Being forced to have General anesthia for wisdom tooth..

[Suzi7979]

Hi, I am being forced to have wisdom tooth surgery under general anesthesia by the surgeon. Can I refuse and opt for local instead?

I assume you have spoken with the surgeon about his reasons for thinking a general is best?

No one is forcing you. If you don't want the treatment don't have it.

Fwiw I have had wisdom teeth out twice. One general which was fine. One local which was traumatic. Everyone is different but I know which i prefer!!

Presumably there's a reason he's opting for general - it may be a quite traumatic operation perhaps?

I'm sure he wouldn't recommend it if it wasn't necessary, seeing as most wisdom tooth operations can be done quickly under local.

I've had both, too. The one under general was a more difficult job, and I don't think local would have been an option. You can't assume that because some wisdom teeth are taken out under local that it's an option for this particular tooth, although you can obviously ask.

What are their reasons for general over local? You can't be forced to have it done but your surgeon also reserves the right to say they won't do it at all if you insist on local.

oh now I would guess there must be a a good reason
maybe x rays show it will be v difficukt.
having had it done under local and being asked if I wanted them to stop because it was v difficukt I'd say go with the GA

Is it impacted? Nobody will force you. A second opinion is probably the best option.
I had mine removed under general anaesthetic and it was such an easy, smooth recovery. I don’t regret it. I was back at work less than 48 hours later.

surely this depends on the reason for the GA. I had all 4 out and one was so easy, I went to work straight afters. But some wisdom teeth are pretty hard to remove. I am sure the GA has not been suggested lightly.

Surely they’ve explained why they think you should have general? And if not why on earth haven’t you asked?

No one hear can see your particular wisdom tooth to know whether local is a better option for you

Well you could refuse, but he could also say that the surgery will be too complex to undertake with LA and refuse to do it.

i had a horribly impacted wisdom tooth removed under local. After 2 hours and blood everywhere and a nearly-literal Knee-on-the-chest-to-pull-the-tooth-out extraction the dentist said "oh, i should have referred you to the hospital, that should have been under GA"

I have had a fear of dentists ever since and my teeth are a mess. So, speak to him, and ask why. I'm assuming he didn't go to medical college for a year to have a layperson tell him how to do his job though.

You wouldn't be offered a general anaesthetic if your wisdom teeth were easy to take out.

I had one of my impacted wisdom tooth taken out under local and was as hard as they are allowed to take out. Any harder I would have been referred and it taken out under general.

You can discuss it with the dental surgeon, who might agree to your preference if you mkae your strong views clear.

However, they would refuse if they consider a GA medically necessary for your particular operation

I was told I should have mine out under general, I got a second opinion and the surgeon said that whilst it would ideally be general he would do it under local. I was in a lot of pain and had a two week old baby and wanted it done as quickly as possible.

The removal was pretty long and rough, the local obviously kept the pain away but it wasn’t a fun time. The recovery was bloody awful.

I would go with general.

They will have a reason for preferring to do it under general.

They can’t force you to have a GA but the surgeon can refuse to do the operation if they feel a local won’t be adequate.

I consider myself to be pretty tough with a high pain threshold and have never minded having teeth out or other quite invasive dental work. That was until a few years back when I had a wisdom tooth removed under local. It was horrendous and I felt like I had been beaten up for the rest of the day after it. The local kept wearing off so i ended up having several more injections and the tooth was so hard to remove that the dentist literally almost ended up on my knee so she could get enough leverage. I would never agree to a local again so in your position I would just go with the general! I now hate going to the dentist which is annoying because I didn’t mind until then.

They give you a general as the tooth is removed in parts and as it is often a healthy if misplaced tooth, may need some manoeuvring and force to remove. There is a major vein/artery? In the jaw I believe and this is why it is a hospital job. I had both bottom ones removed under general and it was the norm. I think you will need a general but speak to your surgeon about the risks. They are the expert.

I was scheduled to have the surgery under local in february. Before I even entered the room the dentist and his colleagues hold many papers, forced me to sign the opt in for GA. I even told them I will do it local right now, they said you will not manage to open your mouth for 1 hr.

They didn't even let me sit down and explain my reasons for local. I also have hyperthyroid ( Graves).

Nobody is forcing you to do anything. If you don't want this particular surgeon to remove your tooth using a GA then find one who will remove it with a local!

A general anaesthetic is not recommended without a reason.
Can you get a second opinion if you don't think that a general is necessary?

I've had two wisdom teeth out under local and it was worse than labour. My husband had his done under GA and it was a great experience. I'd listen to the dentist.

You're not being forced. It doesn't matter what you signed. You can withdraw your consent any time.

Equally dentists / surgeons can refuse to treat you in the way you want.

Seek a second opinion.

God I didn't even know they do wisdom teeth extraction under local

Please be careful about accusing anyone of forcing you to do something.