SEDATION AND ANESTHESIA VISITS
THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS FOR YOUR SAFETY: BEFORE & AFTER YOUR VISIT
PRE-SURGICAL PLAN
For any patient undergoing sedation or general anesthesia, a tentative pre-surgical plan is developed by the dental team in conjunction with the patient and family. When a child is unable or unwilling to cooperate before the visit, the dental treatment plan is tentative and may be subject to change on the date of treatment. The responsible adult (parent or legal guardian) will be updated on the date of treatment. If you are against any type of treatment modalities, it is important to share this with the dentist before the date of treatment.
All patients undergoing sedation or general anesthesia must have had a health or physical within 1 year of the date of treatment or must receive an updated health and physical from their pediatrician before the date of treatment.
Please be aware that most commercial dental insurance will not cover sedation or general anesthesia fees associated with dental treatment. You will be provided an estimate for the dental treatment, but ultimately the cost of the treatment is your responsibility.
Your will receive written instructions to take home with you before treatment as well as after treatment. Follow the provided written instructions, and any further instructions over the phone. You are responsible for maintaining communication with the dental team before your visit. Failure to follow pre-visit instructions or protocols will result in cancelation of the case, no exceptions. Safety is our top priority and we will not compromise in this regard.
PRE-VISIT INSTRUCTIONS
FOR SEDATION OR GENERAL ANESTHESIA
Before your child’s sedation appointment:
The Night Before Surgery
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REMOVE NAIL POLISH
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Have a regular meal with fluids (water) at a reasonable time (before 10:00PM- unless advised otherwise).
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NO SNACKING AFTER DINNER.
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GET A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP
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MEDICATIONS should be taken/postponed as directed by the anesthesia team.
Medication Instructions:
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Call our office ASAP if your child has any new medications or changes to medications before the date of surgery
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Take regularly scheduled medications as instructed by the dental and/or anesthesia team.
The Day of Surgery
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DO NOT EAT OR DRINK ANYTHING
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BRING A BLANKET
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BRING an EXTRA set of clothes
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Dress appropriately:
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YES: Loose fitting clothes, t-shirts, short-sleeve shirts, 2-piece pajamas, socks
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NO: Long sleeve shirts, jeans, sweaters, leggings covering the feet, onesies
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HAIR
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Long hair to be tied back low on the head.
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NO Braids.
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NO Jewelry (Earrings, finger rings, necklaces, bracelets, watches)
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NO Valuables
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Arrange for TWO adults to be present for your child's discharge.
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At least ONE parent/legal guardian must remain at the office during the procedure.
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NO other children should be brought to the appointment.
The dentist and/or anesthesia team reserves the right to cancel the scheduled surgical appointment for any reason that may jeopardize the safety of the anesthetic procedure
AFTER CARE INSTRUCTIONS
FOR SEDATION OR GENERAL ANESTHESIA
Please follow any specific instructions the doctor provided specifically for your child. The following general after care guidelines are to be used for informational purposes only. If you have any additional questions about your child's after care needs, please do not hesitate to contact our office directly.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Your child has received medications that can alter her/his perception, memory and coordination. Though full recovery is expected within the day of the procedure, effects of these medications can continue for up to 24 hours. By following these instructions, an uneventful recovery is expected. The following categories will address specific issues pertaining to recovery:
ACTIVITY
Provide help and assistance when moving- move slowly.
Allow your child to move on their own- do not force them or move them excessively- rocking, swaying can cause nausea and vomiting.
Close supervision is important to ensure the safety of your child.
MEDICATIONS
Resume taking any prescribed medications once fluids are being tolerated.
If prescriptions were given for the procedure, take as directed.
Over the counter pain relievers can be very helpful to take, especially if your child develops a temperature and should be specifically addressed by the dental team before leaving the office. If you have questions, please call us directly.
EATING AND DRINKING
Liquids may be consumed as soon as possible. Begin with frequent small quantities of clear fluids- water, pedialyte, gatorade. NO dairy products at first.
Progress slowly from liquids to soups to solid foods.
Increase the diet as tolerated depending on the response of the your child.
Taking your time increasing your child’s diet will help to avoid nausea and vomiting.
EXTRAS
On occasion, it is possible to see one or more of the following:
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Nausea and Vomiting - this is best avoided by minimizing or avoiding external movement (rocking, swaying) and slowly introducing your child to fluids as well as slowly progressing their intake from liquids to solids.
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Elevated Temperature - may be noticed during recovery, though this will resolve with time, it is OK to give a medication like Tylenol or Motrin once your child is tolerating fluids.
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Fast Heart Rate - this is the result of medication given and will go away with time. If it persists more than 2 hours, please call the office.
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Red areas on the face and/or body - this is also a result of medication given and will go away with time. If it persist more than 2 hours, please call the office.
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On the day of surgery, clean your child’s mouth with a soft toothbrush and water. Resume normal brushing the following day unless instructed otherwise.
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Swelling may occur. Apply a COLD cloth to the swollen area for 20 minutes. Call if swelling persists for more than three days.
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Minor discomfort of the gums and teeth may occur after dental treatment. These symptoms should begin to gradually disappear in 2 to 4 days.
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If there are any problems experienced that were not discussed above or problems or difficulties are continuing, please call the office during business hours or use the provided after-hours number provided by the team at your visit.
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If you feel you have a true medical emergency, call 9-1-1 or go to the nearest hospital emergency room.
FOLLOW UP
Once your child has dental treatment completed under sedation or general anesthesia, it is very important to return for regular checkups to maintain optimal oral health. Please maintain any follow up care appointments and proper oral care as instructed by your dentist to ensure the best long-term outcome.