Dental surgeries will require you to undergo some form of anesthesia or sedation. The type will depend on whether your operation is an invasive one and also if you are nervous or anxious about the procedure. Your dentist will give you more information about sedation during the initial planning stages. Keep reading to find out about two of the more common anesthetic types.

Nitrous Oxide Sedation

Nitrous oxide or laughing gas is a sedative and pain-relieving agent. The gas is mixed with oxygen and administered through a small mask that is placed directly over your nose. The concentration of the gas to oxygen is adjusted during the procedure and you will be aware but in a calmed state during the procedure. This allows you to speak and respond to commands and questions.

Since you will be awake during the procedure, your dentist will also need to use a local anesthetic like lidocaine to numb the surgical area in the mouth. And, since you will never be fully "asleep," you will recover more quickly from the sedation. This is one of the major benefits to using nitrous oxide over a general sedative. 

Nitrous oxide is most often used for extraction procedures and it may be a good choice for dental implantation as well. This depends on the invasiveness of the procedure and your comfort level with being awake during the operation. 

Some individuals may feel some nausea from the gas, so speak with your dentist before your procedure to find out about the best ways to reduce upset stomach issues that may occur.

IV Medications

When nitrous oxide is not enough to sedate a patient, your dentist will recommend an IV medication instead. IV medications, like nitrous oxide, can vary in their strength and amount depending on the procedure type and length. 

The IV medicine can be given in the office like the laughing gas, but the oral surgeon must be a licensed in the administration of general anesthetics. Also, additional staff must be on hand to provide oxygen and emergency medicine if a serious incident occurs during the operation.

IV medications can vary greatly depending on the oral surgeon, the procedure, and the desired level of anesthesia. Some common medicines for IV administration include Versed, Valium, Fentynl, and Ketamine. IV access is gained in the arm before the dental surgery to administer the medicine. Oxygen will also be provided through a nasal cannula or mask.