Airway Management for the Oral Surgery Patient.

This article discusses anesthesia assessment concepts related to airway evaluation and airway maintenance for safe and reliable selection of either open system (entrainment of room air) or closed system (no entrainment of room air) airway devices, which can be used during office-based oral surgical procedures, depending on the needs of a patient. Dental facial and oral structures are integral to an anesthetist's preoperative patient evaluation prior to surgery. The preoperative medical history and physical examination as well as the nature of the oral surgical procedure affect the selection of a proper and safe airway device.