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Wisdom tooth begins emerging in people between the age of 17-21. These teeth are of great use if they are well-aligned while growing. But if they aren’t aligned in the right position, they can bring you a lot of pain, which can be unbearable. You will not even be able to speak or eat properly with that pain. In such situations, wisdom teeth removal becomes necessary.
If you do not get your wisdom tooth extracted on time, it can cause various other complicated dental problems. Get an appointment with your dentist to understand the seriousness of the situation. Wisdom teeth extraction sounds scary, but do not worry, as this procedure is quite common. Millions of people get their wisdom teeth extracted every year. Here are some steps that you can take to prepare yourself for wisdom teeth removal:
Clear Your Doubts With Your Dentist:
Many people are afraid of getting their teeth extracted, and they usually have numerous questions in their minds. Whenever you go for a consultation with your surgeon, it is important to clear all your doubts regarding the surgery. You can take a notepad with you at your appointment to write down all the answers to your questions. Having all the necessary information with you will help you stay calm or relaxed on the day of your surgery.
Selecting The Right Oral Surgeon:
There are numerous dentists available out there. But you have to choose the one that is well-educated and has years of experience. Teeth removal is known to be minor surgery, but certain complications can take place if the surgery isn’t done properly. These complications include nerve damage, infection, and bleeding. Check the records of the dentists and learn how many successful surgeries he has performed before choosing the right oral surgeon for you.
Stock Up All The Essentials:
After your tooth extraction, you will be asked to take rest for a few days. Therefore, it would be best for you to stock up on all your essentials. During the initial days after your surgery, you will need to be on a liquid diet, or you can eat soft foods. Stocking up food items like yogurt, soups, and smoothies would be beneficial for you. You can choose the flavors according to your preference. Remember not to utilize straws after your tooth extraction as the suction can lead to the damage of protective clots formed in the tooth socket.
Arrange Support And Transportation:
You will be discharged from the clinic on the same day of your wisdom teeth removal procedure. After the surgery, you won’t be in the condition to drive your vehicle.
Therefore, you need to arrange a transportation that will drop you at your home. How long you will not be able to drive will depend upon the sedation type utilized during the surgery. It would help if you took the advice of your dentist on this matter. An individual needs to be fully recovered before starting to drive after the treatment.
Apart from transportation, you should also consider asking for help from someone while you are recovering. When you get anesthesia during the procedure, you need someone to accompany you for at least the next 24 hours. This is because anesthesia may lead to dizziness or confusion, which refrains patients from making critical decisions.
Preparations To Pamper Yourself:
You will notice swelling in your mouth or cheek area after your wisdom tooth extraction process. So before you visit the surgeon for your procedure, ensure to make some ice in your refrigerator or, better, purchase a few ice packs. You will get relief from pain caused by the swelling when you apply ice cubes to the affected area.
Brushing your teeth at least for the next 24 hours after the surgery won’t be possible for you. So here is a hack that you can use to clean your mouth. Mix some salt in water and pour it into a bottle. Keep the bottle by your sink. You can use this salty water to clean your teeth, but don’t forget to shake the bottle before using it.
Take Some Time Off From Work:
Whether you are a working professional or a student, you have to take some time off from your work or school to recover from the tooth extraction surgery. Once you have booked your appointment for the surgery, write an application for leave and send it to your office.
Usually, patients need at least 1-3 days to fully recover. But people who have to do physical work at their workplace should resume their work after at least 4-5 days. If you are a sports player, you might have to take a longer leave. Inform your institution or coach well in advance to avoid any issues of leave later on.
Preparing Your Home For Recovery:
Last but not least, you should focus on preparing your home well in advance before your surgery. Do all the household chores beforehand so that you can take proper rest after the wisdom teeth removal. Set up an area that contains comfortable seating and multiple pillows for you to rest. Recliners are the best choices in such situations as they help keep your head elevated.
Apart from this, you need to ensure that everything you require is within your reach. Keep your mobile phone, magazines, laptop, books, and water close to you as you might need them frequently. Also, keep your towel close to you as sometimes your gums might bleed after the surgery.
To Sum Up
Wisdom teeth extractions may sound like a threatening experience. But you do not have to worry much if you have selected the right oral surgeon who has done various successful surgeries before. However, there are certain steps that you must take in order to prepare yourself for the wisdom tooth removal procedure.
Your to-do list to prepare yourself for tooth surgery includes clearing all your doubts, stocking up all the essentials, preparing your home, and arranging transportation. Take some time off from your work before you need to take proper rest for a few days after the surgery to recover.