Side effects and risks of anesthesia at the dentist
General anesthesia is a safe procedure that is used daily in hospitals. A mixture of different drugs is administered to regulate the body functions. These have side effects which, after waking up from the anaesthesia, can be seen, for example, as Besides these quite harmless but unpleasant short-term side effects, there are also risks which the patient should be aware of.
These include, for example, allergies to components of the drugs used, malignant hyperthermia, a genetic change that can lead to life-threatening conditions under general anesthesia, and the transfer of esophageal contents into the airways (aspiration). The latter can be avoided by sobriety prior to surgery and proper storage. Among the risks and side effects of sedation, the following should be mentioned Local anesthesia can cause infections at the injection site.If the nerve is hit directly, partial permanent numbness may occur.
If the local anaesthetic is applied to a blood vessel, it has an effect on the cardiovascular system. It may also cause intolerance or allergic reactions. As with all other anaesthetics, the maximum dose must not be exceeded.
- Nausea and vomiting,
- Headache,
- Confusion and
- Express tremor.
- Intubation for ventilation may cause hoarseness.
- The loss of protective reflexes,
- Unconsciousness or
- Respiratory and circulatory depression.
Anesthesia at the dentist during pregnancy
General anesthesia can also be used during pregnancy. However, it should be noted that only urgent dental treatment should be performed during pregnancy and elective procedures should only be planned for after delivery. Emergency treatments can also be performed under local anesthesia.
If dental treatment under general anesthesia cannot be avoided, the procedure must be carefully planned by the anesthesiologist, gynecologist and dentist to prevent complications. The same applies to analgosedation during pregnancy. Although Propofol is used during pregnancy for deep sedation (e.g. in intensive care), a risk-benefit assessment must always be carried out, as most treatments can be postponed until after birth.
Local anesthesia is usually unproblematic for a pregnant woman. The dentist can choose an anesthetic for local anesthesia that has a low placental patency and whose tolerance during pregnancy is assured, such as articaine or bupivacaine. There are no known negative effects of local anesthetics on mother or child during lactation.
