Surgical Instructions

Pre-Operative Instructions

Take prescribed medication (antibiotics) until you finish the prescription. The night before your periodontal surgery:

• If your surgery is to be in the morning and you are receiving intravenous sedation, please do not eat after midnight. If you are taking oral sedation only, you may have a small glass of clear apple juice and plain toast or crackers, and you may have a very light, low-fat meal at least two hours prior to surgery. Regardless of type of sedation you will have, take your pre-medication (antibiotic and Motrin) with a small glass of clear apple juice.
• Please abstain from alcoholic beverages 24 hours prior to surgery, and while taking pain medication.
• If an anti-inflammatory has been prescribed (Motrin or Ibuprofen) begin taking it one hour before your appointment, as well as your antibiotic.
• If oral or I.V. sedation is being used, please arrange for your transportation and escort from the office. (And this cannot be a taxi or limo service.)
• Please rinse thoroughly with Peridex for one full minute one hour prior to surgery.

Patients Undergoing Intravenous Anesthesia

The instructions herein must be strictly adhered to before commencing with anesthesia. Neglecting any of the following may compel the doctor to cancel the start of treatment.

1. Eating and Drinking
   Do not eat or drink anything for six hours before your scheduled appointment. Patients who have a morning procedure should have no food or liquid after midnight. Those with an afternoon appointment should have only liquids at breakfast (consumed no later than six hours before treatment time). The exception to this is you may have one glass of clear apple juice two hours prior to surgery.
2. Medications
   Medications normally taken, should be taken unless otherwise agreed upon by this office, and may be taken only with a sip of water or apple juice.
3. Clothing and Make-Up
   Short sleeves or no sleeves are desirable and it is suggested that pants be worn as well as comfortable flat shoes. Please, no "one-piece" outfits. And remove finger nail polish for our blood oxygen monitor. Contact lenses must be removed before the anesthetic is administered. Leave all valuables at home.
4. Change in Health
   A change in your health, especially the development of a cold or fever, is very important. For your safety, your appointment may be postponed for another day. If possible, inform the office of any change in health immediately.
5. Arriving
   If you have been given a pre-medication, a responsible adult must drive you to the office. Arrive early.
6. Getting Home
   The responsible adult must accompany the patient or arrangements must be made to contact a responsible person at the time of discharge. Do not plan to drive a vehicle, operate potentially dangerous equipment, or make any important decisions for a minimum of 24 hours following intravenous sedation. Do not take a bus or taxi. A responsible adult should be with the patient until the next day. After returning home, the patient should rest for the first day and be carefully watched. Resting on the couch or in bed will prevent nausea... being overactive will possibly induce nausea.
7. Pain
   Depending upon the procedure performed, you may experience some pain or discomfort. Take your prescribed medication as directed to minimize or eliminate this problem.
8. Drinking and Eating
   The first drink should be plain water. Sweet drinks can be taken next (fruit juice or Gatorade). Small drinks should be taken repeatedly. Food may be eaten when desired, but it should be soft and not hot. No alcoholic beverages for 24 hours.
9. Intravenous Site
   A small percentage of all patients experience postoperative tenderness and/or redness in their hand or arm which is a chemical phlebitis associated with intravenous infusion. If this occurs please contact our office. To prevent phlebitis all patients should keep the arm that had the intravenous line elevated and apply warm (100 degrees F), moist heat as much as possible. If phlebitis does occur the patient should take an anti-inflammatory agent.
10. Seek Advice
    If vomiting persists beyond four hours, or if a temperature remains elevated beyond 24 hours, seek advice (call us or your doctor).