Implant surgery under local anesthesia alone is painless — but comfort and calm are different things. Sedation options range from nitrous oxide (relaxed, fully awake, drive yourself home) to oral conscious sedation (deeply calm, little memory of the visit).
The ladder, honestly explained
- Local anesthesia only: completely numb; you feel pressure and vibration. Right for single implants and calm patients
- Nitrous oxide: takes the edge off within minutes and wears off before you leave — the everyday favorite
- Oral conscious sedation: a prescribed sedative before your visit; you respond to instructions but most patients remember almost nothing. Requires a driver
- IV sedation / general anesthesia: for select complex cases and severe anxiety, coordinated with an anesthesia provider
Matching the level to you
The right choice depends on the procedure length, your health history and medications, and — honestly — how you feel in a dental chair. Fear is the most common reason people live with failing teeth for years; naming it at your consultation is how we solve it. More on our approach: sedation dentistry at Select.
Wondering what this means for your own case? A consultation at Select Dental Implants includes a cone-beam 3D scan and an honest, itemized answer — call (951) 672-6788 or request an appointment.