Has the event ever happened where a patient goes in to get their wisdom teeth removed (in the past ten years) and they died in the surgery?

Bruce007

Not in any developed countries. In third world countries, the either don't remove them, or they just pull it out wihtout anisthetic. As for numbers, it's not a major medical procedure so I can't give numbers. Mar 08 06, 7:24 PM

Vance9991

Are you getting them pulled or something? Mar 08 06, 8:00 PM

satguru

There are a number of reports of dentists finding children dead suddenly after a routine general anaesthetic for an extraction. Some were proved to be negligent, others not, and the use of general anaesthetic in dentistry here seems to be almost obsolete as a result, and a doctor must now be available if I remember rightly. But I must add firstly it is incredibly rare and secondly the reason you have an anaesthetic is irrelevant, a few people die from them whatever operation is being carried out. But if you have teeth extracted in hospital they give you the option for general anesthetic and the facilities there for resuscitation and monitoring will mean very little will ever go wrong. Mar 08 06, 8:06 PM

wajo	Guru, there are still many children like my son (who is autistic) who require a general anaesthetic even for routine dental work. It's done in a day surgery with a specialist anaethetist. Mar 08 06, 9:42 PM

kaylofgorons

I recently had mine out and don't remember any death mentioned in all the papers I had to read and sign. Nerve damage is the most common side effect, I believe, and that's only for feeling in your chin. Mar 08 06, 10:01 PM

xfacilitatorx

I recently had bone grafting for my # 10 tooth. I had to sign a release for the chance of contracting HIV, Hepatitis and other maladys. WOW! Mar 08 06, 10:56 PM

McGruff

There is always a risk in surgery with a general anaesthetic, but if you are in good health otherwise, there is no reason to believe anything will go wrong. Impacted wisdom teeth that are free from disease (healthy) should not be operated on. There are two reasons for this: -There is no reliable research to suggest that this practice benefits patients. -Patients who do have healthy wisdom teeth removed are being exposed to the risks of surgery. These can include, nerve damage, damage to other teeth, infection, bleeding, and, rarely, death. Also, after surgery to remove wisdom teeth, patients may have swelling, pain and be unable to open their mouth fully. http://www.nice.org.uk/page.aspx?o=509 Here is an instance of a woman dying during wisdom tooth surgery, but as you can see, she had other medical problems that should have been taken into consideration. About: Woman dies during wisdom tooth surgery Date: 7 Nov 2002 Source: BBC News UK Edition Medical News Summary (summary of medical news story as reported by BBC News UK Edition): A woman who had undiagnosed neurological problems and was obese and asthmatic, died while under anesthesia for wisdom tooth removal. The anesthetist was unaware of her neurological testing at the time. URL: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2416415.stm www.wrongdiagnosis.com/news/ woman_dies_during_wisdom_tooth_surgery.htm Mar 08 06, 11:10 PM