If you are scheduled for a dental surgery in which you will be receiving anesthesia to keep you comfortable, please follow the following steps.

Compliance will help to ensure that your surgical procedure goes smoothly.

Preparing For Intravenous Anesthesia

Take care to follow a few simple steps when you are preparing for your anesthesia appointment:

  • Do not eat or drink anything, including water, for six hours prior to your procedure.
  • Do not smoke for a minimum of 24 hours prior to surgery. Ideally, we would like to see you stop smoking or at least cut back starting two weeks before your procedure.
  • Do not take medications that contain aspirin, weight loss products, herbs, vitamin E, or certain anti-inflammatory medications for at least seven days before the procedure and 24 hours after the procedure.
  • Wear loose-fitting clothes with sleeves that can easily be rolled up to expose the elbow.
  • Remove body piercings and leave all jewelry at home.
  • Take a shower and brush your teeth (without swallowing any water) the morning of your surgery, as this will help to minimize your chance of developing an infection.
  • Remember that dentures and contact lenses will need to be removed prior to surgery.
  • Do not wear excessive makeup, lipstick, or nail polish at the time of your appointment

When To Call Our Office

When preparing for your anesthesia appointment, you should be sure to contact our office if any of the following situations arise:

  • You develop a stomach ache, sore throat, cold, or bowel trouble.
  • You develop a fever, even a minor one.
  • You are taking oral medications.
  • You suspect that you might be pregnant, as medications and anesthesia could be harmful to your developing baby. You may need to reschedule your procedure.
  • You have a heart condition, diabetes, or liver or kidney failure.
  • You have an allergy to latex.

What To Bring To Your Surgical Procedure

You should also be aware of other potential complications that might arise after your wisdom teeth removal surgery:

There are a few important things to remember to bring with you on the day of your appointment:

  • Your health or dental insurance cards and a government issued ID.
  • Copies of any consent forms or an Advanced Directive, if applicable.
  • Your inhalers if you have emphysema or asthma.
  • If you are diabetic and take insulin, bring in a bottle of insulin and syringes.
  • A responsible adult, as you’ll need to have someone accompany you to the office. They should prepare to stay in the office throughout the procedure and to drive you home after the surgery has been completed.
  • Do not bring in valuables, jewelry, or cash.

Remember that after your procedure, you should not be operating any machinery or driving a vehicle for at least 24 hours, so take steps to arrange transportation if you need to go somewhere during this time period.

If you have questions about how to prepare for anesthesia or your upcoming surgical procedure, be sure to contact our office.