Must be a regional thing. Where I live, wisdom teeth extraction is usually done without general anaesthesia, sometimes even when it's all four in one go (AFAIK this isn't recommended for some reason).
Colonoscopy is another example. I had one a few months ago, The nurse injected me with a bit of midazolam, and apparently that was all I needed. I lay down with a stupid smile and began watching the video feed. I remember some bloating and some bubbling sounds, and the slightest bit of pain (comparable to having eaten something bad), but mostly the cool video and how chill it all was. Two minutes after the procedure I was able to walk to my clothes, get dressed, and five minutes after that I was having a completely serious conversation with the doctor about the results and my regime.
I strongly prefer how it went to getting put under for such a non-event.
The only surgical treatments I have had so far were all related to teeth: complicated extractions (including 3 of 4 wisdom teeth), a sinus lift, and 4 implants in total.
Everything done in local anaesthesia only. Unpleasant, but zero pain during the operation proper.
Colonoscopy is another example. I had one a few months ago, The nurse injected me with a bit of midazolam, and apparently that was all I needed. I lay down with a stupid smile and began watching the video feed. I remember some bloating and some bubbling sounds, and the slightest bit of pain (comparable to having eaten something bad), but mostly the cool video and how chill it all was. Two minutes after the procedure I was able to walk to my clothes, get dressed, and five minutes after that I was having a completely serious conversation with the doctor about the results and my regime.
I strongly prefer how it went to getting put under for such a non-event.