Sedation Information

Conscious Oral Sedation Instructions

 
** DO NOT TAKE THIS MEDICATION IF YOU MIGHT BE PREGNANT** Please notify our office to make other arrangements

1. Fill your prescription soon after it is given to you and keep it in a safe place until the day of your procedure.

2. Arrange to have someone drive you to the office and also drive you home after your procedure.

3. For 12 hours prior to your procedure, please refrain from all caffeine, alcohol, and narcotic or recreational drugs for your safety. Also, please restrict your smoking. These chemicals in your blood will limit your level of sedation.

4. Do not eat or drink anything after midnight the night before your procedure. Do not eat anything for breakfast on the day of your appointment. (No food or liquids of any kind.)

5. Wear comfortable clothing. Do not wear tight-fitting clothes that may restrict your breathing. Do not wear contact lenses.

6. On the day of your procedure, take your medication with a small amount of water one hour before your appointment time.

7. Although you are likely to feel perfectly normal, the medication you have received may affect your judgment and coordination for 24 hours following the treatment. DO NOT

   DRIVE A CAR, OPERATE DANGEROUS EQUIPMENT, MAKE IMPORTANT BUSINESS DECISIONS

   OR SIGN ANY LEGAL DOCUMENTS DURING THIS TIME.

8. Written and oral post-op instructions will be given to your driver.
9. If you have any questions, call for further instructions.

Post-Op Instructions for Oral Sedation

1. Please go directly home from our office and rest. It is best to take a nap until the effects have completely worn off. A responsible person should be with you until you have fully recovered from the effects of sedation.
2. You may seem alert when you leave. This may be misleading, so do not allow yourself to be left alone. The sedation medication may affect your judgment and coordination for 24 hours following treatment.
3. Do not drive a car or operate dangerous equipment for 24 hours after oral sedation.
4. Do not make any important business decisions or sign any legal documents for 24 hours after oral sedation.
5. Have someone hold your arm when walking. You should not go up and down stairs unattended. Try to stay on the ground floor until fully recovered.
6. As soon as the local anesthetic has worn off, please have something to eat and hydrate. You may eat and drink what you like, but we recommend softer foods, like pasta, chicken, smoothies, etc., for the first 24 hours.
7. It is not unusual to have some TMJ discomfort if your mouth remained open for a while during treatment. Please take minor pain relief medication (what you would take to relieve a headache). Please eat food that requires little chewing.
8. No sedatives or stimulants should be taken for 24 hours after the appointment (including alcohol, caffeine or nicotine).

For further assistance, please call our dental office in Durham, North Carolina, at 919-682-5327 to learn more about your dental sedation options. Our dentist, Dr. Alex Fleming, and our team are here to help.