Be completely asleep.
Not just relaxed.
At Apex, sedation means full general anesthesia administered by a board-certified anesthesiologist, the same standard used in hospital surgical centers. You're completely unconscious for the procedure, not in a twilight state. Most patients have no memory of the surgery at all.
A different standard for implant surgery.
Most dental clinics offer some level of sedation, typically oral sedation (a pill that makes you drowsy) or IV sedation (a sedative through a vein that puts you in a relaxed but conscious twilight state). For routine procedures like fillings, those are perfectly appropriate.
Implant surgery is different. The procedure is longer (1β6 hours depending on case complexity), more involved (drilling, suturing, prosthesis placement), and more comfortable for the patient when they're completely asleep, not lying there partially aware. That's why we built Apex around full general anesthesia capability.
A board-certified anesthesiologist is on staff for every procedure. That person manages only your breathing, blood pressure, depth of anesthesia, and recovery, while our surgical team focuses entirely on your implants. It's the same staffing model as a hospital outpatient surgical center.
For our implant patients, sedation cost is included in package pricing. There's no separate anesthesia bill on top of the $1,999 single-tooth or $12,500 All-on-4 prices. For non-implant procedures (wisdom teeth, sedation-only requests), sedation is $750 per hour.
What patients ask about full general anesthesia
What level of sedation does Apex offer?+
We offer full general anesthesia administered by a board-certified anesthesiologist. You're completely asleep, not partially sedated, not in a twilight state. Most patients have no memory of the procedure at all.
How is full general anesthesia different from oral sedation or IV sedation?+
Oral sedation (e.g. Halcion) and IV sedation (e.g. midazolam) keep you conscious but relaxed, you can usually still respond to commands and may remember portions of the procedure. Full general anesthesia is a deeper state where you're completely unconscious. The anesthesiologist manages your breathing, blood pressure, and depth of anesthesia throughout. It's the same standard used in hospital surgical suites.
Is general anesthesia safe for dental procedures?+
When administered by a board-certified anesthesiologist with proper monitoring, yes. We follow the same protocols used in hospital outpatient surgery centers. Pre-procedure medical screening identifies any contraindications, and continuous monitoring during the procedure tracks vitals in real time.
How much does sedation cost at Apex?+
$750 per hour. Most procedures are 1β3 hours. Full-mouth implant cases tend to be 4β6 hours. Sedation cost is included in package pricing for implant procedures (single tooth, All-on-4, full-mouth), there's no separate sedation charge for those.
Do I need someone to drive me?+
Yes, you cannot drive yourself home after general anesthesia. A licensed adult driver must accompany you. Most patients also prefer to have someone with them for the first few hours after waking.
How long does it take to wake up?+
Most patients are awake and responsive within 15β30 minutes of the procedure ending. We monitor you in our recovery area until you're stable enough to leave with your driver. By the next morning, most patients feel close to normal.
Can I have sedation if I have a medical condition?+
In most cases yes, but it depends on the specific condition. Conditions like sleep apnea, severe heart disease, or certain medications require careful planning, sometimes coordination with your primary physician. We do a full medical screening at the consultation.
The sedation level a clinic offers shapes which patients can actually tolerate the procedure they need.
Most general dental practices offer two sedation tiers: nitrous oxide (laughing gas) and oral conscious sedation (a Halcion or Valium tablet taken before the appointment). Both keep the patient awake and aware of what's happening β comfortable, but conscious. For routine cleanings or single fillings, that's appropriate. For implant surgery β where multiple sites are being prepared, sometimes alongside extractions or bone grafting β the gap between conscious sedation and full general anesthesia matters enormously to patient experience and to the surgeon's ability to work efficiently.
Apex performs every implant procedure under full general anesthesia by a board-certified anesthesiologist who is on-site for the duration of every case. You are fully asleep, breathing protected, vitals monitored continuously, and recovery managed in our dedicated post-anesthesia area before you go home. The clinical advantage is significant: the surgical team can work without the time pressure that comes with a conscious patient who wants the procedure to end, which means we can place multiple implants, perform grafts, and handle extractions in a single visit rather than splitting treatment across multiple appointments. The patient advantage is even larger β most patients tell us afterward that the dental anxiety they spent years avoiding the chair over simply was not a factor.
There are real questions to ask about general anesthesia: medical history, medication interactions, fasting requirements before surgery, and the need for a driver home. We screen each of these at the consultation. The vast majority of medically stable adults β including most people on common medications for blood pressure, cholesterol, depression, anxiety, and reflux β are appropriate candidates. We coordinate with your primary care physician when there's any complexity, and we have a path forward for nearly every patient who wants to be asleep for the procedure.
Discuss sedation options at your free consultation.
30 minutes. CBCT scan ($350 value, free). Honest treatment plan with exact pricing. Zero pressure to commit.
- βSame-week appointments available
- βNo referral needed
- βBring prior X-rays or CT scans if you have them
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