Do I Need General Anesthesia When I Get Dental Implants?
Normally, most dental implant procedures and surgeries involve giving anesthesia to the patient. It ensures safety and prevents discomfort to the patient during the surgery. In general, dental surgeons preemptively use local anesthesia to only sedate and numb the area of the mouth where the implant occurs. In case there is extensive bone grafting involved, your dental surgeon will consider using general anesthesia for a comfortable procedure.
However, it still doesn’t take much effort to imagine the worst that can happen during an invasive dental procedure. Just imagining the needles, sharp tools, and the removal of broken teeth can be overwhelming for some people. That’s when doctors use anesthesia. A dental surgeon can provide general anesthesia to comfort the patient and ease the pain if any procedure requires.
Getting Dental Implants
Dental implants replace missing teeth to restore the aesthetics and functionality of the mouth. With missing teeth, you may feel self-conscious and less likely to interact socially. Moreover, the lack of teeth can make chewing and eating difficult. While every dental surgeon aims to do their best in the dental implants procedure, here’s why they will recommend either local or general anesthesia.
General Anesthesia
Dental implants don’t necessarily have to be one or two. When there is more than one tooth replacement, your dental surgeon will ask you to choose between local and general anesthesia. However, you should know that often when there are seven or eight dental implants, dental surgeons typically don’t use general anesthesia. Rather, they use local anesthesia to reduce the pain and numb the area.
Furthermore, depending on your previous medical history, you may require general anesthesia. The important thing is to know that whether or not general anesthesia is safe for you. Do you think you can’t sit through the implant surgery comfortably or without panic? Discuss sedation options with your dental surgeon. You may receive an additional sedative alongside local anesthesia to help you relax.
Local Anesthesia
As far as the general dental implant procedure goes, local anesthesia is what most patients require for the entire procedure. You won’t feel anything except a subtle needle prick in the implant site. Occasionally, patients require OTC medication to help with minor discomfort and oral pain post-procedure. Oral options may require you to sit longer if you want to bear the needle pricks. Make sure that you discuss the options with your surgeon ahead of time.
Conclusion
Dental implants might not be as painful, but the procedure requires a certain skill set and experience. Therefore, you should choose the best dental surgeon in the town for your tooth replacement needs. Dr. Davis DMD is one of the top oral healthcare providers in Southern Utah at Shawn B. Davis, DMD, Oral & Facial Surgery Institute. Give us a call at (435) 740-8296 to discuss the dental implants procedure with Dr. Davis. Visit our official website for further inquiries.
Reference Links:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dental_implant