president of the Ontario Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, is involved with the Royal College of Dentists of Canada (the national licensing body for all dental specialists) and is a fellow of the ITI – International Team for Implantology.

Outside of teaching and work, Dr. Rittenberg is a runner, hockey player, traveller, enjoyer of good wine and food and, above all, thankful for the time he gets to spend with his wife Lindsay and his daughters Joey and Ruby, up on beautiful Lake of Bays.

Dr. Eddie Reinish B.Sc., D.D.S., F.R.C.D.

Dr. Eddie Reinish (who prefers his patients call him “Eddie”) has been an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon since 1997. He completed his training at the University of Michigan. Prior to his surgical training, Eddie completed his undergraduate degree in Physiology and Doctorate in Dental Surgery at McGill University.

Dr. Reinish is currently on staff at Rouge Valley Hospital, Humber River Regional Hospital and Mount Sinai Hospital. He is a fellow of the Royal College of Dentists of Canada and The American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. He is also an examiner for the Royal College of Dentists of Canada in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.

Dr. Reinish founded Crescent Oral Surgery in 2002 along with his partner, Dr. Marco Caminiti. An empathetic and compassionate surgeon, Dr. Reinish understands the typical anxieties that accompany a visit to the oral surgeon’s office, and his caring, kind manner consistently puts patients at ease. Dr. Reinish’s practice focuses on dental implants and bone grafting, corrective jaw surgery and removal of wisdom teeth and other minor oral surgical procedures.

Outside the clinic, Dr. Reinish can be found enjoying time with his wife and 3 children or, as an avid cyclist, on one of his several bicycles both here at home and abroad (yes, he travels with them). He is also a downhill skier and loves good wine and food.