I.V. Sedation instructions

Conscious - I.V. Sedation Instructions for Adults

Instructions Prior to treatment with Conscious I.V. (moderate) Sedation  for adults

• You may not eat any solid food for eight (8) hours prior to your appointment.  It is OK to have a small meal (i.e. a toast) up to six (6) hours prior to the appointment and you may also have a small amount of clear liquids (i.e. water, apple juice) up to two (2) hours before treatment. To do otherwise may be a life threatening situation. If you have a morning appointment, please do not have any food or liquid after midnight.
  
• Any regular medications (high blood pressure, antibiotics, etc.) must be taken normally as prescribed by you physician.  Try to use ONLY A SMALL SIP OF WATER. The same applies for any medications prescribed by our office.
  
• You must have a responsible adult present during dental appointment and also to drive you home. IV medications cause prolonged drowsiness. 
  
• No alcoholic beverage 24 hours prior to the appointment. 
  
• Please wear loose fitting clothing and low-heeled shoes. You will have monitors attached during treatment. Try to have loose or short sleeved clothes to facilitate use of blood pressure monitor.  
  
• Try to avoid wearing jewelry and watches. These will interfere with establishing and/or maintaining an IV line (in most cases we will be using the hand), and with the pre-tracheal stethoscope which we will be using all the time during sedation.  
  
• Have with you an extra set of underwear and comfortable clothes. Although rare, accidental discharge of human waste during sedation is possible. Some patients have even considered using diapers while sedated. 
  
• Call our office as soon as possible if you develop any cold or flu symptoms such as: Stuffy Nose; Sore Throat; Cough; Sinus Drainage; Fever. We may need to reschedule.
  

• A parent or guardian must sign for and come to the appointment with anyone under 18 years old.
• Have nail polish removed before your appointment; it might interfere with the monitors we will be using (pulse oximeter).
• Try to NOT wear contact lenses the day of the scheduled sedation procedure. If for some reason you must utilize your contact lenses please bring with you appropriate solutions and containers to properly store/remove/clean/disinfect you contact lenses.

POST-IV (conscious/moderate) Sedation Instructions

• You MUST have someone stay with you until you can take care of yourself; this may take up to 24 hours. During your recovery period, you should not drive, operate machinery or complicated devices, or make any important personal or business decisions. You will not be allowed to be discharged by bus or taxi.
  
• After you return home, you need to rest for the first day and have a responsible person with you. You should not plan to drive a vehicle or operate potentially dangerous equipment for 24 hours after your treatment. 
  
• Post-operative nausea and vomiting may occur after sedation. Try to have light diet (i.e. toast, plain pasta, etc) and consume a small amount of food for the first 24 hours after treatment. Liquids are preferred.
  
• No alcoholic beverages should be consumed for 24 hours as these may seriously interact with sedation medications.
  
• A small percentage of patients develop tenderness, redness, or swelling at their intravenous site . If this occurs, please call our office at (805) 676-1611 or go to the nearest emergency room. If you believe this might be a life-threatening situation please call 9-1-1
  
  

If you have any questions, please feel free to call our office and thank you for trusting us with your sedation needs.