Pre-Operative Instructions for Oral Surgery
Medications
- Take all of your regular medications with a small amount of water, unless otherwise directed by a doctor from our office or your primary medical doctor.
For Patients Receiving Intravenous (IV) Sedation:
- Do NOT eat or drink anything for at least 8 hours before your appointment.
- If your surgery is scheduled in the morning, do not consume any food or liquids after midnight the night before.
- Clear liquids (such as water, apple juice, or broth—anything you can see through) may be consumed up to 4 hours before surgery.
For Patients Receiving Nitrous Oxide (N₂O) Analgesia:
- Do NOT eat or drink anything (including water) for 3 hours before your appointment, unless otherwise instructed.
Additional Pre-Surgery Guidelines:
- No smoking for at least 12 hours before surgery. Ideally, reduce or stop smoking as soon as possible before your procedure.
- A responsible adult must accompany you to the office, remain in the office during the procedure, and drive you home.
- Plan to rest for the remainder of the day after surgery.
- For 24 hours following IV sedation, do NOT:
- Drive a vehicle
- Operate machinery
- Make important decisions
- Wear loose-fitting clothing with sleeves that can be rolled up past the elbow and low-heeled shoes.
- Remove contact lenses, jewelry, and dentures before surgery.
- Do NOT wear lipstick, excessive makeup, or nail polish on the day of surgery.
- Avoid alcohol and recreational drugs for at least 72 hours before surgery, as they can negatively affect anesthesia.
- If you develop an illness such as a cold, sore throat, stomach virus, or bowel upset, please notify our office as soon as possible.
- If you are unable to keep your scheduled surgery appointment, please provide at least 48 hours’ notice for cancellation.
Important Note for Women:
- Some antibiotics may interfere with the effectiveness of birth control pills. Please check with your pharmacist for guidance.
For any questions or concerns, contact our office at: 708-942-8154
