PRE-ANESTHESIA INSTRUCTIONS

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1) Eating & Drinking:  Nothing to eat after midnight before the scheduled appointment.  You are allowed moderate amounts of clear liquids (8 ounces) up to two (2) hours before the scheduled appointment.

          a.  Clear liquid includes: water, apple juice, clear jello, or Gatorade

          b.  DO NOT CONSUME: milk, soup, non-clear or juice with pulp

2) Medications:  Prescription medications should be taken as per your regular schedule, except for diabetes 

          a. Medication must only be taken with clear liquids described above (<8oz).

          b. DO NOT TAKE vitamins, herbal products, and non-prescription medication. 

3) Changes in Health: Inform our office of any change in your health situation, especially if you develop a cold or a fever a week before your appointment. 

4) Arriving: Arrive early enough to allow for a discussion of your health, a brief examination, consent for anesthesia, and question answering. 

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POST-ANESTHESIA INSTRUCTIONS

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1) Getting Home: You may be sleepy after the procedure and must be accompanied by one adult to ride home.  You are not allowed to drive for 24 hours.  You may develop nausea on the ride home so be prepared.

2) Home: A responsible adult should remain with the patient until the next day.

3) Activity: After returning home, you should rest for the remainder of the day and be observed.  It is common for patients to be sleepy, dizzy, and/or off-balance after receiving anesthetics.   

4) Eating & Drinking: Upon arrival home, your first drink should be four ounces of water, followed by clear liquids and soft carbohydrates for an additional 1.5 hours.  Hydration is more important than food. Do not consume dairy or meat for at least three hours following your arrival. 

5) Post-Treatment Effect: Some common after-effects include sleepiness, dizziness, nausea, shivering, dry mouth, muscle aches, and soreness of the mouth, jaw, or throat,  These symptoms may last for one to three hours, or on rare occasions, somewhat longer.

6) Intravenous Site: A very small percentage of patients experience postoperative tenderness and/or redness in their hand or arm which may be a chemical phlebitis (vein swelling) associated with intravenous infusion.  If this occurs, the patient should receive an anti-inflammatory agent such as Motrin ibuprofen).  Apply a warm compress and elevate the arm.

7) Seek Advice: If vomiting persists beyond four hours on four separate times.  If you are unable to drink liquids four hours after your arrival home.  If your temperature is elevated or elevates rapidly.  Please contact the dental surgeon or consult the ER.

8) Pain Medication: Expect to take Tylenol (acetaminophen) or Motrin ibuprofen) after the procedure to minimize any throat, mouth, or tooth soreness.  This should be started on arrival home and repeated every four hours (Tylenol) or six hours (Motrin) until the next day to ensure a good night's rest.

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To ensure that your visit is as swift as possible, please feel free to print and complete any of the following forms applicable to your visit. Arriving with all necessary paperwork greatly assists our staff in creating and updating your file while limiting your overall wait time.

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If you have any questions about any of the following forms, please contact a member of our staff for more information. 

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