What are the risks of general anaesthesia at the dentist?

General anaesthesia is a safe and commonly used procedure, but as with any medical intervention, there are certain risks involved. These risks are mostly rare and depend on the individual health of the patient. The main risks of general anaesthesia include:

• Allergic reaction to anaesthetics: Some patients may be allergic to certain components of anaesthetics, which can lead to adverse reactions such as skin rash or more severe reactions.
• Breathing problems: Breathing difficulties may occur during anaesthesia, especially in patients with respiratory problems (such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).
• Cardiovascular complications: Anaesthesia can affect blood pressure and heart function, which is particularly important for patients with heart problems.
• Nausea and vomiting: After waking up from general anaesthesia, some patients may feel nauseous or vomit. This usually goes away after a few hours.
• Loss of consciousness and confusion: Older patients or people with certain health problems may experience temporary confusion or disorientation upon waking up.
• Damage to teeth or oral cavity: Minor injuries to the teeth or oral cavity may occur when inserting a breathing tube into the throat.
• Rare complications: In rare cases, more serious complications such as respiratory arrest or cardiac arrest may occur, but these are managed under the careful supervision of an anaesthetist.
• Long-term effects: Some patients may experience fatigue symptoms such as drowsiness or disorientation after general anaesthesia, which may last for several hours to days.

Before any procedure involving general anaesthesia, a thorough preoperative examination is performed to help determine whether the patient is suitable for this type of anaesthesia and to minimise risks. It is always important that the procedure is performed by an experienced team under the supervision of a qualified anaesthetist.