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A Few Things To Know About Anesthesia And Pain When Having Dental Implants Put In

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You have several things to consider when you're thinking about getting dental implants for your dentures. You may worry about the pain involved since an implant is screwed into your bone. You may also worry about the need for a general anesthetic and the effects that could have on your health. Most of these worries can be put to rest by having a consultation with an implant dentist. Here is some information about pain and sedation that might help put your mind at ease.

Dental Implants And Pain

The procedure of having implants put in is not painful because of the anesthetic used to numb the area being worked on. There will probably be some pain afterward that can be controlled with medication. Your dentist may give you a prescription to keep pain at bay, and you may be instructed to begin the medication before the anesthetic wears off so the pain won't be as bad. Pain usually goes away quickly. There aren't many nerves in your bone, but the area over your gum where the incision was made will be sore and tender until it heals.

Once the initial recovery period right after the procedure has passed, you'll probably be able to manage your discomfort with over-the-counter pain medication. If you have special concerns about pain or using pain medication, be sure to talk to the dentist to work out issues you may have before the procedure is done. That way, you can experience as little discomfort as possible.

Anesthesia And Dental Implants

You have options when it comes to anesthesia for your dental implants. One is to undergo general anesthesia where you sleep through the procedure. Your dentist may recommend this in certain situations such as when you need a bone graft for the implant. Another choice is to just have a local anesthetic injection like you have for getting a filling or other dental work. A local anesthetic is enough to deaden the pain during the procedure but if you have anxiety over getting an implant and have a fear of the pain, your dentist might consider other treatments as well. One possibility is the inhalation of nitrous oxide to relieve anxiety or you might be given an oral medication to relax you. Sedation dentistry is another option. With this, the area to be worked on is numbed with an injection and you're given medication through an IV that puts you into a deep state of relaxation. While you may snooze during the procedure, you'll be easy to awaken so you can follow commands from the dentist.

With all these options for comfort during a dental implant procedure, your dentist will find a method that works for you whether you are dealing with anxiety or you just want to avoid general anesthesia when possible.


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