General Hospital star Chris McKenna shared a shocking health update that left fans worried. The actor revealed why a routine dental visit turned into an emergency.
Chris McKenna reveals emergency surgery needed to remove cyst
General Hospital alum Chris McKenna (ex-Jack Brennan) revealed on October 5 that he requires emergency surgery. The actor shared the news on X (formerly Twitter) along with a dental X-ray image. McKenna disclosed that a routine dental visit led to the unexpected discovery of a serious jaw condition.
He explained that a broken crown repair last month uncovered the problem. “I had a broken crown fixed last month and they discovered a spot on my x-ray,” McKenna wrote. He added, “Turns out I need emergency surgery in the morning to remove a cyst that has eaten away my jawbone and have a bone graft.”
Despite the alarming diagnosis, McKenna expressed gratitude that the issue surfaced when it did. “Good thing I broke that tooth! This is gonna hurt but lucky we caught it,” he declared. In a follow-up post, he joked, “The good news is I’m gonna be on pain meds for weeks and my tweets might be hilarious.”
Fans and fellow industry professionals quickly rallied around McKenna in the replies. A retired dental assistant commented that the cyst appeared large and called McKenna very fortunate. One fan suggested he have his impacted wisdom teeth removed to prevent future issues. McKenna responded, “My surgeon recommended to not do that because of the way they are positioned in my jaw unless they start causing me problems.”
The health scare follows McKenna’s recent departure from General Hospital. He has portrayed Jack Brennan on the ABC soap opera since February 2025. The show killed off his character in September when Jack was found dead in the Metro Court pool. McKenna previously told TV Insider about the exit, saying, “I’m really grateful. It’s disappointing how it’s ending right now, but this was a gift.” His son Spencer will likely keep his spirits high during recovery.