News, Teen Dies in Dentist Chair While Wisdom Teeth Removed. (pain, surgery)

[John1960]

In a rare, but tragic incident, a Waterloo, Ontario teen died July 4 during a routine trip to the dentist for the removal of three wisdom teeth, according to an article on the Canada-based Web site, TheRecord.com.

Leejay Levene went to a Waterloo dental surgeon last week, sat back in the dentist's chair and slipped under a general anesthetic.

FOXNews.com - Teen Dies in Dentist Chair While Wisdom Teeth Removed - Health News | Current Health News | Medical News

[OREGONRAIN]

I am so sorry to hear this, In 1988 I had a root canal and opted for the general anesthetia. I could not be revived and woke up in a ambulance being revived by paramedics, and then admitted to a hospital for 1 day. I was told I had a reaction to the general anesthesia. I simply think the dentist and or his nurse did not administer it properly or gave too much of it. I have had general before and after this miserable dentist visit with no problems what so ever. Again I am so very sorry to hear about this young teen, and can only imagine how difficult this must be for the teens family.

[BlueWillowPlate]

This is just heartbreaking.
I know these things happen, but it doesn't make it any easier.
That poor boy, and his poor family.
I am glad you were okay, Oregonrain. I and my husband and our older son got through the wisdom teeth thing just fine. It certainly makes me think twice about facing this with my younger son.

[livinak]

Wow, that is tragic...so young. I had my four wisdom teeth removed while under general anesthesia and the only side effect I had from it was puking my guts out for about an hour or so after they woke me up.

[vvs_nails]

My cousin 17 year old daughter died 48 hours after haveing wisdom teeth removed. They say she just forgot to breath. dannelle jones

[Beth56]

There was a young boy around 8 years old I believe who was administered an adult dose of the drug for a tooth extraction and was deprived oxygen. He is now disabled.

[eddiek]

Dentist office hints:

General anesthesia should be administered by a board certified Anesthesiologist, not a dentist.

Sedation should be administered only if the dentist has had the appropriate training to do so, and is willing to show his verification of such.

Emergency equipment should be available in ANY facility which administers any type of anesthesia, including local. Bad things can happen from a local anesthetic. NO anesthetic is 100 percent safe. We had a child die in the dental chair from an overdose of local, and inappropropriate repsonse to such.

the satff should be trained in use of the equipment, and in CPR. These credentials should be available to the patient upon request.

[emilybh]

It sounds like that poor kid should have had his wisdom teeth removed in the hospital like I did. What a shame!

[foma]

If I had read this before my surgery last year, I can guarantee you I'd still have my wisdom teeth in tact, even with the significant pain I was experiencing. Yikes, what a tragic story.

[yhwhshalomjr]

Sorry to hear of this tragic, yet untimely, unecessary death. I still from time to time have horrible flash backs, of my first clinical in a Trauma Center in the Northeast, my first observation as well as very first patient I ever had except for a cadaver. She was on a ventilator with staph before she finally expired about a month later; Her story was that she had all four wisdom teeth removed under general anesthesia, but aspirated because the tracheal cuff was not inflated properly and she had aspirated .N-E-G-L-I-E-N-C-E.
I watched a person who was in perfect health die a slow horrible death. This girl's face I can still remember. and this was almost 28 years ago.