Haha, short breaks are a lifesaver for sure. Ever had someone fall asleep mid-procedure? Happened to me once—older gentleman, super chill, just nodded off while I was prepping the implant site. Had to gently wake him up to check if he was okay...he just laughed and said it was the most relaxing nap he'd had in weeks. Maybe your grandma will surprise herself and find it oddly relaxing too? Either way, breaks are always doable—just gotta ask.
That's hilarious, falling asleep during a dental procedure...never heard of that before. Makes me wonder, though—do you think sedation is always necessary for implants, or can some people manage just fine without it? I've had a couple root canals done with just local anesthetic, and honestly, it wasn't too bad. Curious if implants are a whole different level of discomfort or if it's mostly just nerves getting the better of us...?
"Curious if implants are a whole different level of discomfort or if it's mostly just nerves getting the better of us...?"
I think it's a bit of both, honestly. I've had two implants done—one with sedation and one without. The procedure itself wasn't really painful thanks to local anesthetic, similar to your root canal experience. But the drilling into bone does feel different—more pressure and vibration than actual pain. If you're someone who's anxious or sensitive about dental work, sedation can definitely help ease nerves. But plenty of people manage fine without it, so it mostly depends on personal comfort levels.
I get what you're saying about sedation helping with nerves, but honestly, even with local anesthetic, implants can feel pretty intense. I've assisted on quite a few procedures, and patients often mention the pressure and vibrations being more unsettling than painful. If anxiety is a big factor, sedation might be worth considering—especially for older folks who might find the whole experience overwhelming. But yeah, discomfort levels really vary from person to person...some breeze through it, others find it tougher.
"patients often mention the pressure and vibrations being more unsettling than painful."
Totally agree with this. I've found that prepping patients beforehand about what sensations to expect really helps ease their anxiety...sometimes just knowing what's coming makes it way less intimidating.
