Dentist Questions Dentist

Do you have to be put to sleep for tooth extraction?

I am a 21 year old female. I want to know if you have to be put to sleep for a tooth extraction?

20 Answers

Thank you for the question. It is not usually necessary to receive IV sedation for a tooth extraction but it is useful if you have some anxiety about the treatment.
No, it's not a must. This depends on how the patient feels about dentistry in general.
No
Absolutely not! As a matter of fact, 90% of the extractions we do are while the patient is awake. Putting someone to sleep is always a risk, so the less the better.
No, most extractions are done without general anesthesia.

Jim Kline

Most people aren’t put to sleep for extractions. A much smaller proportion need to. But that’s a discussion between you and your dentist.
Not always, but if you’re apprehensive and don’t want to realize what’s going on, it’s the way to go
It all depends on the patient anxiety. In most cases you do not have to be sedated for extractions.
No. I never put my patients to sleep to do an extraction. Typically, just numbing the area is enough to get the job done.

Not always
No, you do not have to be put to sleep to have a tooth extracted. I have been doing extractions of all levels of difficulty for more than 36 years and have never put a patient to sleep.
No you do not.
That is mainly up to you and your doctor and how nervous you are. For impacted wisdom teeth, sedation is usually required and recommended. For other less complicated extractions, you may only need localized numbing.
No, you don't have to be put to sleep. Most tooth extractions are done while the patient is awake.
No, it’s not a requirement to be put to sleep for an extraction. Our office does offer laughing gas or other means to reduce anxiety for extractions, but it’s not a requirement. Local anesthetic is always used for extractions though.

Dr. Trey Patterson
Most of the time, extracting a tooth is done in a few minutes and doesn’t require being put to sleep.
Tooth extractions can be done without any sedatives, with oral sedatives, nitrous oxide, IV sedation or general anesthesia. Patient make the decision if they want any type of sedation or not and it’s usually based on anxiety and/or expectations.

Tawana D. Feimster, DDS, MS
Not really, it depends on which tooth is going to be extracted. For impacted wisdom teeth, we usually sedate patients.
No, but you can get the laughing gas! You will still be awake.
The short answer is No. Depending on your anxiety level for dental treatments, routine local anesthesia is effective enough to get you through the extraction procedure. Good luck!