If you have an appointment with one of Virginia Family Dentistry’s periodontists for surgery, please follow the instructions below carefully. If you have any questions regarding your treatment, please call the office in which you were seen.
Pre-Op Instructions
Inform our office of ANY changes in your health status. Please bring with you a list of all medications you are taking.
If you are not being sedated, DO eat prior to your appointment. This is especially important for diabetic patients.
If you are being IV sedated, DO NOT eat or drink for 6 hours prior to your surgery appointment.
Medications Prior to Treatment
Blood thinners: Please be sure to inform our office if you are taking blood thinners. If you are taking medications such as Aspirin, Coumadin, Plavix, or other blood thinners, our office will consult with your primary care physician to be advised whether or not to discontinue the medication prior to surgery. Non-steroidal medications such as Advil and Motrin act as blood thinners as well and should be discontinued 7-10 days prior to surgery.
Pre-medication: If you have been advised by your physician or dentist to use antibiotic pre-medication because of prosthetic heart valves, artificial knee or hip replacements, history of infective endocarditis or other cardiac/medical conditions, please take as directed or call our office for instructions before the day of your scheduled visit.
Other Medications: Take all other routine medications as directed by your doctor.
Antibiotics
Please alert our office you have any allergies or adverse reactions to any antibiotics or other medications.
You may be prescribed an antibiotic if it is necessary for your procedure. Antibiotics should be taken as directed until gone. It is advisable not to take these medications on an empty stomach as nausea may result. For women taking birth control pills, be advised that antibiotics may interfere with their effectiveness.
Sedatives
If you elect to be sedated for your procedure, you must have a ride to and from the office. No taxi service is permitted. After taking sedatives, you are not to drive or undertake any business/employment, make any decisions, sign any important papers, operate machines, etc. for the next 24 hours following surgery. It is strongly recommended that patients sedated with oral or IV medications be closely monitored at home for 4-6 hours after surgery.
Food Suggestions
When preparing a post-op menu, please consider some of the following choices:
- Jell-O
- Bananas
- Yogurt
- Pasta
- Milk Shakes
- Casseroles
- Eggs
- Fish
- Cottage Cheese
- Ensure/Slim Fast
- Soups
- Pudding
- Rice
- Apple Sauce
- Oatmeal
- Macaroni & Cheese
- Mashed Potatoes
If you have any questions regarding your treatment, please call the office in which you were seen.