Can dental implants be placed under general anaesthesia?
Yes, when needed; for most patients, however, local anaesthetic is the first choice. According to the patient information of Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH), implants are usually inserted under local anaesthesia, and where many implants are placed, sedation or a general anaesthetic may be used. Mayo Clinic lists local anaesthesia, sedation and general anaesthesia as options and advises talking to your dental specialist about which is best for you.
The NHS describes a general anaesthetic as the choice when other types of anaesthetic are not suitable. It is therefore not the standard approach but an option for particular situations. What you feel under local anaesthetic is described in our guide Do dental implants hurt?
How do local anaesthetic, sedation and general anaesthesia differ?
The main difference is how awake you remain. The patient information of the Royal College of Anaesthetists (RCoA), the NHS and Liverpool University Dental Hospital gives this picture:
| Feature | Local anaesthetic | Sedation | General anaesthesia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Awareness | You are awake | Awake but relaxed and drowsy; you can respond when spoken to | Unconscious, in a sleep-like state |
| How it is given | Injection in the treatment area | Gas to breathe in, a drink, a nasal spray or a drip | Drip and/or anaesthetic gas |
| Numbing the area | Is the method itself | Local anaesthetic is still given | No sensation during the procedure |
| Memory | Present | Varies; often patchy after intravenous sedation, but not predictably so | None |
| Afterwards | Usually straight home | Escort needed; no driving until the next day | Escort needed; no driving for at least 24 hours |
Liverpool University Dental Hospital stresses that sedation is not the same as a general anaesthetic: you do not sleep, and you still need a local anaesthetic injection for the dental work. Which methods come into question in your case is discussed at the examination.
Who might a general anaesthetic be right for?
A general anaesthetic is considered when local anaesthetic or sedation is not enough or not suitable. The sources mention these situations in particular:
- Severe dental anxiety: according to Liverpool University Dental Hospital, sedation helps anxious people relax. If the anxiety is so strong that treatment awake or under sedation is not possible, a general anaesthetic may be considered.
- Extensive surgery: according to CUH, sedation or a general anaesthetic may be used when many implants are placed. That can include treating a whole jaw, as described on our full-arch implants page.
- Particular situations: the Liverpool leaflet names involuntary movements, for example in Parkinson’s disease, a severe gag reflex and medical conditions that worsen under stress as reasons for sedation. If sedation is not enough, a general anaesthetic can be reviewed.
Whether a general anaesthetic is suitable for you is decided, according to the NHS, at a pre-operative assessment based on your state of health.
What does the pre-anaesthetic assessment involve, and what should you bring from home?
A general anaesthetic needs more preparation than implant surgery under local anaesthetic. According to the NHS, an appointment usually takes place some time before the procedure to check that you are fit for surgery and anaesthesia; blood tests or an ECG may be needed. The RCoA describes what the team checks: your health, medicines, allergies, smoking, alcohol, blood pressure, heart and oxygen levels. It asks you to bring a list of your medicines or the medicines in their packaging, including weight-loss drugs, hormonal contraceptives and herbal remedies, details of any allergies, any problems you or your family have had with anaesthetics, test results from other hospitals and recent blood pressure readings.
For treatment in Türkiye, this means: before you travel, ask your GP for a recent report with your diagnoses, medicines and, if advised, blood results and an ECG, and bring earlier anaesthetic records if there were problems. Send us the documents on WhatsApp at the preliminary assessment stage so they can be reviewed before you arrive. A checklist is in our guide on documents for dental treatment in Türkiye.
What applies on the day of the procedure?
The rules are similar across NHS hospitals and the RCoA:
- Fasting: the RCoA stresses that written fasting instructions must be followed exactly, because stomach contents entering the lungs can be life-threatening. Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, for example, asks adults to stop all food and drinks, including milk, tea, coffee, sweets and chewing gum, six hours before the appointment, and to stop water two hours before. Keep to the times you are given.
- Medicines: according to the RCoA, diabetes medicines and blood thinners need specific advice from the anaesthetic team; do not stop anything yourself.
- Smoking: the RCoA advises not smoking or vaping on the day and ideally stopping at least two days before, because both reduce blood oxygen.
- Infections: tell the team if you develop a fever or infection shortly before the procedure.
- Escort: according to the RCoA, a responsible adult must collect you; travel home by car or taxi, not public transport.
The general preparations that also apply under local anaesthetic are in our guide on preparing for dental implants.
What are the risks and side effects of a general anaesthetic?
The common side effects are usually mild and short-lived; serious complications are rare. The NHS lists as common:
- thirst and drowsiness
- a hoarse voice or sore throat from the breathing tube
- shivering
- nausea or vomiting
- pain or bruising at the injection site
- confusion or memory loss
According to the NHS, these usually improve within minutes or hours. Serious allergic reactions, breathing difficulties, chest infections and eye or nerve damage are rare. The RCoA describes modern anaesthetics as very safe and says your anaesthetist will discuss the risks most relevant to you.
A general anaesthetic removes your awareness during the procedure, not the healing phase afterwards: swelling and tenderness occur regardless of the anaesthetic method.
What are the first 24 hours like, and what does that mean for accommodation and flying home?
Shortly after the medicines are stopped you wake up and are drowsy at first. According to the NHS, the effects of a general anaesthetic can last around 24 hours, and you may only go home, or to your accommodation, with someone to accompany you.
For the first 24 hours, the RCoA and the NHS advise:
- a responsible adult should stay with you
- no driving, cycling or operating machinery
- no alcohol and no smoking
- no cooking or using a kettle
- no important decisions or signing documents
- no sole responsibility for children or people in your care
The RCoA notes that your judgement may be affected for up to 24 hours even if you feel fine, and CUH advises against driving or signing legal documents for 48 hours after sedation or a general anaesthetic. For travel planning, this means no flight and no long journey on the day of the anaesthetic, and if you are travelling alone, agree with us before booking how you will be looked after in the first 24 hours. When you can fly after implant surgery is explained in our guides The first week after dental implants and How many days do I need to stay in Türkiye for dental implants?
How do we plan treatment under general anaesthesia at Rönesans?
At our clinic, treatment can be carried out under general anaesthesia where needed. Whether that is necessary for you is decided with you after the examination and the cone-beam CT (CBCT) scan, depending on the extent of the planned surgery, your state of health and your anxiety about treatment; if you are very afraid of dental treatment, say so at the start.
We carry out bone grafting and sinus lifts at our clinic; for extensive plans, the anaesthetic method is part of the written treatment and cost plan you receive before treatment starts. Our dentists prepare the plan together, and your treating dentist remains the same person. Send documents and questions on WhatsApp to +90 532 363 49 54 or call +90 264 606 09 43; during opening hours we reply to messages in English within 15 minutes. How arrival, accommodation in Sapanca and transfers are organised is described on planning your visit.