Jackie in NE Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 (edited) Just back from the oral surgeon, and he wants to give my dd, age 17, general anesthesia when he removes her wisdom teeth. There are no difficult aspects to the surgery.... in fact, three of the teeth are already starting to come through the gums. Besides the fact that the surgeon "just prefers it that way", is there any reason for general anesthesia? I would rather do it with locals (that's how I did it, with no complications), rather than stand the risks associated with general anesthesia. Comments? Words of Wisdom? Answers? I am :bigear: ETA: My dd is asthmatic. Edited February 7, 2012 by Jackie in NE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
athena1277 Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 I didn't know it could be done with a local. I was knock out when I got mine out about 12 years ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 I had a general, as did both of my dds. I prefer it that way, myself. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer3141 Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 DH will not allow anyone but an anesthesiologist to put our family under so we just get locals for stuff like that. There's no way I'd have GA done in a dentist's office. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itsheresomewhere Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 Mine were partially through and I just had lido-cane. Get a second opinion, no harm in that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Night Elf Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 I'm using general anesthesia on Monday for a tooth extraction and implant. I have an anxiety disorder and I'm terrified of any work on my teeth. I even get a little nervous with a cleaning. The oral surgeon said that many people do fine without it but I can't risk a panic attack during the procedure. Did he not give you an option? How does your dd feel about it? BTW, an oral surgeon is not the same thing as a dentist. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommy22alyns Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 I've had one (erupted) wisdom tooth extracted with just local. No problems at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackie in NE Posted February 7, 2012 Author Share Posted February 7, 2012 DH will not allow anyone but an anesthesiologist to put our family under so we just get locals for stuff like that. There's no way I'd have GA done in a dentist's office. Yes, good point. This is not a dentist, it is an oral surgeon..... that's all he does. But I didn't think to ask if there would be an anesthesiologist administering the meds, monitoring the patient, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
usetoschool Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 (edited) I had a local, like you, and didn't have any trouble, but my three kids have all had general. I didn't love it but they all came through it fine and it seems to be just the way things are done. If I were to be cynical, I would say it is just easier for the oral surgeon. But I think it is easier on some kids as well and so they do it that way for everyone. My youngest was just talking about his dentist last night. They routinely give them nitrous and refer to things by babyish terms. He said, and I have mentioned to the doctor, that he is not afraid and is fine hearing the real terminology and knowing he is getting a shot but it is so routine for the doctor to deal with fearful kids that they just do it this way for everyone, regardless. This was our experience even though we had two different oral surgeons and various configurations of wisdom teeth. eta: My teeth were done by my dentist. My kids were all done by an oral surgeon on referral. Maybe you need to find a dentist that still does extractions. Our oral surgeons were both basically wisdom tooth extraction assembly lines - I think that is all they do at the offices. Edited February 7, 2012 by jcooperetc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenmom5 Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 three of mine had a general. the one who didn't was 20, and they were completely in so they were only an extraction. I had a general. because more is invovled with removing impacted teeth, as opposed to extracting teeth that have already fully erupted, the dentist will generally prefer a general. if they are coming in, how long until they are completely in? what did the dentist say about waiting to "just do an extraction" after they have come in? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Momof3littles Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 (edited) I was awake when I had mine out back in college 10+ years ago. I was the only one of my friends who didn't have GA. Mine were not impacted and were through the gums. The only annoying part was there was a lot of yanking and it was hard to keep my head stabilized. My neck actually hurt a little the next day. I had very little swelling and went rock climbing the next day, so obviously it wasn't too difficult. I apparently had enormous roots on my wisdom teeth that shocked my dentist. It was not really a painful experience at all though. I had novocaine only, no nitrous or anything else. My DS1 is almost 8 and had to have an extra (supernumerary) tooth removed via oral surgery. They said they could do it with a local but he's on the anxious side after an early cavity in toddlerhood, so he actually asked to be put out with GA. They got him out with GA and then realized they weren't 100 percent sure which tooth they were taking out (once he was opened up it was tough to determine which was the "extra" tooth) and they wanted to err on the side of caution. So they woke him up, took an xray, and finished the rest with nitrous and a local. He is definitely a kid who is more on the anxious side and he did totally fine. Apparently he was fist bumping the doc and shouted "no school for a week" while pumping his arm in the OR :lol: (fwiw I told him we'd take a day or two off but he was having it done on a Friday...the nitrous had him loopy enough he was convinced he was getting a week off). He was mostly uncomfortable afterward due to his lip being retracted and stretched (had a good bit of swelling). He was almost back to normal within a day or two. Edited February 7, 2012 by Momof3littles Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hwin Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 (edited) Mine also did GA as a rule, but since I was pregnant he made an exception and did local. The tooth had come in completely sideways and was partially impacted. It wasn't any more painful/scary than a regular filling. I drove myself back to work with a mouth full of gauze. It was also $250 cheaper I want to add that I only had one tooth removed. Edited February 7, 2012 by Hwin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ester Maria Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 I thought local was the default procedure, and general only applied upon specific request or in specific circumstances? I did not know some dentists prefer general as the default procedure without there being more to it (extremely anxious children, etc.). