[Nibbles]

I'm going in on Tuesday for my surgery on this tooth, and I have not heard a word from the dental surgeons office. I don't know if I am supposed to fast, or avoid doing anything before I go in. There have been a number of stories in the media today about surgeries done in private hospitals resulting in death, which is not increasing my confidence at all..

I don't know what to do, I can't live with this stupid tooth and the blazing headaches any more, but I really am not happy with the lack of basic info I've been given (they haven't told me how long the surgery will take, how long I should take off afterwards, or any of the very basic things) I've gotten more info from this site than I have from the doctor's office.

I realise that some of these are things that are my responsibility to ask, but I think that things like do I need to fast/stop taking any meds before surgery is one that they should be telling me before I go in? When I did ask questions of the nurse that I booked in with, I didn't really get helpful answers..

Any thoughts?

[Bryanna]

Hi NIbbles,

I understand your concerns and yes they should have been more explicit with their pre op instructions. I will offer you what we do with our surgical patients, but I also suggest that you call your surgeons office on Monday to clarify what their protocol will be. Don't assume that they will decide on a protocol at the time of the appointment as this needs to be decided ahead of time because in certain situations you should not eat and in other situations you should.

If you are having IV sedation, then you will need to fast for at least 9 hours prior to the surgery. This means nothing by mouth other than the water that you use to brush your teeth. IV sedation requires you to bring a driver with you as they will not let you drive the car home after the surgery. The IV sedation used in dental offices is not the same as the general anesthesia used in hospitals. It is referred to as "twilight sedation" which means that you will be conscious, but very sleepy and relaxed and have no recollection of the appointment. This type of sedation is very easy to awake from and usually has no long lasting affects.

If you are having nitrous oxide (laughing gas) or oral sedation (valium, xanax, ativan, etc), then you SHOULD eat a lite meal with a large glass of water about an hour or two prior to your appointment. The food helps to metabolize the medication, keeps your blood sugar up and prevents you from getting an upset stomach. The water helps to eliminate the medications being used.

If you are not having any form of sedation and just having local anesthetics (novocaine), then you SHOULD eat a lite meal with a large glass of water about an hour or two before your appointment to help keep your blood sugar up. Besides, you may not feel like eating for a few hours after the surgery, so this meal gives your body some fuel to go on.

Prior to the dental appointment, it would be wise to try and relax and not do anything too strenuous unless you have a certain exercise routine that you do every day. If so, then by all means do it!

As far as stopping your medications......... most medications should be taken as usual. There are some exceptions and this is something you need to ask the surgeons office on Monday.

If you take supplements....... stop all that are considered blood thinners about 3-5 days prior to surgery. Some of these are fish oils, garlic, gingko biloba, vitamin E, ginger, licorice, tumeric, peppermint, and cranberries. One recent report even stated that drinking tomato juice can thin the blood.

Vitamin C should be stopped at least 24 hours prior to oral surgery as this can interfere with the potency of the local anesthetics but resume taking the C as quickly as possible after the surgery as it helps with the healing. The B complex vitamins actually enhance the effectiveness of local anesthetics. We recommend that our patients take a good potency of B complex the morning of their surgery if they are not having IV sedation.

I hope this information is helpful to you. I know you are anxious to get this over with. Please call your surgeon's office on monday and discuss their protocol because it will help to lessen your concerns.

Please keep us posted on how you are doing! I'm sure you will be fine ~'.'~

Bryanna

Originally Posted by Nibbles

I'm going in on Tuesday for my surgery on this tooth, and I have not heard a word from the dental surgeons office. I don't know if I am supposed to fast, or avoid doing anything before I go in. There have been a number of stories in the media today about surgeries done in private hospitals resulting in death, which is not increasing my confidence at all..

I don't know what to do, I can't live with this stupid tooth and the blazing headaches any more, but I really am not happy with the lack of basic info I've been given (they haven't told me how long the surgery will take, how long I should take off afterwards, or any of the very basic things) I've gotten more info from this site than I have from the doctor's office.

I realise that some of these are things that are my responsibility to ask, but I think that things like do I need to fast/stop taking any meds before surgery is one that they should be telling me before I go in? When I did ask questions of the nurse that I booked in with, I didn't really get helpful answers..

Any thoughts?

[Bryanna]

Hi Nibbles,

I just thought of my reply to you suggesting to call your oral surgeon on monday and remembered that monday is a holiday!! So of course no one will be in the office......... so no help there :-((

If the surgeon planned on giving you IV sedation, you would have had to sign a release form and you would have been given strict instructions about not eating for at least 9 hours prior to your appointment. If he planned on giving you oral sedation, then he would have given you a prescription and instructions on how to use it. Do you recall any of those things being discussed?

Otherwise, you will have local anesthetic and will be given the choice of nitrous oxide (laughing gas) or not which means that you should have something to eat and a glass of water about an hour or two prior to your appointment.

Sorry if my other reply caused any confusion....... I forgot this was a holiday weekend!!

Please keep in touch ~'.'~

Bryanna

Originally Posted by Nibbles

I'm going in on Tuesday for my surgery on this tooth, and I have not heard a word from the dental surgeons office. I don't know if I am supposed to fast, or avoid doing anything before I go in. There have been a number of stories in the media today about surgeries done in private hospitals resulting in death, which is not increasing my confidence at all..

I don't know what to do, I can't live with this stupid tooth and the blazing headaches any more, but I really am not happy with the lack of basic info I've been given (they haven't told me how long the surgery will take, how long I should take off afterwards, or any of the very basic things) I've gotten more info from this site than I have from the doctor's office.

I realise that some of these are things that are my responsibility to ask, but I think that things like do I need to fast/stop taking any meds before surgery is one that they should be telling me before I go in? When I did ask questions of the nurse that I booked in with, I didn't really get helpful answers..

Any thoughts?

[Nibbles]

Thank you for thinking of me

We discussed all of the options you've mentioned, and when I rang to book the appointment I decided to go with oral sedation, but I haven't gotten a prescription for it.. I guess I'm just worried that they are being less than thorough now, what will the surgery be like! Literally, there have been stories all weekend about this particular hospital having deaths by negligence.. I know I'm being a bit silly, but I'm nervous about the whole thing

Ah, I just got through to them (it isn't a holiday here, but I got the machine when I rang before) Apparently there is absolutely nothing I need to know before I go in. :/ (The receptionist is not very friendly or helpful, and most put out when I asked how long it would take)

I am being silly. Thanks for all your support Bryanna, it is so very appreciated

[Nibbles]

Well, I survived the surgery It turns out I was supposed to have taken something before he did it, but I wasn't really upset so he said it would be fine. Thank you so much for your support, SO happy it is done! I've got arnica and supplements, so hopefully will be 100% soon!!

[Bryanna]

Hey Nibbles!

Very glad to hear the surgery is done and you are doing ok!!

Was it as bad as you thought it would be? Did the surgeon give you any details on what his findings were?

Thanks for keeping us posted.......... hopefully you will heal well!!

Bryanna

Originally Posted by Nibbles

Well, I survived the surgery It turns out I was supposed to have taken something before he did it, but I wasn't really upset so he said it would be fine. Thank you so much for your support, SO happy it is done! I've got arnica and supplements, so hopefully will be 100% soon!!