Wisdom Teeth Removal: A Guide For Anxious Dental Patients

Posted on

When you are a person who does not like to go to the dentist, the prospect of needing any kind of dental or oral surgery can cause you a great deal of worry and anxiety. However, as much as many people would like to avoid it, a large percentage of people will need to have their wisdom teeth removed at one point or another in their life. Wisdom teeth removal is a common procedure for oral surgeons but can be tough on a person who has a great deal of anxiety about dental work in general. To help ease those worries, get to know some of the steps you can take to prepare for your wisdom teeth removal surgery and talk to your oral surgeon about making these steps a part of your care plan. 

Take Anti-Anxiety Medications Prior to Surgery

Whether or not you are already receiving medical treatment for an anxiety disorder, a sedative drug that functions as an anti-anxiety drug can be very useful when you are anxious or worried about your wisdom teeth removal procedure. When you go to your dentist to schedule the surgery, be honest with them about your apprehensions and anxieties.

Dentists and oral surgeons do understand that some patients are more anxious than others and will often be quite accommodating. The oral surgeon can even prescribe you one or two doses of a medication such as diazepam, alprazolam, or other sedatives. You will likely be told to take a single dose about an hour before your surgery and then another after you get home.

This will help you to relax prior to surgery and will also allow you the option of not going under general anesthesia while your wisdom teeth are removed. Staying awake during your wisdom teeth removal will help you to remain aware of what is going on and will also make it so you can get home that much sooner after surgery.

Ask for Noise-Cancelling Headphones During Surgery

Even if you take a sedative before your wisdom teeth removal surgery, the sounds you hear during the surgical process can be confusing and can cause stress to a person prone to anxiety. As such, you should ask your oral surgeon if you can have noise-cancelling headphones to wear during your surgery.

Then, you can listen to music while the procedure is going on. This will not only help to block out the sounds of surgery but will also make the procedure seem to go faster. If your oral surgeon does not provide such headphones, you can also ask to bring in your own to help make the procedure go more smoothly both for you and your surgeon.

With these ideas in mind, you can be sure that you are well-prepared for your wisdom teeth removal surgery. You will be able to reduce your anxieties and get the dental care you need. Contact a local dentist, such as one from Family Medical Dental Center, for further assistance.


Share