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Comment by nradov | Hacker News Reader

There are significant risks to general anesthesia. It's better to avoid unless really necessary.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postoperative_cognitive_dysfun...

When I had my wisdom teeth extracted the oral surgeon loaded me up with a lot of local anesthetic. So while it was an unpleasant experience the pain was bearable.

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When he described the dentist climbing on top of him to get more leverage, then having to take a break to regain his strength, I think I'd have preferred to not be awake for that.

I had to take 3 of my wisdom tooth out in 2 sittings. For the last one the junior dentist couldn't get the tooth and the senior one came in gave it a couple of hefty twist/pull before raising the chair and completely leaning on me and finally managing to pull it out. It was more painful that time, swelling took a weak to get down. But it still wasn't terribly painful with a single injection of local anesthetic on the gum. All my teeth's were like 45 degree angle and pressing against the molar which caused the pain. I have to wonder what kind of pain or condition would require a general anesthetic.

I had mine taken out under general anesthesia. My two bottom teeth were at a 90-degree angle. They drilled them apart into pieces so they could remove them.

Also, what's with all these people saying they had a dentist remove their wisdom teeth? I didn't; I had to go to an oral surgeon.

Even with impacted wisdom teeth and local anesthetic, I would only call the procedure mildly unpleasant. It was over in 30 minutes for all 4 teeth and there was almost no pain (but lots of pressure on the jaw). Yes, they drilled them in half to take them out as well.

Local anesthetic is frigging amazing.

The recovery period, in comparison, was hell.

Swollen face, bleeding, subsisting on yogurt and milk for a week, unable to open mouth fully, opiates that made you drowsy/nauseous and didn't do much for the pain.

Going back for a checkup a week later, my surgeon tried to force my mouth open for inspection and I almost passed out from the pain.

It says in your link that it's equally likely in general and regional anesthesia. Moreover it says it's more likely in cardiac operations where blood flow into the brain is disturbed. I assume this is very rare then.

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