Wisdom Teeth Removal: The First 24 Hours
When your dentist tells you that it’s time to have your wisdom teeth removed, don’t panic! Wisdom teeth extraction is a pretty common procedure that many people go through every day.
Still, it’s hard to know what to expect. Some people go through the whole event with no problems, while others experience difficulty and pain. There are, however, a few commonalities that you can trust will happen, regardless of your personal situation. Here are the top 5 truths:
You will have a choice of laughing gas or anesthesia
Personal preference is the name of the game with laughing gas vs. anesthesia. No matter which you choose, you will receive a local anesthetic to numb the area. It boils down to whether you want to be awake to see your teeth pulled or if you want to be completely out so that you don’t see anything happening. Ultimately, the choice is yours but you’ll want to thoroughly discuss what’s best for you with your dentist/oral surgeon.
You may be puffy
Your face will most likely look like a squirrel with a mouth full of seeds, and who’s getting ready to hibernate for the winter. It’s all perfectly normal. In fact, you most likely will experience even more puffiness 48-72 hours after the surgery. And don’t be alarmed if you see bruising. Again, it’s normal.
There might be some blood
Before you even leave the surgical center, you will be given gauze to bite down on to help stop the bleeding. After that, you can experience intermittent bleeding for a couple of days. Some surgeons recommend biting on a moist tea bag to help control it even more.
You will eat a liquid diet for 24 hours
Get used to your diet consisting of broths, yogurt, pudding, and smoothies (but don’t use a straw as it can remove the blood clots forming in your sockets). After 24-hours, you can move on to scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes, pasta, and other soft foods.
You may be a couch potato
Most people schedule their surgery when they will have plenty of time to stay home to recuperate. For example, you could book your appointment on a Thursday so that you have a long weekend before you head back to school or work. Planning on staying at home and on the couch or in bed is important because you will most likely be unable to drive due to the pain medications.
No-Cost Wisdom Teeth Removal Study
If having your wisdom teeth removed at no cost interests you, you’ll want to check out the clinical research studies being held in Salt Lake City, Utah and St. George, Utah.
JBR Clinical Research, a Utah-based company, is conducting a clinical trial on a wisdom teeth surgery and is accepting applications. Qualified participants may be compensated for time and travel.
Visit the JBR Clinical Research wisdom tooth clinical study page to learn if you may qualify for wisdom teeth extraction in Utah at no charge.
