Tips For Having Your Wisdom Teeth Removed

I recently had my impacted wisdom teeth removed and in my preparation I discovered many useful things to help me through surgery and my recovery. I decided I would put them all together and share them with you!

1 – If you are a female and take birth control pills, stop taking them a week before surgery. The estrogen in them can prevent clotting and hinder healing when you have your wisdom teeth taken out. It can also increase the risk of getting dry socket – a painful condition where the blood clot that forms at the extraction site dislodges some days after surgery.

2 – Don’t drink through a straw or drink soda for a few days after surgery. Doing either of these can dislodge the blood clots and cause dry socket also!

3 – If you are worried about swelling, ask your oral surgeon for a prescription for steroids. Steroids will reduce the swelling associated with wisdom teeth removal. You can start them the day before or the day of surgery. Sometimes, your surgeon will prescribe them without you asking if they had to operate very close to one of the facial nerves.

4 – Wear comfortable clothes on the day of your wisdom teeth surgery. You will be hooked up to some medical devices – an EKG (I was hooked up to one that was 2 small pads on my upper chest and one on my left ankle), a blood pressure cuff, and an oxygen monitor on your finger. They will also want to give you oxygen or oxygen and laughing gas through a mask which fits over your nose.

5 – Don’t listen to other’s stories! I heard horror stories about wisdom teeth removal, especially if you’ve had another surgery in your life time – don’t listen! Each person responds differently. Don’t let people scare you with horror stories.

Having your wisdom teeth removed is surgery – but it’s something you can easily cope with if you’re prepared. Take advantage of your consultation appointment with the oral surgeon to ask any questions you may have and good luck!