You can never be too prepared, especially for wisdom teeth removal. It is very important that you prepare the best you can before your surgery in order to have a restful recovery. Preparing may also help settle any nerves you may have about getting your wisdom teeth removed. We have compiled a set of guidelines that will set you up for a smooth recovery and ease your worries.
Set Your Appointment
In most cases, your family dentist will tell you when it is time to get your wisdom teeth removed. Once that happens you will need to set an appointment with a qualified oral surgeon. When you set up your appointment be sure to inform your surgeon of any preexisting medical conditions and any medication you may be on. Either of these things can influence the way your surgeon goes about removing your wisdom teeth.
Ask Questions
Once you have set the appointment your surgeon may give you specific guidelines to prepare for your surgery. This will be a good time to ask your surgeon specific questions about your procedure. Here are a few questions to ask your surgeon:
- How many teeth are you planning to remove?
- How early should I arrive at my appointment?
- How long will my procedure take?
- Should I avoid taking prescribed medications before surgery?
- How long should I fast before my procedure? (Generally, it is advised to fast for eight hours before surgery, but it can differ depending on the circumstances and surgeon).
Figure Out Finances
Wisdom Teeth removal varies in cost. Once you have found a doctor to remove your Wisdom Teeth give their office a call to talk about payment options. If you are planning to pay out of pocket simply plan for the upcoming costs. If you are planning to use health insurance, your doctor’s office will be able to confirm if they accept your insurance. They will also be able to give you an accurate estimate of what your copay will be. If you do not have insurance some offices offer payment plans that split up the cost of the surgery month to month.
Plan Your Schedule
In the upcoming weeks before your surgery start to finalize your schedule. Schedule an easy day before your surgery and plan to not eat eight hours before the surgery. Next, clear your schedule for 1-2 days after your surgery. It can take a full 24 hours for the anesthesia to fully wear off and you may be in some pain post removal.
After 1-2 days you can go back to your normal routine. But, try to avoid any strenuous activities for at least a full week. Of course, everyone recovers at a different pace, but it is best that you have some wiggle room in your schedule just in case.
Arrange Transportation
It is important that you find someone to drive you home from your appointment. After your wisdom teeth removal, you will still be groggy from the anesthesia, and it will not be safe for you to drive. Find a friend or family member to drive you home and try to arrange one or two backup drivers in case anything falls through.
Practice Good Oral Hygiene
Of course, you should regularly be brushing your teeth. But, in the days leading up to your surgery, your oral hygiene needs to be excellent. Make sure you are brushing your teeth, flossing, and using mouthwash at least three times a day. After Wisdom Teeth removal, you will not be able to brush your teeth for 24 hours. Practicing good oral hygiene before your surgery will better ensure that there
Prepare Medication
If you know that your Oral Surgeon is planning to prescribe you pain medication see if they can prescribe it before the surgery. This way you don’t have to pick up the medication when you are groggy and can focus on recovering. It is also a smart idea to get generic pain medicine like ibuprofen, in case you stop taking your prescription.
In addition to medication, you will want to purchase some ice packs. After your procedure, your cheeks will get pretty swollen (think chipmunk cheeks). Icepacks will help get the swelling to go down.
Buy Soft Foods
After surgery, your mouth will be pretty sore and swollen. We suggest that you stock up on soft food before your surgery to make sure you have the best recovery possible.
Here are some soft foods we recommend that you add to your grocery list:
- Greek yogurt
- Smoothie
- Mashed potatoes
- Apple sauce
- Cottage cheese
- Broth
- Mashed banana or avocado
- Hummus
After a few days, you can start to test out new foods. But in the weeks after your surgery try to avoid crunchy foods that require more chewing, like apples. You will also want to avoid small foods, like seeds or rice, that can easily get stuck in the holes where your wisdom teeth used to be.
Prepare Entertainment Options
It’s here, the chance to sit around and watch movies all day. After surgery, you will need to rest in order to recover properly. Before your surgery make sure to charge your iPad or get a good batch of crosswords ready to go. Whatever kind of entertainment you choose make sure it is calming and doesn’t require much movement. So get your spot on the couch with your favorite blankets ready to go, because you will be there for a day or two.
The best thing you can do to prepare for your wisdom teeth removal is to find an experienced oral surgeon you trust. Here at Simply Wisdom Teeth, Doctor Henrickson has done thousands of surgeries. His knowledge, experience, and enthusiasm for what he does make him a great oral surgeon. If you are looking for competitive pricing and knowledgeable and kind staff, Simply Wisdom Teeth is the place for you. Book your free consultation and exam today!
