As far as I know, there’s really nothing you can do to minimize the potential for nerve damage later. It’s all going down to the skill of the oral surgeon and their team. As well as just however complex your “teeth situation” is. Basically the position of the tooth and the nerve. So to me, it’s not something to worry about because you can’t do anything about it. The oral surgeon should tell you what the risk is during consultation, then you can decide. I’m assuming they’ve given you a low chance for complications, which is why they’re willing to proceed.

I got mine removed when I was around 26-27, which is a little late. It was never really recommended to me by dentist or orthodontists, until I started having issues. One of my wisdom teeth was starting to erupt and the soft tissues around the tooth were getting inflamed/infected from food particles and such getting stuck all up in there. I think all 4 of my wisdom teeth were impacted so it was just recommended I get all of them removed at once.

And honestly, it was a pretty uneventful surgery and post-op. I was put under with propofol, and I was out practically immediately after they started pushing it via IV. I don’t remember what they gave me for pain reduction; I’m assuming just local anesthesia. I did wake up in the middle of the surgery because I could feel them pulling and yanking things in my mouth. I felt the pressure or tension as they were working, but otherwise no pain. I’m assuming they pushed a little more propofol beacause I was back out pretty quickly after they noticed I was awake and looking at them, being like “Wtf, why am I awake right now?”

Post-op and recovery, they gave me some Vicodin, which I loved, but obviously dangerous. I hear these days, Tylenol + Ibuprofen is the go-to, at least in the US. And supposedly it works very well. I strictly followed doctor’s orders on diet and not using straws, to prevent the possibility of dry socket. And thank god I didn’t get it. I did look a bit like John McCain or a chipmunk there in the day or two after the op, with the swelling. It was definitely more noticeable on one side over the other; not sure why.

But yeah, I didn’t have complications. Even the pain and discomfort was pretty minimal, though I’m sure I had the Vicodin to thank for that. But after 3 days, I didn’t need it anymore. Within like 4-5 days, all the swelling was gone and I was back at work. I did one check-up afterwards with the oral surgeon like 10 days afterwards and they said the healing was looking good and I didn’t have to come back unless I had some further complication. That was the last time I was in that office.

Like others have said, it’s a common outpatient procedure. Obviously that doesn’t mean no risk, as you know. But all things considered, it should be practically routine. Though it’s your decision, your body, your health. The doctors, family, friends, us randoms on the Internet, can only give you advice and anecdotes. Up to you to make that final decision.