Instructions for Patients Receiving IV Sedation/General Anesthesia

• Do not eat or drink anything (including water) for 8 hours prior to your appointment or after midnight.
• NO WATER OR FOOD OF ANY KIND.
• Arrange for a relative or friend to accompany you after the surgery. The person giving you a ride must accompany you during your appointment.
• The patient should not drive a vehicle or operate any machinery for 24 hours following the anesthesia experience.
• Minors under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
• Please wear loose fitting clothing and a short sleeved shirt.
• Get plenty of rest the night before your procedure. If you work on shifts, please do not work the shift the night immediately preceding your procedure.
• Contact lenses, jewelry, and dentures must be removed at the time of surgery.
• Do not wear lipstick, excessive makeup, or nail polish on the day of surgery.
• If you have an illness such as a cold, sore throat, stomach or bowel upset, please notify the office.

POST – OPERATIVE INSTRUCTIONS

PLEASE READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY

DAY OF SURGERY

1. Stick to a cool diet on day of surgery. For example, jell-o, pudding, popsicles, fruit juices with a lot of crushed ice and even ice cream.
2. DO NOT use a straw!
3. DO NOT SMOKE for 2 weeks after surgery. Smoking disrupts the healing process, promotes infection, and increases your need for pain medication.
4. DO NOT spit (spitting will enhance bleeding).
5. DO NOT rinse your mouth TODAY.
6. DO NOT drink any alcoholic beverages as long as you are taking medications.
7. Most oral and maxillofacial surgeries are accompanied with some degree of discomfort. Please take your medications as directed. Please make sure you are not allergic to any prescribed medication.
• A. Antibiotics: Must be taken until completely finished.
• B. Pain Medication: As directed, as needed.
• C. Other Medication: As directed.
**Please check with your pharmacist about any drug interactions with medications we have given and your other daily medications, vitamins, or herbal supplements. All medications should be taken with food.
8. Intermittent bleeding or oozing is normal. Bleeding should never be severe. If bleeding should remain uncontrolled, please call our office for advice.
9. When you get home, please take the gauze out. Look in your mouth to see if you have any bleeding. If there is no bleeding, you do not need to use the gauze. Eat something cold and sit in an upright position for 4-5 hours. If you do have some oozing, take new sterile gauze and place it in the area of the surgery, bite down for 20 minutes and take out. Once again, revert back to cold foods. If the bleeding does not stop, repeat using new gauze and cold foods and/or crushed ice in your mouth. The more cold foods you have, the faster the bleeding will stop! Pressure and cold will stop the bleeding.
10. You will have a prescription for pain medication, and if you take the first pill before the anesthetic has worn off, you will be able to manage any discomfort more easily. Effects of pain medicines vary widely among individuals. If you do not achieve adequate relief, please call our office. Some people may even require two of the pain medications at one time during early stages (but this may add to the risk of upset stomach or other side effects). Remember that the most severe discomfort is usually within the first 6 hours after the anesthetic has worn off; after that your need for pain medications should lessen.
11. Nausea is a common event after surgery, and it is sometimes caused by stronger pain medicines. Nausea may be reduced by preceding each pill with a small amount of soft food, then taking the pill with a large volume of water. Try to keep taking clear fluids and minimize the pain medication, but call our office if you do not feel better or if repeated vomiting becomes a problem. Cola drinks may help with nausea.

SECOND DAY OF SURGERY

1. Stay on a warm, soft diet; for example, mashed potatoes, soup, eggs, macaroni and cheese, cream of wheat, and spaghetti. You may also continue with cold foods.
2. Keeping your mouth clean after surgery is essential.
3. Brush your teeth after each meal. Be very gentle around the area of surgery.
4. You are being asked to (doctor will advise):
• A. Rinse your mouth out with warm salt water a minimum of 20 times a day. Use ¼- ½ tsp. of table salt with an 8-ounce glass of warm water.
• Or
• B. Rinse your mouth out with a solution of warm water and milk of magnesia approximately 20 times a day. Use 1 tbsp. of milk of magnesia with an 8-ounce glass of water. These rinses are important for proper oral hygiene. We ask that you continue rinsing for at least 10 – 14 days after the surgery.
5. Take pain medication as you need it; otherwise take 2 Extra-Strength Tylenol/Advil every 4 hours for pain.
6. Please call the office when you awaken in the morning to go over your post-operative instructions or to address any questions.

THIRD DAY OF SURGERY & DAYS FOLLOWING

1. Use the heating pad 20 minutes on and 30 minutes off to the side of your face for a few days for any swelling and/or discomfort.
2. Take it easy for 7-10 days. Stay out of a dirty environment and cold weather. Refrain from any physical activity until you are further advised.
3. Continue with either the warm salt-water rinse solution or milk of magnesia rinse solution, as advised by doctor, for two weeks after surgery.
4. Call our office if you have any problems, we can be reached 24 hours a day through our answering service when we are not in the office.