Pre and Post Dental Sedation Information

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Pre Sedation Information

Before Your Appointment:

  • No Smoking – This can negatively effect your level of sedation
  • No Drugs, Alcohol or Narcotic Pain Medications – The dentist can not safely sedate you if these are in your system
  • No Caffeine – This can negatively effect your level of sedation
  • Do Not Take Any Non-Essential Medications (Unless cleared by your dentist beforehand)
  • Nothing to eat after midnight (Water is okay)

Preparing For Your Appointment:

  • Please leave jewelry and watches at home
  • No contact lenses
  • Remove any nail polish
  • Wear short sleeves and comfortable clothing
  • Wear comfortable shoes / socks
  • It is absolutely essential that you have your escort present for the appointment. We WILL NOT PROCEED with your appointment if your arrive alone.

Post Sedation Information

  • With sedation, a person is considered impaired for 24 hours. Therefore, a patient should not drive a motor vehicle, or operate any hazardous devices or machinery for 24 hours after the appointment.
  • A responsible adult should be with the patient until he/she has fully recovered from the effects of the sedation. The patient should not be left unattended, and should not make any important decisions.
  • The patient should not go up or down stairs unattended. When possible, have the patient stay on the first floor until fully recovered.
  • The patient should resume normal food intake after the appointment, unless otherwise directed by the dentist.
  • The patient should drink plenty of water after the appointment to prevent dehydration.
  • Always hold the patient’s arm when walking, as they may have problems with balance while under the effect of sedative medications.
  • Call the clinic if you have any questions or concerns. If you feel that the symptoms warrant a physician, go to the nearest emergency room immediately.
  • Pain management should be done with Acetaminophen (Tylenol) and Ibuprofen (Advil). These two medications taken together can be as effective as a narcotic, without any of the side effects. Narcotics have been known to have possible interactions with the sedation medications.