MEET SLEEPY TIME DOC!

I am Dr. Sophia Tan and I would like to introduce myself and provide important information on what in-office anesthesia is all about.   While growing up as a child with lots of cavities, my earliest memories of dentistry still haunts me today.  Ever since then, I’ve always wanted to make a difference in providing safe and comfortable experience to all dental patients.

I started my dental career as a Dental Hygienist after graduating from Oregon Health Sciences University in 1994.  I found out that I enjoyed dentistry, so I decided to go back to school in 1997.  I graduated from Loma Linda University School of Dentistry in 2001.  As a dentist in Washington, I was introduced to dentistry under general anesthesia.  The experience of providing complete oral dental rehabilitation for pediatric patients perked my interest in anesthesia and I went back to Loma Linda in 2004 to complete my residency in dental anesthesia.  The residency provided a challenging yet wonderful opportunity to gain valuable experience while learning from knowledgeable practitioners.  The residency consisted of 14 months of outpatient dental anesthesia at Loma Linda University Surgery Center for Special Care Dentistry, 7 months at Riverside County Regional Medical Center and Loma Linda University Medical Center providing anesthesia to numerous types of surgeries to include general, orthopedic, plastic, neurology, ophthalmology, ob/gyn, urology, ENT, pediatric and oral maxillofacial procedures.  Another 2 months of internal medicine as a resident physician and 1 month of cardiology stress test at the Loma Linda Veterans Hospital.  Currently, I work as a dentist anesthesiologist and provide in-office anesthesia in California and have decided to move back home to the Northwest.

In-Office Anesthesia can provide a safe and effective alternative for several groups of patients.  For young pediatric patients, it is difficult for them to cooperate throughout the dental appointment when the treatment is long and extensive.  Comprehensive dental treatment can be provided without being scared and/or traumatized with the help of in-office anesthesia.  Another challenge to the dentist is the treatment of patients with special medical needs.  Adults can also benefit greatly from sedation/anesthesia since they present with various situations ranging from TMJ to anxiety.

I personally evaluate the needs of all my patients to determine whether anesthesia is suitable for you and the most appropriate type of anesthesia to provide.  I also bring all the necessary drugs, supplies, and equipment to your dentist’s office.  I provide one on one preoperative evaluation, continuous intra-operative monitoring, and postoperative care and management throughout the whole case to ensure a safe and effective treatment.  Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your positive dental experience.