I am 27 years old and need three teeth extractions. My dentist is extracting them in the office but says sedation is enough. I have severe dental anxiety and wonder if sedation is enough. Also, after the site heals, I will be getting dental implants too. It’s hard to believe that anesthesia is not an option for extractions or dental implants. – Thanks for your help. Hayden from Denver
Hayden,
Thank you for choosing our office for your question.
Is Oral Sedation Strong Enough for Extractions?
Oral sedation is strong enough for most tooth extraction cases. Although we do not know the circumstances of your case, unless your dentist expects serious complications, there is no reason to give you general anesthesia. Even with impacted wisdom teeth, dentists and oral surgeons use conscious sedation, and patients stay comfortable throughout the procedure.
Anesthesia increases surgery risks. Surgeons and dentists avoid using more sedation or anesthesia than necessary to keep you comfortable and calm. If your dentist recommended general anesthesia, we would advise you to get a second opinion.
Also, at 27 years old, your jawbone is still somewhat pliable, and not much cementum accumulation is on the tooth roots. Your extractions should be straightforward. It’s a rare case of a 27-year-old with truly difficult wisdom teeth. And if your issue were extraordinarily complex, your dentist would refer you to an oral surgeon who would still likely use oral sedation—not anesthesia.
And it is the same with dental implants. Your dentist will numb your mouth and give you sedation for painless dental implant surgery.
Duane Delaune, DDS, an cosmetic dentist of Metairie, New Orleans, sponsors this post.