A lot of people are afraid of medical procedures and sadly, dental implant surgery becomes one for some patients. Fortunately, today sedation techniques have improved dramatically and it is now possible to get through with these treatments without much pain and anxiety. This article will cover these methods of sedation for dental implants in South Denver, CO, and how they work—and things to think about when you choose to undergo dental procedures.

What Sedation Dentistry Is?

Sedation dentistry utilizes medication to chill out clients throughout dental procedures. It is sometimes misleadingly called “sleep dentistry,” especially when oral sedation is used, but that expression is somewhat misleading. The level of sedation can vary from minimal relaxation to deep sleep, as required by the patient and the complexity of the procedure.

Types of Sedation for Dental Implants

1. Nitrous Oxide (Laughing Gas)

Nitrous oxide is a mild sedative administered by inhaling through a mask over the nose. It is also known as “laughing gas”. Those effects away within a matter of minutes after you remove the mask, making it safe to drive yourself home post-procedure. Nitric oxide is safe, sounds good, and quick to recover. It is perfect for patients who have mild anxieties or are just getting minor dental implant procedures.

2. Oral Sedation

Oral sedation is when patients take a prescribed, safe, and effective pill (Valium/ Xanax) an hour before their appointment and have someone drive them into the dental office. It helps in producing calm and sleepy feelings by depressing the action of nerves. Oral sedation can vary from minimal to moderate sedation, depending on the dose. This type of sedation is applied orally and works well for a patient with mild to medium dental anxiety. You would be awake, however calm, comfortable, and sedated during the procedure. You’ll have to find someone to drive you home from the appointment because it takes a few hours for the medication to affect.

3. Intravenous (IV) Sedation

IV sedation means a drug to be given directly into the bloodstream through a vein. This technique offers a higher level of sedation, which should leave you feeling like you are in a twilight sleep. You are awake but you do not realize the process

4. General Anesthesia

An anesthesiologist does these procedures, and they are usually done at a hospital or specialized clinic. You will be completely put to sleep with no idea that someone has even worked on your teeth. The best choice for patients who suffer from severe dental fear, complex dental implant surgeries, or those in need of several implants during just one session. This has a longer recovery process and requires someone to come with you and take you home.

Deciding on Sedation

Factors such as a patient’s level of anxiety, medical history, and the scope of the implant surgery determine which type of sedation should be used. These tips will help you determine the best sedation choice:

1. Decide: If you decide to go with sedation dentistry, make sure you share your anxiety levels, medical history, and prior experience with sedation —if any—and discuss all of that with your dentist. According to your needs, they may recommend the right option to you.

2. Review of the Procedure: Think about how complex and long is the dental implant surgery. Deeper sedation methods might be preferable for more invasive and longer procedures.

3. Know What Comforts You: Evaluate how comfortable you are with different types of sedation. Choose your anesthesia — some patients may be fine with nitrous oxide, while others will require IV sedation or general anesthesia.

In summary, sedation dentistry provides a variety of possibilities to make your dental implant process in South Denver CO as painless and stress-free as possible.