Is this specific procedure particularly unpleasant? I had all my wisdom teeth taken out with only some local anesthesia. I didn't care for people hovering their instruments real close to my face, but the pain wasn't that bad.
In fact, I think people and doctors alike tend to sedate much less in Italy - maybe not completely unjustified from a few things I've read in this thread. Back then, the normal drilling & filling tooth cavities mostly happened without any anaesthesia at all, local or otherwise. Frankly, that was quite painful, whenever the drilling happened to touch a nerve, and I really don't feel like experiencing it again :-) and I think at least this changed since.
This is logical and within my experience.
Once an old dentist lady told me that she noticed patients complaining about pain on the other side in this situations. She didn't have an explanation then.
I can see how local would be fine for what amounts to an uncomplicated extraction, though. Just make sure they don't bill you for an OR and anesthetist, anyway!
I have two bottom wisdom teeth, and am terrified of the day that I’ll have to get them removed. I plan to be fully knocked out; it’s hard to imagine someone literally cutting out my teeth. Even if you couldn’t feel any pain, how did you stay calm?
Maybe I’m just a wuss when it comes to teeth…
To answer your question though, at my recent colonoscopy, this type of procedure was awesome. They roll you into a room, and then you see white liquid go into your IV, and they say "you’ll be out in a few seconds." I remember asking "really?" in surprise, and she nodded yeah. Then my next memory was waking up to my wife. She said I was snoring and sleeping well post-op. I didn’t have any memory loss, but reading this post I wish I’d had that experience. It sounds interesting.
They didn't even bring up the option of using more drastic steps to put me under.
It was all fine. I remember the most painful part was when the needle went in for the anesthesia. Afterwards, the rest was a bit weird, but not painful.
Global anesthesia has the potential for more side-effects and things to go wrong that more localised options. So it's generally preferred, when possible.
Anyway, reading into it, there might be some culturally set expectations going on? I never knew but apparently there's a lot less sedation-by-default in Europe. Childbirth, and dental procedures, seem to be more of a "yeah it hurts but you'll get over it" thing.
Colonoscopy is another example. I had one a few months ago, The nurse injected me with a bit of midazolam, and apparently that was all I needed. I lay down with a stupid smile and began watching the video feed. I remember some bloating and some bubbling sounds, and the slightest bit of pain (comparable to having eaten something bad), but mostly the cool video and how chill it all was. Two minutes after the procedure I was able to walk to my clothes, get dressed, and five minutes after that I was having a completely serious conversation with the doctor about the results and my regime.
I strongly prefer how it went to getting put under for such a non-event.
Everything done in local anaesthesia only. Unpleasant, but zero pain during the operation proper.
As a (former) neuroscientist I'm a lot more terrified about going under general anaesthesia with the risks and the long-lasting cognitive changes that sometimes occur afterwards!
That said it's pretty fun to watch all those videos of Americans with all the symptoms described in the article after going to the dentist...
Most of the people I have spoken to in my (Scandinavian) country use local anaesthetics unless the procedure is really complex.