When I had my wisdom teeth yanked last month, the whole pre-op med thing threw me off a little. My oral surgeon gave me this laundry list of stuff to take (and not take) before the procedure—antibiotics, some weird mouth rinse, and then something for anxiety because apparently I looked like I was gonna bolt out the door. I’m not usually anxious with doctors, but dental stuff is… different, you know? Anyway, I ended up taking the antibiotic and the rinse as instructed, but skipped the anti-anxiety pill at first because I thought I’d be fine. Big mistake. Had to take it at the office after all when my heart started racing.
Has anyone else had a similar experience with all these pre-surgery meds? Like, is this standard for most oral surgeries or does it totally depend on your doc? My friend had her wisdoms out a year ago and said she didn’t get any antibiotics at all—just told to fast and that’s it. Is it just luck of the draw? Also, did any of you get side effects from those rinses? Mine tasted like metal and made everything feel numb.
Honestly curious how much this varies. Did anyone have to do something unusual before their surgery, or am I just special (lol)?
My oral surgeon gave me this laundry list of stuff to take (and not take) before the procedure—antibiotics, some weird mouth rinse, and then something for anxiety because apparently I looked like I was gonna bolt out the door.
Totally get it. I had to take the mouth rinse too and honestly, that metallic taste stuck around for hours. Not my favorite. Antibiotics seem to depend on the surgeon—some are strict, others not so much. I’ve seen both approaches where I work. For my own wisdom teeth, they just told me to fast and skip aspirin, nothing else. Guess it really does come down to the doc’s preferences... and maybe how nervous you look in the chair.
That metallic mouth rinse taste is the worst—I remember thinking I’d never get it out of my mouth. For my last oral surgery (an implant), the pre-op instructions felt pretty intense too: antibiotics, rinse, and fasting, plus a whole page of what not to take. I was surprised they didn’t offer anything for nerves, but maybe I didn’t look as panicked as I felt.
Funny thing is, my friend had the same procedure with a different surgeon and only had to fast—no rinse, no antibiotics, nothing. Makes me wonder if there’s any real consensus on this stuff or if it’s just the surgeon’s style. I did ask for a second opinion because I was worried about overdoing it with meds, and the other office said their protocol was way simpler. It’s wild how much it varies.
Honestly, I wish they’d explain more about why you need each thing. The anxiety part is real though... I barely slept the night before.
Funny thing is, my friend had the same procedure with a different surgeon and only had to fast—no rinse, no antibiotics, nothing. Makes me wonder if there’s any real consensus on this stuff or if it’s just the surgeon’s style.
That’s exactly what threw me off too. My first oral surgeon basically handed me a “Do Not Eat” list longer than my grocery list, plus two different rinses (one of which tasted like I’d licked a rusty pipe) and antibiotics “just in case.” The second opinion? “Just don’t eat after midnight and show up on time.” Felt like I was prepping for either a NASA launch or a sleepover, depending on who you asked.
I totally get the anxiety part—I spent half the night before my extraction googling “what happens if you swallow mouth rinse” because I couldn’t remember if I’d spit it all out. And yeah, nobody offered me anything for nerves either... I must have looked way more chill than I felt.
It’s wild how much it depends on the dentist. Makes you wonder if they’re just following what they learned in school or just making it up as they go. Either way, wish they’d explain why certain things are actually necessary, not just hand over the instructions and hope we don’t freak out.
My first oral surgeon basically handed me a “Do Not Eat” list longer than my grocery list, plus two different rinses (one of which tasted like I’d licked a rusty pipe) and antibiotics “just...
It’s wild how much it varies, right? I’ve had patients come in with a full-on pharmaceutical arsenal and others who just got a “don’t eat breakfast” memo. Honestly, half the time, the pre-op routine seems to be more about the surgeon’s comfort zone than any universal best practice. Some swear by prophylactic antibiotics, others only touch them if there’s a clear infection risk. The rinse thing—usually chlorhexidine—does taste like you’re gargling a pocketful of nickels, but it’s supposed to cut down on bacteria. Whether it actually makes a big difference for everyone? Jury’s out.
Funny story: one guy told me his surgeon gave him Valium and he ended up napping in the waiting room, mouth open, drooling everywhere before they even called him back. Meanwhile, another patient was told to “just relax”—easier said than done when your jaw’s about to be pried open.
Honestly, I wish there was more consistency (or at least an explanation that isn’t just “because I said so”). The anxiety piece is real too; dental stuff hits different for most people. Sometimes I think half the battle is just knowing what to expect, not necessarily following twelve steps of prep.