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Are you for real? What was that like? Holy moly, my skin is crawling just thinking about that. I have two bottom wisdom teeth, and am terrified of the day that

Are you for real? What was that like? Holy moly, my skin is crawling just thinking about that. 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.

eru 2y ago
I had three wisdom teeth taken out over the years also with only local anesthesia. That was in Singapore and Australia. 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.
isoprophlex 2y ago
Well I don't want to make it sound too easy; indeed the whole waving metal things in your face wasn't pleasant. I think in my agony I gripped the chair pretty hard, and I grunted to ask them to give me a little break once. (That's also me because I can't stand people getting too close to me). 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.
Toutouxc 2y ago
Must be a regional thing. Where I live, wisdom teeth extraction is usually done without general anaesthesia, sometimes even when it's all four in one go (AFAIK this isn't recommended for some reason). 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.
- inglor_cz 2y ago
  The only surgical treatments I have had so far were all related to teeth: complicated extractions (including 3 of 4 wisdom teeth), a sinus lift, and 4 implants in total. Everything done in local anaesthesia only. Unpleasant, but zero pain during the operation proper.
nippoo 2y ago
Yeah, in Europe it's pretty standard to extract wisdom teeth under local anaesthesia only (and perhaps mild sedation). You're pretty lucid throughout. 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...
- d13 2y ago
  Why? General anaesthetic is fun! The last time I was under for 6 hours. For a few days afterwards I saw the most incredibly interesting, detailed persistent hallucinations whenever I closed my eyes. They completely vanished when I opened them.
  - isoprophlex 2y ago
    Harmless recreational side effects of anesthesia, or mild neural damage? Who knows!
- bowsamic 2y ago
  I live in Europe and I even had a filling without local anaesthetic
Sharlin 2y ago
As others have said, around here it’s entirely SOP to do wisdom teeth removal under just local anesthetic. I guess you can get a GA if you pay from your own pocket. My own experience was not that different from a more routine dental op, though they did use a "curtain" so I was spared the sight of the gory details.
anonno478 2y ago
I keep reading stories like these from Americans, and it seems that it is more common to do this. Most of the people I have spoken to in my (Scandinavian) country use local anaesthetics unless the procedure is really complex.
hhjinks 2y ago
I had one taken out earlier this year. The tooth had to be cut into tiny bits to be extracted. No pain. Not really that different from a regular dental check, aside from the sound of the tools they used, and the fact it took 20 minutes. Tell them you want a radio on and focus on the music.
nicolas_t 2y ago
In France, it's done with only local anesthesia. I don't remember it hurting much during the actual teeth extraction. On the other hand, I had some bleeding afterwards and that was particularly uncomfortable. I did all 4 at once

eru 2y ago

I had three wisdom teeth taken out over the years also with only local anesthesia. That was in Singapore and Australia. 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.

isoprophlex 2y ago

Well I don't want to make it sound too easy; indeed the whole waving metal things in your face wasn't pleasant. I think in my agony I gripped the chair pretty hard, and I grunted to ask them to give me a little break once. (That's also me because I can't stand people getting too close to me). 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.

Toutouxc 2y ago

Must be a regional thing. Where I live, wisdom teeth extraction is usually done without general anaesthesia, sometimes even when it's all four in one go (AFAIK this isn't recommended for some reason). 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.

inglor_cz 2y ago
The only surgical treatments I have had so far were all related to teeth: complicated extractions (including 3 of 4 wisdom teeth), a sinus lift, and 4 implants in total. Everything done in local anaesthesia only. Unpleasant, but zero pain during the operation proper.

nippoo 2y ago

Yeah, in Europe it's pretty standard to extract wisdom teeth under local anaesthesia only (and perhaps mild sedation). You're pretty lucid throughout. 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...

d13 2y ago
Why? General anaesthetic is fun! The last time I was under for 6 hours. For a few days afterwards I saw the most incredibly interesting, detailed persistent hallucinations whenever I closed my eyes. They completely vanished when I opened them.
- isoprophlex 2y ago
  Harmless recreational side effects of anesthesia, or mild neural damage? Who knows!
bowsamic 2y ago
I live in Europe and I even had a filling without local anaesthetic

Sharlin 2y ago

As others have said, around here it’s entirely SOP to do wisdom teeth removal under just local anesthetic. I guess you can get a GA if you pay from your own pocket. My own experience was not that different from a more routine dental op, though they did use a "curtain" so I was spared the sight of the gory details.

anonno478 2y ago

I keep reading stories like these from Americans, and it seems that it is more common to do this. Most of the people I have spoken to in my (Scandinavian) country use local anaesthetics unless the procedure is really complex.

hhjinks 2y ago

I had one taken out earlier this year. The tooth had to be cut into tiny bits to be extracted. No pain. Not really that different from a regular dental check, aside from the sound of the tools they used, and the fact it took 20 minutes. Tell them you want a radio on and focus on the music.

nicolas_t 2y ago

In France, it's done with only local anesthesia. I don't remember it hurting much during the actual teeth extraction. On the other hand, I had some bleeding afterwards and that was particularly uncomfortable. I did all 4 at once