For many, those wisdom teeth are nothing but trouble (or threaten to be nothing but trouble). Many jaws don’t have enough space for those four wisdom teeth (two up top and two down below) to come in without overcrowding your existing teeth or shoving them out of alignment. As a result, those wisdom teeth may arrive most awkwardly — crookedly, unevenly, or even only partially.
Many dentists recommend wisdom teeth removal in Yaletown before they can cause any problems. Even if not removed in advance, sometimes wisdom tooth extraction near you is necessary to protect your jaw from overcrowding and your teeth from being thrown out of alignment. Wisdom tooth extraction is a standard procedure staff at our dental office in Yaletown have completed countless times. But we know you’ll only go through the process once, and we want you to be prepared.
Here are five steps to take before wisdom tooth extraction near you.
Select an Oral Surgeon
Wisdom tooth removal is a specialized process best performed by our dental office in Yaletown, with dentists and staff who specialize in and are trained to perform the procedure quickly, effectively, and safely. Take the time to ensure that our dental clinic has an oral surgeon specially trained in surgical procedures and anesthesia.
Ask Every Question You Have (Even that One You Think is Embarrassing)
You’ve heard it before, and it’s true. There are no wrong questions. You and our dentist have the same goal regarding your wisdom teeth removal in Yaletown — to remove those teeth comfortably and safely without any complications and with a short recovery. Whatever questions you have, ask them in advance. Here are some common questions your oral surgeon will be happy to answer in addition to questions personal to you:
- Should I eat before my surgery? Or when should I start fasting?
- Do I need to arrive early for my appointment? How early?
- How long will it take?
- Will I be asleep, or what sort of anesthesia or sedative will you use?
- Should I drive home afterward?
- Will I need to take time off work?
- How long will it take me to recover?
Our dentist’s staff will have questions, too. Be sure to answer our dentist’s questions about your medical history and medications wholly and accurately.
Stock Your Fridge and Pantry
Our dentist will provide detailed recovery instructions, including suggestions about what you should eat (or avoid eating) and drink (or avoid drinking) in the days following your wisdom teeth extraction. You will not want to be grocery shopping after your extraction, so consider stocking up on some of these options before your appointment:
- Yogurt
- Apple sauce
- Pudding
- Cottage cheese
- Ice cream
- Fruits to make smoothies
- Water, Gatorade, juice, and tea bags
Plan For Some Downtime
Book a day or two off from work or bring in some backup for caregiving obligations while you spend a few days focusing on rest and recovery. Gather up all your cushions and pillows so you can keep your head elevated while you rest, and plan on doing no exercising, cooking, or cleaning for at least 24 hours. While at it, find all your charger cords for your electronic devices, and have them nearby. This is the time for napping, streaming, and reading.
Hydrate
Once your procedure date and time are booked, follow your surgeon’s instructions about preparing for your appointment carefully — including any instructions around fasting. Remember that fasting does not require abstaining from drinking water, Gatorade, juice, etc. Being and staying hydrated is especially important when you undergo any dental procedure under IV sedation. The more hydrated you are, the more accessible IV sedation will be to administer, and the less likely you’ll experience nausea afterward.
With those steps, you’ll have done your part to prepare for wisdom teeth removal in Yaletown. You can rely on the professional staff and oral surgeons at our dental clinic in Yaletown to do their part, too.