Wisdom teeth removal is many people’s first under-the-knife surgery. Most individuals that get their wisdom teeth removed are between the ages of 17 and 25. Fear and anxiety are common issues you might face as the time of surgery approaches. Overall, this surgery is extremely low risk and there is not much you need to be worried about. Below is a list of 10 tips that will help teach you how to get over fear of wisdom teeth removal.
1) Are Dry Sockets Common?
Many people’s greatest fear may be the condition caused by the removal of a tooth known as “dry sockets.” This condition occurs when a blood clot is dislodged after tooth removal or does not form at all. Molar extractions have the highest rates of dry socket occurring, which is up to 30% of the time. Although this number might seem high, it can be significantly reduced by following proper protocols before and after the surgery. Ensure good oral hygiene and no smoking before and after the surgery. Also, make sure not to touch the area of the now-removed tooth until it has fully healed.
Even if you were to get a dry socket, the vast majority of them are temporary and resolve within seven to ten days! Ask your doctor about your dry socket risks to learn how to get over fear of wisdom teeth removal.
2) Understand Pain Management
In most scenarios, anesthesiologists will temporarily sedate and render you entirely unconscious. This will lead to little to no memories of the surgery and no pain. They will also often locally numb the area of tooth removal to guarantee no pain.
Immediately after the surgery, the area of surgery will become painful as the anesthesia wears off. This can be avoided with ice packs, ibuprofen, and, in severe cases, stronger painkillers prescribed by your doctor. The pain management required will also depend on your individual pain ranges or pain tolerance. Make sure to ask your experienced team of providers how to can avoid any other unnecessary pain!
3) Eat Soft Foods Post-Surgery
To ensure a quick wisdom teeth removal recovery, you should also eat soft foods and drink only water for a period of time. This means avoiding solid foods and increasing fluid intake. Although this might seem like a burden, instead you can think of all of the yummy foods you can eat! Plan ahead with your family and stock up on foods you know you will want to eat after successful treatment.
Some foods you can look forward to eating include ice cream, fluffy eggs, warm soup, apple sauce, and much more! Also, warm water and salt AFTER the first 24 hours of surgery can be very useful in keeping the area clean and reducing pain.
4) Achieve Maximum Comfort Post-Surgery
Ensuring physical and mental comfort after surgery can help significantly manage pain. Planning the wisdom teeth procedure on a day when you will not have any responsibilities for at least a few days after will be ideal. Plan relaxing activities at home and avoid physical activity to avoid excess bleeding. The second day will likely be semi-painful for your mouth. This is your body’s normal reaction to being cut open and will subside after a few days.
5) Family and Social Support
Getting support from loved ones before and especially after the procedure is important for both younger patients and older patients. Having someone that can mentally support you before the wisdom teeth surgery can help a lot. Also, having a family or close friend that can drive you back home from the surgery is necessary. These individuals can help create an effective schedule for each day after the wisdom teeth removal. Knowing that someone is there to support you after such a stressful event can be soothing.
Plan your first few days after surgery ahead so you can learn how to get over fear of wisdom teeth removal!
6) Avoid The Most Common Issue
Many times patients will make this dental extraction process seem way worse than it really is. This is a big mistake you should identify and avoid early on to prevent additional fear and anxiety. Understand that this procedure is very safe and is likely to be performed by multiple professionals! Whenever you get thoughts that cause fear or anxiety, attempt to breathe deeply through them and ask yourself if they are logical. Ultimately, it is okay to experience negative thoughts or feelings related to wisdom teeth surgery.
7) Remember Why You Need The Wisdom Teeth Removal Process
It can be very easy to forget the purpose of this procedure with the fear and anxiety that naturally occurs. You are getting your wisdom teeth removed to prevent a greater risk of future teeth problems and keep the state of your teeth pristine. The second molars and third molars are the teeth most commonly removed during wisdom teeth removal. Removing these molars will give your mouth enough space for the other teeth and prevent future adverse reactions.
If you are a younger patient and getting your wisdom teeth removed as an early precaution, that is fantastic! Preventative surgery can be a great way to learn how to get over fear of wisdom teeth removal.
8) Ask Your Doctor About The Process
Any questions you have that are not answered with a Google search can be asked on the day of your surgery! Remember the best source for wisdom teeth removal information is the surgeon and his or her team. Ask them if there is anything you need to do to ensure a comfortable extraction procedure. Ask them if it will be a quick office visit or if it will take at least a solid hour. The doctor and his/her team should reassure you and make you feel very comfortable prior to the surgery. These individuals will also likely give you information on how to care for yourself following the surgery.
9) Understand Post-Operative Care
There are a few very important things you must do on the first day after surgery and for the next few weeks. You will likely get a prescription of antibiotic that will help your mouth heal and prevent a painful infection. You should also know what to do in case of minor bleeding (which is very normal) for the first few days after the surgery. Some additional dressing will help ensure that you quickly stop any excess bleeding. Food and eating, as previously mentioned, will also be a vital part of post-surgery. Eating cold foods and avoiding firm foods is the general rule of thumb.
Mixing a teaspoon of salt with water and swishing it in your mouth is an effective and safe method for killing any bacteria near the healing wound. Ultimately, knowing these things beforehand is very useful for learning how to get over fear of wisdom teeth removal.
10) Practice Muscle Relaxation
It is likely that your muscles will be tense both before and after the procedure. Muscle relaxation is a technique where you flex certain muscle groups and then relax them repeatedly. This strategy works best when you pick muscle groups that are already tense. For example, your neck muscles might be tense before surgery, which can lead to increased stress and anxiety. By actively relaxing these muscles, you reduce stress and anxiety. Additionally, this technique takes your attention away from thoughts and feelings to the present moment. This can be particularly beneficial if you cannot stop thinking about wisdom teeth surgery.
Conclusion
Learning how to get over fear of wisdom teeth removal can be challenging and stressful for many. However, there are a variety of steps and precautions you can take to decrease overall anxiety and fear. Wisdom teeth removal is an overall very safe procedure. Taking additional precautions prior to surgery can make your chances of success even higher. Confront challenging thoughts and ask yourself if they are logical or simply causing you additional. Follow the tips above to reduce stress, anxiety, and fear while also increasing your chances of a safe wisdom teeth surgery!
Wisdom Teeth Removal Sources
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17731-dry-socket