Surgical Instructions

Preoperative Instructions for Patients Undergoing Intravenous Sedation Anesthesia

  1. You may not have anything to eat or drink (including water) for eight (8) hours prior to the appointment.
  2. You may take prescription medications with a sip of water the morning of surgery unless otherwise instructed by the doctor.
  3. DO NOT SMOKE for at least 24 hours prior to anesthesia.
  4. Avoid aspirin, Alka Selzer and other aspirin products for 7 days prior to surgery.
  5. Please call our office if you develop a cold or respiratory infection within 2 weeks before anesthesia.
  6. A responsible adult must accompany the patient to the office, remain in the office during the procedure, and be able to drive the patient home.
  7. The patient should not drive a vehicle or operate any machinery for 24 hours following the anesthesia experience.
  8. Please wear loose fitting clothing with sleeves which can be rolled up past the elbow, and low-heeled shoes. Hard contact lenses, jewelry, and dentures must be removed at the time of surgery.

 

The removal of impacted wisdom teeth and surgical extraction of teeth is quite different from the extraction of erupted teeth. The following conditions may occur, all of which are considered normal:

  1. The surgical area will swell.
  2. Swelling peaks on the 2nd or 3rd post-operative day
  3. Trismus (stiffness) of the muscles may cause difficulty in opening your mouth for a period of days.
  4. You may have a slight earache.
  5. A sore throat may develop.
  6. Your other teeth may ache temporarily. This is referred pain and is a temporary condition.
  7. If the corners of the mouth are stretched out they may dry and crack. Your lips should be kept moist with cream or ointment.
  8. There will be a space where the tooth was removed. After 24 hours this area should be rinsed following meals with warm salt water until it is healed. This cavity will gradually fill in with new tissue.
  9. There may be a slight elevation of temperature for 24 to 48 hours. If temperature continues, notify us.
  10. It is not unusual to develop bruising in the area of an extraction.

 

Special considerations following removal of impacted teeth:

Removal of impacted teeth is a surgical procedure. Postoperative problems are not unusual, and extra care must be taken to avoid complications.

Severity of postoperative pain will depend on the procedure and your physical condition. Take medication for pain precisely as directed.

Healing of the surgical site is variable.

Swelling can be expected. Be certain to apply ice bags as directed above.

Difficulty in opening your mouth widely and discomfort upon swallowing should be anticipated.

Numbness of lips and/or tongue on the affected side may be experienced for a variable period of time.