By Chris Grasso
Common surgical procedures like wisdom tooth extractions don’t usually lead to medical complications. In some cases, though, individuals have suffered severe pain because of dental procedures that they didn’t even need. The unnecessary removal of wisdom teeth can bring about its own set of complications, which are completely avoidable by being informed. Before letting a dentist operate on you, make sure you understand the risks of extractions and related procedures.
Know Your Reaction to Anesthesia
Some people have a sensitivity or allergy to general anesthesia drugs. This can cause them to experience a stroke or heart attack during surgery. It’s absolutely crucial to be aware of potential allergic reactions to specific drugs and to understand the alternative options. Accidental injuries related to anesthesia have been on the rise in the past 10 years. In fact, the death rate for people under full anesthesia has risen in recent years. According to German researchers, seven out of one million patients die during anesthesia. That might sound like a low number, but it’s nearly twice the number of deaths during the 1980s.
Know What Causes Dry Socket
Patients also risk medical problems while recovering from tooth extractions. Between two and five percent of people who have their wisdom teeth extracted get dry socket, an extremely painful condition that requires additional medical attention. In most cases, patients can prevent dry socket by keeping their mouths clean. Not all dentists, however, provide proper instructions for people who have a high risk for getting dry socket, including those who smoke or use certain birth control pills.
Nerve Damage Caused by Botched Extractions
Given the large number of nerves clustered in and around the mouth, it’s not surprising that some patients experience extensive nerve damage that can leave them handicapped for life. In some cases, dentists have accidentally severed nerves, causing loss of feeling or numbness in the mouths of patients. They can also damage nerves while pulling on wisdom teeth or cutting impacted areas. This nerve damage can affect the lips, tongue, and cheeks. Some patients even lose their sense of taste.
Tooth Extractions Can Damage Existing Dental Work
Wisdom teeth don’t always come out easily. Dentists often have to pull, tug, and cut them out. Patients don’t feel this when they are under the effects of general anesthesia. Violent extractions, however, can damage existing dental work. That often causes long-term pain, not to mention the additional expense of getting crowns, implants, and other dental work replaced.
The truly unfortunate thing is that not all people who have their wisdom teeth removed actually need the procedure. It has become a rite of passage that nearly all people undergo. Keeping the existing dental work in tact is very important and costly thing to do, CuperoLaw.com recognizes that dentists have a responsibility to protect their patients from unnecessary pain and expense. If you think that an oral surgeon has taken advantage of you, then it’s important to get the right legal representation before confronting the doctor as doctors know their rights and you should know yours.
Painkiller Complications
It may be a smaller percentage of people who are allergic or get sick from a painkiller given after a surgery, but would you want to find out after surgery. Being in immense pain after surgery is no time to find out that you may get sick after taking the pill given for you to deaden the pain. Others get very nauseous from these pills in addition to the pain being present. Know the feeling and effect you get from painkillers. This could save you from becoming ill and being in unnecessary pain.