Our department is responsible for both dental anesthesiology and orofacial pain control. In addition, orofacial pain control consists of orofaical pain clinic and TMD clinic (former TMJ clinic). In the field of dental anesthesiology, the aim is to provide safe and painless dental treatment. The education includes lectures and practical training on local anesthesia, general anesthesia, sedation, and monitoring. In addition, basic and clinical research is conducted to achieve the above objectives. The number of cases of general anesthesia and sedation is about 1,000 and 2,000, respectively, per year, which is the largest number of anesthesia management among public universities in Japan. In the field of oral and maxillofacial anesthesiology, the orofacial pain clinic and TMJ outpatient clinic are staffed by dedicated specialists.

1) Etiology and treatment of neuropathic pain in the maxillofacial region
2) Development of new local anesthetics
3) Management methods to improve satisfaction with sedation
4) The pathogenesis of perioperative brain ischemia

The purpose of our department is to provide knowledge and basic skills in local anesthesia for daily dental practice, sedation and general anesthesia for specialized anesthesia management, systemic management of patients with complications, and maxillofacial pain treatment. Lectures are given on dental anesthesia (general anesthesia, local anesthesia, sedation, cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and orofacial pain. In the section on general anesthesia, students learn the physiology of respiration and circulation, and the pharmacological effects and mechanisms of anesthetics. In the section on sedation, students learn about the differences between general anesthesia and sedation. As a first aid training, students learn not only basic life support but also advanced life support using a cardiopulmonary resuscitation training system. In ofofacial pain clinic, students are instructed on the basis of physiology and pharmacology as a field of neuroscience.

The specialty of dental anesthesia is to provide safe and painless dental care. For this purpose, information about the patient's health status is collected and evaluated, which is an important prerequisite for dental care, regardless of the administration of anesthetics. The importance of such patient assessment is emphasized to undergraduate students. In addition, the meaning of anesthesia management by dentists is discussed with the students.In graduate school, the main objective is to accumulate clinical experience and learn basic and clinical research methods and concepts while aiming for certification and specialist training. After graduation, students are expected to obtain research funding and become involved in clinical practice, research, and education as potential supervisors.

In the operating room, about 1,000 cases of general anesthesia are performed annually for oral surgery. These include lengthy surgeries like as reconstruction with free flap, and 2 jaw osteotomies. In the outpatient dental anesthesia clinic, we perform more than 2,000 sedation procedures per year to treat patients, who is difficult to receive in general dentistry, as well as long procedures such as implant-related procedures. In addition, we respond promptly to emergencies that occur in our hospital on average several times a month, and if necessary, we collaborate with the ER of the medical school hospital. The Department of Orofacial Pain Clinic and the Department of Temporomandibular Joint Treatment are two of the few specialized outpatient clinics in Japan, and we accept referrals from inside and outside the hospital. In the Orofacial Pain Clinic, we mainly treat neuropathic pain and trigeminal neuralgia, and provide multidisciplinary treatment with medication, nerve blocks, oriental medicine and physical therapy.

In the central operating room, appropriate management including general anesthesia is provided for all types of oral surgery. Postoperative management is provided in collaboration with the ICU for long surgeries. In the outpatient clinic, we provide intravenous sedation for extraction of wisdom teeth and implant surgery to ensure safe and stress-free dental treatment. For patients who are fearful of dental treatment or
with intellectual disabilities, general anesthesia and intravenous sedation are used. In the oro-facial pain clinic, we provide holistic care for all kinds of pain, abnormal sensation, nerve palsy, etc. in the oral and maxillofacial region, incorporating medication, physical therapy, Oriental medicine, and psychosomatic medicine.