Wisdom Teeth Removal | Preoperative Instructions

Are your wisdom teeth causing you pain or discomfort? Oftentimes, patients ignore the signs of wisdom teeth problems such as impaction or cyst formation. How do you know if your wisdom teeth need to be removed and what are the steps to prepare for the procedure?

How Do I Know If I Need Wisdom Tooth Removal?

You might need wisdom tooth removal if:

• Your backmost teeth are very painful;
• You find it difficult to chew;
• Your backmost gums are bleeding and tender;
• You feel pressure pushing on your backmost molars.

The recommendation for wisdom teeth removal may be for any of the following:

1. Impacted wisdom teeth

An impacted wisdom tooth remains underneath the gums because it may have not enough space to erupt through. The trapped tooth can cause gum infections, and contribute to tooth crowding and jaw joint dysfunction.

2. Cyst formation

If the impacted tooth causes fluid formation underneath the gums, these fluids can become infected and turn into solid abnormalities known as cysts. Over time, cysts can damage jaw bone and lead to the deterioration of oral structure.

3. Half-erupted teeth

If the wisdom tooth does not erupt fully because of insufficient jaw space, the gum tissues surrounding the tooth may accumulate food debris and become infected.

To confirm the diagnosis, X-ray images of your wisdom teeth will be taken and examined closely by our dentists.

Wisdom teeth should be removed as soon as a problem is discovered to prevent them from causing further complications. If wisdom teeth are left in the gums, there’s a higher chance for cysts to form.

How Do I Prepare for Wisdom Teeth Removal?

Before you come in our office on your scheduled date, here are some tips and guidelines to follow so that you will be prepared:

1. Do not eat or drink anything within eight hours of your appointment.
2. Make sure you have a companion or designated driver. Wisdom teeth removal requires IV sedation and this can leave you groggy for several hours.
3. Sleep well the night before your consultation. Getting good rest will help stabilize your vital stats and ensure that your body will cooperate during the entire procedure.
4. Bring the necessary documents for financial purposes such as insurance card, credit cards, etc.
5. Brush and floss before you come in the office. This will minimize the risk of infection and also help our dentists to efficiently perform the procedure.
6. Dress in comfortable attire and footwear. Accessories such as jewelry and contact lenses will need to be removed prior to the procedure and, ideally, should be left at home.
7. Avoid wearing makeup or dark nail polish because these can affect the observation of your vitals.
8. Make sure you have disclosed all of your medical information and history to our dentists. This will prevent any issues or contraindications with the anesthetics that are used. If you have a general practitioner or medical specialist, it’s also a good idea to ask them if wisdom tooth removal will be safe for you.
9. Avoid smoking at least one day before you come in the office. Smoking is also prohibited for the first few days after wisdom tooth removal as it inhibits proper blood flow to the mouth.
10. Prepare for a soft diet for a few days. Examples of soft foods to include in your diet are soup, mashed potatoes, yogurt, scrambled eggs, pureed vegetables, and smoothies.
11. If you will not be able to come in for your appointment, please advise us at least 24 hours prior to your schedule.

Sedation Anesthesia Procedure and Reminders

At the Wisdom Teeth Guys in Utah, we use IV sedation anesthesia for our wisdom teeth removal procedures. We have Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) or anesthesiologists who will administer the insertion of the IV. Your vitals will be observed closely by our dental team including breathing, blood pressure, and temperature.

Because sedation anesthesia requires a considerable time of fasting, you must have nothing to eat or drink at least 8 hours before your scheduled appointment. This will prevent the possibility of aspiration and ensure that your body is stable throughout the entire procedure.

You will wake up usually within 10 to 20 minutes following the procedure, but the full of effects of the anesthetic won’t wear off for several hours. One of the reasons you will need to fast before the procedure is to reduce the chances of nausea and vomiting as the medication wears off.

How Do I Get Wisdom Teeth Removal in Utah or Dallas?

The Wisdom Teeth Guys dentists to perform wisdom teeth removal in Utah and Dallas, TX. We have offices in the cities of Bountiful, Murray, Provo and Syracuse in Utah and Arlington, Frisco, Garland, North Richland Hills, and Richardson in the Dallas metro area which makes it easy for you to visit us.

If you have wisdom teeth problems and would like to receive proper treatment, just call us at (801) 406-8670 in Utah or 214-317-4039 in Dallas or contact us using this web form.