Surgery
Around 80 to 85% of dental implants can be performed routinely with standard examinations. However, there is a small percentage where there isn’t enough bone thickness. The dentist needs height and width to insert a screw, so additional procedures become necessary. The most common method is sinus lift surgery.
These procedures are outpatient and can be performed in a dental office equipped with a surgical room. The surgeon must have experience in oral and maxillofacial surgery.
Conscious Sedation
Conscious sedation is commonly used, where the patient is awake but sedated and very cooperative. An anesthesia specialist administers sedation. This extends the duration of the procedure, and the patient can open their mouth on command without feeling pain, leading to a positive memory and a shorter perception of the surgery.
What are the indications?
The indications are varied, but the primary one is for complex procedures. For example, difficult implants need bone grafts, sinus lifts, or when dealing with impacted teeth like wisdom teeth. These procedures can be lengthy (2 hours, two and a half hours). No patient can endure a 2-and-a-half-hour procedure under local anesthesia alone without sufficient sedation.
Another significant indication is for phobic patients—those who fear the dentist due to past negative experiences, pain, and difficulty undergoing routine dental treatments. In such cases, conscious sedation allows for surgical interventions to be performed.
