Dental implant surgery is a common procedure at most dental clinics. As with any significant oral surgery, there are several options for sedation, which can help ease your discomfort through the procedure. If you're facing dental implant surgery and find yourself struggling with anxiety over the procedure, you should take some time to discuss your sedation options. Here are a few of the choices that you may have available for the procedure.

Oral Sedation

Oral sedation is great if you're looking to calm your nerves and deal with your anxieties before the procedure. You'll have to take a dose shortly before your appointment. The medication prescribed for this is usually one like those used to treat insomnia. In most situations, this treatment is reserved for procedures that will be completed within around an hour or so. You may be advised not to eat within a certain number of hours before the procedure, and you'll want to have someone drive you to and from the appointment for your own safety.

Relative Analgesia

This treatment is typically administered throughout your procedure, and it's used to ease your nerves and anxiety. It's mild treatment and is usually a mixture of nitrous oxide with oxygen that's delivered through a mask. The mask stays in place through the entire procedure, so you're getting the benefit of the gas throughout the entire surgery. Nitrous oxide is flavorless and odorless. It's also easy on your respiratory system, so you won't have any irritation.

When you breathe the gas in, it will give you a sense of relaxation and light-headedness. The ease that you feel will make it easier for you to stay calm through the procedure. Like with oral sedatives, your dentist may suggest that you avoid eating for a set number of hours before the procedure. It's also recommended that you have someone available to drive you home, since it will not be safe to drive on your own.

Conscious Sedation

A conscious sedative is often chosen when you're facing multiple implants or complex extraction procedures. Conscious sedatives allow your dentist more control over your physical condition during the procedure. This type of sedation keeps you calm and relaxed even when the procedure might be lengthy.

You'll receive a regulated amount of sedative delivered at consistent volume throughout your procedure via an intravenous line. Since it's administered this way, you'll have to be monitored by a specialist who will track your respiration and heart rate throughout the surgery. You won't be discharged until you're fully alert, so make sure that whoever is driving you home understands that it could take some time. You'll have to avoid eating for several hours before the procedure with this sedation approach, so ask your dentist about what you can have and when.

General Anesthesia

In the case of more complex procedures, your dentist may suggest that you seek general anesthesia. This is typically reserved for extensive or significant surgery, because this type of sedation requires hospitalization because of the level of monitoring required with it. General anesthesia is often recommended if you need to have bone grafted to your jaw to create a solid base for your dental implant. Plan to spend most of the day in the hospital with this type of sedation, because you'll need medical observation until you're completely alert again. You'll most likely be advised to avoid eating before general anesthesia for your own safety, so make sure you check with your dentist about it before the procedure. You won't be discharged from the hospital until you're alert and cleared by the doctor, but you may still want to have someone drive you home to be safe.

For more information, contact a local dentist or visit sites like http://www.nwidentist.com/. 

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