A lot of people are anxious about dental implants. The anxiety usually stems from the fear of a painful procedure associated with surgery. In reality, the procedure is not very painful and can usually be performed using local anaesthesia without putting the patient to sleep.
However, if the patient prefers to have additional levels of sedation, this can be arranged via either Oral or IV sedation.
It’s uncommon to use general anaesthesia for implants, the exception being if there is a need to harvest a bone from another part of the body to strengthen the weak jawbone in a patient. Because dental implant surgery is for the most part a painless procedure, most patients only require mild anaesthesia to numb the surrounding area of the implant.
What sedation options are there?
There are a few different options when it comes to sedation for the dental implants procedure.
For patients that are nervous about the procedure, Oral Sedation can be offered to ‘take the edge off’ during the operation. Oral sedation is usually delivered in tablet form and is taken 1 hour before the procedure beings, and causes a drowsy, calming effect which helps patients anxious about the procedure.
For patients who prefer to more sedate for the entire procedure, dentists will use a specialist anaesthetist to administer intravenous (IV) anaesthetics. General anaesthetics cause a deeper sedation and the patient will not remember much of the operation. Although heavily sedated, the patient will still be able to breathe normally, and communicate with the dentist when required.
What it’s like in the operating room
Before starting routine dental implant surgery, doctors will talk to their patients and explain the entire procedure. As explained earlier, your doctor may share screenshots and x-rays of the area.
After the discussion, the patient is given mild anaesthesia just to numb the surrounding area of the implant. Local anaesthesia will be injected into the jaw, resulting in a sharp tingling sensation for an instant. The local anaesthesia will ensure that you’re comfortable throughout the surgery.
For those opting for additional sedation, this will be administered via either IV or oral sedation.
Types of Anaesthesia
The three types of anesthesia available for dental implants are local anesthesia, general anesthesia, and conscious sedation. The type of anesthesia used depends on the complexity of the procedure and the comfort level of each patient. Here are the details of each type of anesthesia:
Local: Local Anesthesia is the most common type of anesthesia used on patients. It is used to numb the surrounding area of the infection or the implant. When using local anesthesia, patients are fully awake and they are aware of their surroundings.
Conscious Sedation: This is the type of anesthesia used to treat patients who have extreme dental anxiety. Sometimes, experts also prefer this method to carry out complicated dental procedures. The anesthesia is composed of Nitrous Oxide or a similar medication that produces a dreamlike state but the patient is fully aware of the surroundings. The use of conscious sedation allows the patient to respond and feel extremely relaxed.
General Anesthesia: Administrating general anesthesia during a dental implant is rare. It is the only form of anesthesia, which puts the patient to sleep, without any memories of the surgery. It’s more like a major surgery when patients do not remember any part of the operation. Experts often recommend general anesthesia only in extreme cases where the surgery may require a lot of time to complete.
If you have specific questions about the dental implant, you can contact Dental Artistry the dental implant experts.
Dental Implant Surgery in Auckland
Dental Artistry is a very reputable clinic serving the Auckland and New Plymouth area. They can offer expert advice and answer relevant questions regarding anaesthesia and the comfort level during dental implant surgery.