How should I prepare for wisdom tooth surgery?
Tell your surgeon about every medicine and medical condition, especially blood thinners and diabetes. Under local anaesthetic, eat a light meal beforehand; under sedation or general anaesthesia, follow the written fasting times exactly. Arrange an adult escort if you are being sedated, wear loose comfortable clothes, stock soft food at home and plan a few days of rest. At Creative Arts in Dubai you receive written instructions before your surgery.
Who treats you here Dr. Firas Osman Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon & Implantologist · Dr. Khalid Saeed Co-founder & Dentist · Dr. Somar Dahdal General Dentist
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Your wisdom tooth surgery preparation timeline
A general plan. Your own written instructions take priority, especially on fasting and medicines.
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| At the assessment | Give a full medical history and medicine list; ask which anaesthesia is planned; ask how long the surgery and recovery are likely to take |
| One to two weeks before | Book time off; arrange your escort if you are having sedation or general anaesthesia; if you smoke, stop now or cut down as much as you can |
| A few days before | Buy soft food and drinks; check you have the pain relief your surgeon recommended; put cold packs in the freezer |
| The day before | Avoid alcohol; read your fasting instructions again; prepare loose clothes and a bag; tell the clinic if you develop a cold, fever or cough |
| The morning of surgery | Eat or fast exactly as instructed; take the medicines you were told to take; brush your teeth; no make-up, nail varnish or contact lenses if you are being sedated |
| Leaving for the clinic | Bring your medicine list, ID, glasses case if needed and your escort's phone number |
Recovery after surgery is covered separately in our wisdom teeth recovery guide.
What should I tell my surgeon before wisdom tooth removal?
The medical history is not a formality. It decides whether surgery is planned as usual, which anaesthesia is safe and whether anything needs to be adjusted beforehand. Mention:
- Blood thinners, including warfarin, newer anticoagulants, aspirin and clopidogrel. Many people continue them for an extraction, with local measures to control bleeding, but the decision is made with the doctor who prescribed them. Never stop them on your own.
- Diabetes, and how well controlled it is. Fasting changes how insulin and some tablets should be taken, so you need specific instructions.
- Medicines for osteoporosis or cancer that affect bone, such as bisphosphonates and some injections, because they can affect healing of the jaw.
- Heart, lung and bleeding conditions, sleep apnoea, and any previous problem with anaesthesia.
- Pregnancy or the possibility of it, and breastfeeding.
- Allergies, especially to antibiotics, painkillers or latex.
- Supplements and herbal products, some of which affect bleeding.
For impacted lower wisdom teeth, the assessment also includes an X-ray and, where the roots are close to the nerve, a 3D CBCT scan. Our guide on wisdom tooth nerve risk explains what that scan is for.
Can I eat before wisdom tooth surgery?
It depends on the anaesthesia. Always follow the times in your written instructions; these are the general patterns.
| Anaesthesia | Eating beforehand | Drinking beforehand | Getting home |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local anaesthetic only | Eat a normal, light meal an hour or two before; you will not want to eat for a while afterwards | Drink normally | You can usually go home on your own |
| Laughing gas | Usually a light meal beforehand, as advised | Drink normally unless told otherwise | Often on your own, once the clinician confirms the effect has gone |
| Tablet or IV sedation | Follow the written instructions; you may be asked to avoid food for some hours | Follow the written instructions on water and other drinks | With a responsible adult |
| General anaesthesia | Strict fasting, with times given in writing | Strict limits, with times given in writing | With a responsible adult who stays with you |
Fasting protects your lungs if you are sick while sedated. Fasting for longer than asked does not make it safer and can leave you dizzy.
What to wear and bring on the day
- Loose, comfortable clothes, with sleeves that roll up easily above the elbow for a blood pressure cuff or an IV cannula.
- No nail varnish or gel on at least one finger if you are being sedated, so the oxygen sensor can read properly, and no make-up or jewellery around the face.
- Glasses rather than contact lenses under sedation or general anaesthesia.
- Hair tied back if it is long, and nothing in the hair that would make lying back uncomfortable.
- Your medicine list, ID and your escort's phone number.
- A scarf or hoodie for the journey home if you would rather not be seen with a swollen cheek.
Smoking, alcohol and being unwell before surgery
Smoking and vaping slow healing and raise the risk of a painful dry socket. Ideally, stop before the surgery, so that you do not have to stop and cope with a sore mouth at the same time; if you cannot stop, cut down as much as possible and plan not to smoke for as long as you can afterwards. This applies to shisha, medwakh and dokha too. Our guide on smoking after a tooth extraction explains why.
Avoid alcohol for at least the day before, especially if you are being sedated. If you develop a cold, cough, fever or a new infection, or start a new medicine, call the clinic before the day: sedation and general anaesthesia may need to be rescheduled, and it is better to find out the day before than in the chair.
Not booked yet? See how wisdom tooth removal is planned at Creative Arts, from X-ray and 3D assessment to surgery in our operating rooms and written aftercare.
Wisdom tooth removalPlanning time off and help at home
Many people plan two to three days of rest after a straightforward wisdom tooth removal, and up to about a week after several impacted teeth, because swelling usually peaks around the second or third day. Desk work is often possible sooner than physical work. If your job involves a lot of talking or heavy lifting, plan a little longer.
If you are having sedation or general anaesthesia, arrange an adult to take you home and stay with you for the rest of the day. The NHS advises, after wisdom tooth removal, not driving for 24 hours after a sedative injection and for 48 hours after a general anaesthetic, so include any school runs and work journeys in your plans. The after dental sedation guide covers that first day in detail.
If you are travelling soon after surgery, check timing with your surgeon; flying after dental surgery explains the considerations.
What to have ready at home
Shop before the day, so nobody has to go out while you recover.
| What | Why |
|---|---|
| Soft foods: yoghurt, laban, soups to serve lukewarm, mashed potato, eggs, soft rice, hummus | Easy to eat with a sore jaw and limited opening |
| Cold packs or frozen peas wrapped in a cloth | For the cheek in the first day, as your surgeon advises |
| Extra pillows | Sleeping with your head raised helps reduce swelling |
| The pain relief your surgeon recommended | So you can take the first dose on time, before the anaesthetic wears off |
| Gauze, if supplied, and old pillowcases | For any oozing on the first night |
| A soft toothbrush | To keep the rest of your mouth clean without disturbing the socket |
What and when to eat after surgery is covered in what to eat after a tooth extraction.
Nervous about the surgery itself?
Tell the team before the day, not on it. Sedation can be discussed at the assessment, and knowing exactly what will happen, how long it takes and how to stop at any point helps many people more than they expect. The guide to which dental sedation suits you sets out the options.