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktgrok Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 I had twilight, not general. Are you sure it is general and not twilight? I had propofol I think. It is out of the system quickly once they stop it. I was VERY grateful I wasn't awake. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackie in NE Posted February 7, 2012 Author Share Posted February 7, 2012 I had twilight, not general. Are you sure it is general and not twilight? I had propofol I think. It is out of the system quickly once they stop it. I was VERY grateful I wasn't awake. They never mentioned the term "twilight", only "general". I just don't remember being awake as being a big deal. Dd has a high threshold for pain, and a fairly low threshold for needles in her veins. :blink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nukeswife Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 I had mine out 4 days before I graduated from High School, they were all impacted and I only had locals. I know you said you child has a high threshold for pain but a low one for needles in her veins, but how about Needles in her mouth. Locals are pretty painful when they give them and although not during my wisdom teeth extraction, I have had it wear off before they were done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitten18 Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 I had twilight, not general. Are you sure it is general and not twilight? I had propofol I think. It is out of the system quickly once they stop it. I was VERY grateful I wasn't awake. :iagree: Twilight for me too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JumpedIntoTheDeepEndFirst Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 Most of the folks I know had conscious sedation with the oral surgeon. Or combinations of local and medication taken prior to arrival. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paz Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 My dd had 3 removed last year. We had the choice of Valium before the procedure with laughing gas during, another more sedating option (which I can't remember and was to be done in office), and general (which had to be done at the local hospital due to anesthesia.) The doctor pretty much discouraged general unless she was very nervous and just couldn't handle it. She chose the first one and it worked very well for her. She was able to eat breakfast and took the Valium 1/2 hour before the surgery. When they started they gave her laughing gas. They were finished with her surgery in 20 minutes and she was fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tearose Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 I had local anaesthesia for one and general for the other three (done all at once and two were impacted). For the local, I either didn't get enough anaesthesia or it hadn't taken effect when the dentist went to pull the tooth out. Needless to say, it hurt dreadfully, and I shrieked so loudly that I'm sure that it was heard in the waiting room. So I got another shot and was told to raise my hand (?!?!) if it hurt. I'm sure I'm a freak case, but I had a much better experience with the general. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shellers Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 I was knocked out for my surgery. DD21 was also given general anesthesia. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lolly Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 I only had local. But, today every kid I know of has had general. It just seems to be the way it is done. They also have all had them out before they have erupted. There is a recent study out that most wisdom teeth extractions are not necessary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeacefulChaos Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 Just back from the oral surgeon, and he wants to give my dd, age 17, general anesthesia when he removes her wisdom teeth. There are no difficult aspects to the surgery.... in fact, three of the teeth are already starting to come through the gums.Besides the fact that the surgeon "just prefers it that way", is there any reason for general anesthesia? I would rather do it with locals (that's how I did it, with no complications), rather than stand the risks associated with general anesthesia. Comments? Words of Wisdom? Answers? I am :bigear: ETA: My dd is asthmatic. I had general anesthesia. I see no reason to do it any other way, personally. I don't really think its a big deal either way, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GnomeyNewt Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 How is your DD with these kind of things? Is she squeamish? If she goes in with the idea of doing local and she makes it through than your fine, but if she freaks out, than you know what your dealing with from than on. I had all 4 wisdom teeth, which were fully grown in, done with local. Wide awake I was but I've never had problems with teeth or medical (needle) type situations. They just don't bother me that much and I prefer to see what is happening around me. My DH on the other hand, you'd have to knock him out to get any where near his mouth... or near him with anything remotely medical looking. He is overly more sensitive to pain in general, which probably contributes to his squeamishness. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jugglin'5 Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 My daughter and I both recently got our wisdom teeth out with twilight sedation. I highly recommend it - never knew or felt a thing. My dh got his out with local and it was not pleasant. It is so easy for a bad dental experience to set a child up for a lifelong dental phobia. Ask me how I know. :tongue_smilie: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DianeW88 Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 My son had general for his at age 18 in an oral surgeon's office. No biggie. Went perfectly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cin Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 Honestly, I would NEVER put my kids through extensive dental work with novacaine shots. I don't even do a cleaning without nitrous oxide. :D But I had some bad experiences early on. (probably should have been knocked out instead of given 4 or 5 shots. For one tooth. My wisdom teeth were taken