Pre and Post Dental Sedation Information

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.