Having your wisdom teeth removed is a normal part of growing up. Every year, 10 million wisdom teeth are extracted from about 5 million people in the United States. Although millions of people have a tooth extraction procedure done each year with no complications, there are simple things you can do to prepare to avoid problems and reduce discomfort.

At Athens Family Dental, the best dental clinic in Georgia, the oral surgeon and his team have more than 25 years of experience with helping patients prepare to have their wisdom teeth extracted. Using state-of-the-art technology and innovative procedures, the oral surgeon team at Athens Family Dental make patients feel comfortable during the tooth extraction procedure.

3 Expert Tips for Preparing for a Tooth Extraction Procedure

1. Ask Questions

Before the dentist says, “Open wide,” make sure you have all of your questions answered. The highly trained and incredibly friendly team at Athens Family Dental can provide general information to help you understand the oral surgery, but you might have additional questions, including: Will you use general or local anesthesia? Have the impacted wisdom teeth caused damage to other teeth? How long should my recovery take?

2. Avoid Eating or Drinking

Depending on what type of anesthesia you receive, your dentist might suggest you avoid eating or drinking before the surgery. For example, general anesthesia might make you nauseous, so it would be best to fast the night before the tooth extraction. You’ll receive detailed instructions from the dental clinic staff on what to do the day before your scheduled oral surgery.

3. Make Arrangements for Post Tooth Extraction

The tooth extraction should happen as an outpatient procedure, which means you need someone to drive you home from the dental clinic. Following the surgery, you’ll want to apply cold packs to your face to reduce swelling and pain, and you’ll also want to buy over-the-counter pain medication to control the pain.

If you have any questions or concerns about what to expect during oral surgery, don’t hesitate to ask the friendly staff at Athens Family Dental. For more information about the comprehensive dental care available at the best dental clinic in Georgia, visit the Athens Family Dental website or call (706) 548-3279.