Nervous About Implant Surgery? Inside Our Sedation Options at Smiles of Chevy Chase

You’re Not Alone: Addressing Implant Anxiety 

If the thought of dental implant surgery makes your stomach turn, you’re far from alone. For many patients, it isn’t the missing tooth that keeps them from booking a consultation—it’s the anxiety about the procedure itself. The good news is that implant dentistry has changed dramatically over the past decade, and so has the comfort experience that comes with it.

At Smiles of Chevy Chase, Dr. Despina Markogiannakis and her team have built their implant process around one simple idea: you shouldn’t have to choose between a healthier smile and feeling safe and comfortable while you get it. Below, we’re breaking down exactly what sedation and comfort options are available for implant patients, who tend to benefit most from each one, and what you can realistically expect on the day of your procedure.

Ready to get your dental implants with one of our sedation dentistry options? Call our Chevy Chase dental office at (301) 652-2939 to schedule your appointment.

Why Implant Anxiety Is So Common and So Manageable

Dental anxiety isn’t a character flaw or an overreaction. For many patients, it’s rooted in a past uncomfortable experience, a fear of needles, sensitivity to noise and vibration, or simply the unknown of a procedure they’ve never had before. Implant surgery in particular can feel intimidating because it involves the jawbone, not just the tooth surface, even though, in practice, most patients report far less discomfort than they expected.

The encouraging part is that modern implant dentistry has largely solved this problem. Between numbing advances, sedation options, and digital planning that shortens actual chair time, the physical experience of getting an implant today looks very different than it did even ten years ago. The barrier left for most anxious patients isn’t the procedure; it’s simply not knowing what their options are.

The Comfort Toolkit at Smiles of Chevy Chase

Every patient’s anxiety looks different, so Dr. Markogiannakis doesn’t offer a one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, your comfort plan is built around your specific triggers, your medical history, and the complexity of your implant case.

Nitrous Oxide (Laughing Gas)

Nitrous oxide is one of the simplest and most widely used comfort options in dentistry, and it works well for patients with mild to moderate anxiety. You breathe it in through a small nasal mask, and within minutes you’ll typically feel calm, relaxed, and a little lighter, without losing consciousness or needing someone to drive you home afterward. The effects wear off almost as quickly as they start once the mask is removed, which is part of why it remains such a popular option for shorter implant appointments.

Oral Conscious Sedation

For patients who need a deeper level of relaxation, whether due to more significant anxiety, a longer or more involved implant procedure, or a low pain threshold, oral conscious sedation is often the right fit. You’ll take a prescribed sedative before your appointment, and by the time you’re in the chair, you’ll likely feel drowsy, deeply relaxed, and largely unaware of the time passing. Most patients remember very little of the actual procedure. Because this level of sedation affects coordination and alertness, you will need someone to drive you to and from your appointment.

The Wand: A Gentler Way to Get Numb

For a lot of patients, it’s not the implant itself that’s frightening; it’s the anticipation of the anesthetic injection. That’s where The Wand comes in. It’s a computer-controlled anesthesia delivery system that administers numbing medication at a slow, steady, precisely controlled rate, which removes the sudden pressure and sting typically associated with a traditional syringe. Many patients say they barely feel it. The Wand is often used on its own for patients with needle anxiety or in combination with nitrous oxide or oral sedation for an added layer of comfort.

Which Option Is Right for You?

There’s no universal “best” sedation choice. The right option depends on your anxiety level, your case, and your medical history. Here’s a general guide to how patients typically choose:

• Mild nervousness, single implant, shorter appointment: Nitrous oxide is often enough to take the edge off.
• Needle anxiety specifically: The Wand, sometimes paired with nitrous oxide, addresses the root of the fear directly.
• Significant anxiety, longer procedure, or multiple implants: Oral conscious sedation offers a deeper level of relaxation and limited memory of the appointment.
• Complex full-arch cases (like All-on-4): These often benefit from oral conscious sedation combined with The Wand, since appointments tend to run longer.

During your consultation, Dr. Markogiannakis will walk through your health history, your specific implant plan, and your comfort concerns to recommend the option or combination of options that makes the most sense for you.

Comfort Starts Before You’re Ever in the Chair

Sedation is only part of the comfort equation. At Smiles of Chevy Chase, every implant case begins with CBCT (cone-beam CT) imaging and digital treatment planning, which means your implant position is mapped out in detail before surgery ever begins. This guided approach typically translates to a more efficient, more predictable placement appointment—which, in itself, reduces the total time you’re in the chair and the amount of anesthetic needed.

In other words, comfort at our practice isn’t just about what happens during sedation—it starts with a treatment plan designed to make the actual procedure as smooth and short as possible.

What to Expect the Day of Your Procedure

Once you and Dr. Markogiannakis have decided on your comfort plan, here’s generally what the day looks like:

1. Check-in and final review. You’ll confirm your treatment plan and go over any last questions or concerns.
2. Sedation administered (if applicable). Nitrous oxide begins working within minutes; oral sedation will already be in effect if taken beforehand.
3. Numbing with The Wand. The treatment area is numbed gently and gradually.
4. Guided implant placement. Using your CBCT-based digital plan, Dr. Markogiannakis places the implant with precision.
5. Recovery and aftercare instructions. If you received oral sedation, you’ll rest briefly before being released to your driver, along with clear home-care instructions.

You Don’t Have to Let Fear Delay Your Smile

Missing teeth affect more than just your appearance—they impact how you eat, speak, and feel every day. If anxiety has been the thing standing between you and a complete, confident smile, it doesn’t have to anymore. Between nitrous oxide, oral conscious sedation, and The Wand, there’s a comfortable path to implant treatment for nearly every level of nervousness.

Ready for a Comfortable Path to Your New Smile?

As a trusted Chevy Chase dentist, Smiles of Chevy Chase welcomes patients from Chevy Chase, Bethesda, Rockville, and Silver Spring, MD, who are ready to talk through their sedation options and implant candidacy with Dr. Despina Markogiannakis. Call (301) 652-0656 to schedule your consultation, or visit us at 5454 Wisconsin Ave, Suite 810, Chevy Chase, MD 20815.