The fact the kid is talking about having stitches in his mouth leads me to believe he had dental surgery, which is normally done by a dental surgeon and not a dentist. It is an indicator of how some medical regulations have been loosened in the past quarter century though. The last time I had to have dental surgery was 23 years ago, and I wasn't released until I had fully recovered from the anasthesia. Now you're shipped out of the recovery room as soon as your eyes pop open, and whether you're admitted to a hospital or sent home, you're someone else's problem.