Can I Be Sedated For My Dental Implant Surgery?

Getting implants is a surgical procedure. If you are anxious about it, you can be asleep when getting an implant or implants. We always utilize local anesthesia as a numbing agent which works well to ensure you feel no pain. Our compassionate staff ensures you are totally comfortable while undergoing the procedure, with or without sedation.

Sometimes, however, patients tell us they suffer from severe dental anxieties, have overly sensitive gag reflexes, are incredibly afraid of even the sight of a needle or experience other phobias at the dentist.

For these individuals, we can ensure you receive the treatment you need by offering varying levels of safe, effective sedation to ensure your journey to a healthier, more attractive smile is a positive one both emotionally and physically:

• Nitrous Oxide: Commonly known as “laughing gas,” this safe mixture of oxygen and nitrous oxide creates a sense of calm within a few minutes of inhalation. Our mildest forms of sedation, this odorless gas is administered from a small mask on your nose which is then removed when the procedure is over. The effects wear off immediately and you immediately return to a normal state. You will be awake throughout the procedure, but totally calm. Also, there are no known allergic responses to nitrous oxide, making this treatment a great way to relax through your procedure.
• Oral (Conscious) Sedation: With this stronger level of sedation, we’ll prescribe a pill you’ll take just before the appointment to allow you to relax. While you’ll still be able to communicate with your specialist, you may be so relaxed you fall asleep and may not remember the sights and sounds of your visit. Patients will be groggy and require transportation home.
• IV (Intravenous) Sedation: With IV sedation you’ll be given a medication through a vein in your wrist or arm which allows the sedatives to work almost immediately. Our doctors Frederic Norkin, Liliana “Dr. Lily” Aranguren and Ovadia Chocron are certified to administer IV sedation in our office and will ensure complete safety by monitoring patients throughout their treatment. If your health history is more complex or you need deep sedation (similar to a colonoscopy), IV sedation can be administered by our board-certified dental anesthesiologist, who will also remain present throughout the treatment process.
• General Anesthesia : In some rare instances, as in adults with special needs or complex medical conditions that might not be as safely managed in an office setting, we can arrange this unconscious sedation method which would be delivered by an anesthesiologist in a hospital or hospital outpatient setting. Dr. Ganeles has privileges to treat patients under these conditions at Boca Raton Regional Hospital and West Boca Medical Center.

Your Comfort is Our Priority

Our team will always strive to ensure you feel no pain during any procedure. But if you feel extremely anxious or have other severe phobias, sedation options not only help our anxious patients, but can also often allow us to work more efficiently in fewer appointments.

Here’s one recent patient’s thoughts on her sedation experience:

Well my greatest fears were pain! The pain of the initial injections, and knowing that I don’t numb easily, I’ve had to have blocks before. Which is awful. And this is when I had two different medications to try to calm me down for whatever reason and my adrenaline eats through the numbing agents. And I usually end up feeling pain. So I decided to find this place because they sedate you! Dr. De Souza is amazing. I’m four hours after the implant and I have slight tenderness. I was also told they had to do a bit of a sinus bump, which I was totally fearful of. But I don’t even feel that at all. They are wonderful. And I highly recommend them.

For patients who experience severe fears or health conditions that cause them to delay or avoid having important dental work done, sedation is an invaluable tool to make your experience a positive one and ensure your comfort. Give us a call to arrange a consultation and learn more about sedation dentistry at South Florida Center for Periodontics & Implant Dentistry.

Referrals from other medical or dental providers are always welcomed; however, you do not need a referral to see us.