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Anesthesia for Dental Implant Surgery

The type of anesthesia used for dental implant surgery depends upon the number of implanted teeth you’re having placed, your level of anxiety and your overall health. When you come in for a dental implant consultation, your oral surgeon will review your options and help you decide upon the best approach to keep you relaxed and comfortable during surgery.

anesthesia dental implant surgery

Local Anesthesia

For simple procedures involving the placement of just one or two dental implants, local anesthetic can be effective — if you aren’t anxious. Numbing the mouth does nothing to calm the nerves, so local anesthetic is often used in conjunction with another type of anesthesia.

Oral Sedation

If you have some anxiety about dental implant surgery, oral sedation can ease your worries and keep you relaxed. Taken in pill form before the procedure, this anesthesia allows you to stay conscious and respond to your oral surgeon, but time will seem to pass by in the blink of an eye.

Laughing Gas

Known to oral surgeons as nitrous oxide, laughing gas can also relieve your anxiety over getting dental implants. You’ll remain alert after inhaling the gas, but you’ll feel completely calm, comfortable and content throughout the procedure.

IV Anesthesia

Intravenous anesthesia, or “twilight sleep,” can make getting dental implants a breeze. With IV sedation, you won’t be aware during implant surgery and you won’t remember much of the procedure — you’ll feel as if you slept the entire time.

General Anesthesia

If your procedure is complex or involves a full mouth reconstruction, general anesthesia may be an option. However, as this renders you unconscious, it may mean having your implant surgery at a hospital or surgical center.

Making a Decision on Dental Implant Surgery Anesthesia

When deciding on which type of anesthesia to use for your implant surgery, you’ll need to consider several factors, including:

Safety — If you have an immune system disorder or other chronic health condition, some forms of anesthetic may not be safe. The same is true if you take certain prescription medications.
Comfort — If you suffer from anxiety, the milder anesthetic options may not be enough to relieve your worries. Laughing gas or IV sedation might be a better choice for your procedure.
Cost — If you don’t have insurance or your policy doesn’t cover every type of anesthesia, price may play a part in your decision.

If you have your dental implant surgery here at Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery of Utah, we’ll help you decide on the right anesthesia for your procedure.

Dr. Partridge and Dr. Maxfield, our board-certified oral surgeons, are trained and certified to administer all forms of anesthesia. We have over 10 years of experience providing safe, effective sedation to northern Utah patients. Contact one of our three convenient Salt Lake City area offices — in Cottonwood Heights, South Jordan and Tooele — to discuss your dental implant surgery anesthesia options today.

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