Surgery And Anesthesia Do Have Risks, And As With Any Medication Or Procedure, There Is Always The Chance What Something Unexpected Or Rare Can Happen.
Dental procedures and surgeries using anesthesia are safer today than ever before and used very commonly. However, this doesn’t mean there is no risk. Surgery and anesthesia do have risks, and as with any medication or procedure, there is always the chance that something unexpected or rare can happen. Certain patients are more likely to experience complications (including death) than others because of their age, medical history, lifestyle, and type of surgery. If you’re planning to have surgery be sure to share all the information about your health history and lifestyle to protect yourself. These risks can happen even without anesthesia if someone has poor underlying health. We feel like sedation, in many cases decreases overall risk for someone with compromised health because of lowered blood pressure and open iv access for medical emergency drugs.
If you have a complicated medical history you may be required to get medical clearance from your doctor prior to having a dental procedure.
- If you’re planning to have surgery, there are ways to lower your risk:
- Choose medications that will be safest for you
- Monitor yourself closely after the procedure especially if you are at higher risk and have a plan to handle if they should occur.
- You may be asked to stop certain medications or quit smoking to decrease the chances of complications.
- What pre-existing conditions make anesthesia riskier?
- The outcome of your surgery and effects felt after or during anesthesia might be higher if you have any of the following:
- Allergies to anesthesia or a history of adverse reactions to anesthesia
- Diabetes
- Heart disease (angina, valve disease, heart failure or a previous heart attack)
- High blood pressure
- Kidney problems
- Lung conditions (asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD)
- Obesity
- Stroke
- Seizures or other neurological disorders