out by an oral surgeon, and all I know is I went to lala land, woke up, and started taking pain medicine. It was a WONDERFUL thing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jen in PA Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 My sister and I had our wisdom teeth out the same day when we were teenagers. She had anesthesia and I opted for just novocaine. She came out of things very disoriented and with stomach upset -- I did not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pretty in Pink Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 I had twilight anesthesia when I had mine removed (two were partially erupted and two were severely impacted). I have absolutely no memory of the surgery. My dh's were all erupted and he just had local -- as in, he drove himself home afterwards. :001_huh: He said it didn't hurt at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tigger Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 DH will not allow anyone but an anesthesiologist to put our family under so we just get locals for stuff like that. There's no way I'd have GA done in a dentist's office. An oral surgeon is usually boarded for anesthesia too, or they'll have someone on staff or that comes in, if they're not actually going up to the hospital OR with their anesthetists. DS's dentist uses the hospital OR suite for dentistry, so she has the hospital anesthesiologist/anesthetists; my oral surgeon is also an MD, boarded in surgery and anesthesiology, so they're not all just dentists. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
In The Great White North Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 I had all four (impacted) out with a local when I was 20 and no one even mentioned the possibility of general. It was in the Army, with an oral surgeon at the post hospital and they kept me overnight for observation. But still used only novocaine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LostSurprise Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 I had the 2 lowers done on a local when I was in my mid-20s. No problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Buckin' Longhorn Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 My son, 18, had all four removed under just locals. All 4 were completely impacted. He left the office chatting with the nurses. He's one tough cookie. This was just about six months ago. I sat in the room and watched, and I had nightmares for a week afterwards. I don't recommend watching, but I have a thing about dentists. *SIGH* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desert Rat Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 Dh and I both had general. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Photo Ninja Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 Two of my dc had general anesthesia when they had their wisdom teeth removed. Mine were removed many years ago, with just a local. I think my dc preferred to be asleep, though. As an added benefit, we had a very practical example of impaired driving and why the doctors tell people not to drive or make any important decisions for 24 hours after having general anesthesia. After we arrived home from the wisdom teeth removal, my ds insisted he was perfectly fine and had no residual effects of the general. He and my other dc decided to play Wii Mario Cart and another racing video game. My dc are excellent at these race car video games, and you can imagine their surprise when my ds was having a hard time driving straight on the video game track. While three of us were chuckling at his obvious impaired driving ability, he continued to insist that he was not impaired at all and he was playing the game as well as he always did. We saw impaired driving ability, as well as impaired reasoning. Lesson illustrated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SueTx Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 Dd (17) had all four wisdom teeth pulled just last Friday. We chose to do a local (general anesthesia was too expensive). She came through just fine and in fact was glad she had not slept through it. Her recommendation for her siblings is to stay awake. Hope all goes well :) Sue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QueenCat Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 Dh, who has a high tolerance for pain, had it done with local while in the Coast Guard... and said he would NEVER allow his kids to do the same. They both had it done under a general. Mine were also under a general, some 30 years ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LucyStoner Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 I had 4 impacted wisdom teeth plus 2 erupted crowded teeth and 1 tooth that never erupted that was in my palate near my sinus out. General was great for that. 7 at once was a lot. There was a fully qualified anesthesiologist on staff at the oral surgeon's office. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heather in Neverland Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 I had a "twilight" which I think is a demerol-morphine mix via IV. There is NO WAY i would have gone through that without it. Next to childbirth, it was the worst thing I have ever endured. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitten18 Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 My wisdom teeth were taken out by an oral surgeon, and all I know is I went to lala land, woke up, and started taking pain medicine. It was a WONDERFUL thing! :lol::lol::lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer3141 Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 An oral surgeon is usually boarded for anesthesia too, or they'll have someone on staff or that comes in, if they're not actually going up to the hospital OR with their anesthetists. DS's dentist uses the hospital OR suite for dentistry, so she has the hospital anesthesiologist/anesthetists; my oral surgeon is also an MD, boarded in surgery and anesthesiology, so they're not all just dentists. They are usually boarded, yes. But they do not routinely do a residency in anesthesia like an anesthesiologist does so if something does goes wrong, they will not have the experience (or the equipment) that a hospital surgical suite has. A lot of states have cracked down on GA in doctor's offices thankfully. Our son did need GA for dental issues when he was just a couple of years old. We had the option of twilighting him in the office or taking him to the hospital for general. We took him to the hospital for GA. Most GAs in dentists offices go well. But some don't. And for us, that's not a risk that DH is comfortable with. Every family has at least one think they are wonky-fussy about. Medical stuff is ours. :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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