Wisdom tooth removal

Be sure to tell your doctor

• If you take blood thinners
• If you have diabetes or heart disease
• If you are allergic to numbing medicines or antibiotics
• If you are pregnant
• If you have inflammation or swelling right now, or it is hard to open your mouth

How to prepare

• X-ray. An X-ray is taken before the removal. Sometimes it is a 3D scan, to see the roots and the nerve.
• Food. Eat 1 to 2 hours before your visit. After the removal, you cannot eat for a few hours.
• Alcohol and smoking. No alcohol for 24 hours before. It is best to stop smoking in advance. Smoking slows healing.
• Afterward. Plan 1 to 2 quiet days. There may be swelling.

What to bring

• Your tooth X-ray
• A list of your medicines

How it goes

1. The surgeon looks at the X-ray and explains the plan
2. You get a numbing shot. Your cheek and tongue go numb
3. If needed, a cut is made in the gum and a little bone is removed
4. Sometimes the tooth is split into pieces. This makes it easier to take out
5. The socket is rinsed, and stitches are placed if needed
6. A gauze pad is put in, and you bite down on it

What you'll feel

• Pressure, vibration, and sounds. This is normal. It should not hurt
• If it hurts, tell the surgeon. You will get more numbing medicine
• Your mouth is open for a long time. You can ask for a break

Afterwards

• Keep the gauze pad in for 20 to 30 minutes
• In the first hours, hold something cold to your cheek for 10 to 15 minutes at a time, with breaks
• Do not eat for 2 to 3 hours. For the first day, avoid hot food, straws, and smoking
• Do not rinse your mouth hard. The blood clot in the socket must stay in place
• Swelling and pain for 3 to 5 days are normal. Take pain medicine as your doctor advises
• Stitches are removed after about a week, unless they dissolve on their own