Do They Put You to Sleep for Dental Implants?

Interested in getting dental implants to replace your missing teeth? Then you probably have lots of questions about how the procedure works.

Implants are inserted into the jawbone and require a 3-6 month healing period. Many patients wonder how invasive the implant surgery is and whether they will be unconscious during it.

Well, the short answer is that no, you’ll likely not be put to sleep during your implant surgery. If that sounds a bit shocking, keep reading to learn more.

The Difference Between Anesthesia and Sedation 

Dental implant surgery sounds scary, but it’s not a very invasive procedure. The oral surgeon will make an incision into the gums to expose the bone and then insert the metal post in the jaw to replace the missing tooth’s root. 

To make sure you don’t feel any pain during this process, you’ll be given a local anesthetic that completely numbs this area. This anesthetic is different from the spray you might get for simpler procedures like getting a cavity treated. 

It’s an injection that provides a stronger numbing effect. Sedation, on the other hand, doesn’t affect your body’s ability to feel pain. Instead, it’s used to help patients relax and remain still during their procedures. 

The Four Types of Oral Sedation 

Dental sedation can be helpful for certain patients, such as those who:

• Experience severe dental anxiety
• Have a strong gag reflex
• Cannot sit still or comfortably in a chair for too long
• Require extensive dental work, etc. 

You can be sedated for your implant surgery if you want, as a way to calm your nerves and ensure you can sit through your appointment. 

But even if you’re sedated, you’ll most likely still be awake. There is only one type of oral sedation that puts patients to sleep, and it’s not often used for relatively simple procedures like implant surgery. 

Here are your oral sedation options:

• Nitrous oxide: Also known as laughing gas, nitrous oxide is a very mild sedative that is also used for children. The effects wear off quickly, and patients can leave the practice fully awake.
• ‍Oral conscious: These are medications taken shortly before the surgery. The effects are a bit stronger and will require a few hours to wear off.
• ‍IV sedation: Patients receive a constant stream of sedatives through an IV, usually for lengthy procedures. Its effects wear off fully in about a day.
• ‍General anesthesia: This is the only sedative that puts you to sleep, and it’s only used in a hospital for major surgeries. 

Get Dental Implants at Wojtowicz Dental 

Don’t be nervous about getting dental implants. 

Dr. Emily can help restore your smile with expert and compassionate implant services done under local anesthesia and even sedation if you need it. 

Schedule an implant consultation at Wojtowicz Dental online and stop by to learn if you’re a good candidate.