For patients
Sedation
Let’s be honest. Getting dental work done is not something many people would put their hands up for willingly, let alone oral surgery.
Sedation is administered through an IV line (a drip). Medication is then given to help with pain, anxiety and causes relaxation. In a large proportion of patients, amnesia is a common (and welcomed!) “side-effect”.
At Origin Oral Surgeons, we have monitoring systems that keep track of your breathing, oxygen levels, conscious level, heart rate and blood pressure. For the vast majority, this is the best and safest option.
We also offer treatment to be carried out under general anaesthetic (GA). Commonly referred to as “knocked out” or “fully under”. This is performed in a hospital based setting, with an anaesthetist and a team of nurses. We perform this at Manaaki day stay facility at Mercy hospital. For certain procedures and patients, this is the best option.
A thesis research project in 2017 showed that patients undergoing wisdom teeth removal, recover quicker with less complications after sedation when compared to general anaesthesia.
What to do before your sedation appointment:
If you become ill:
Please inform us as soon as possible if you have become unwell, have a runny nose or difficulty breathing.
The week before:
Organise for someone to take care of you.
You MUST have a responsible adult to pick you up, bring you home by car, and stay with you for the rest of the day after your procedure.
Remove any fake fingernails, or thick lacquered fingernail polish.
This is required because we need to be able to see your natural finger nail to check your circulation and because it may also get in the way of the pulse oximeter (a small machine that gently clips onto your finger to keep track of your pulse and how well you are breathing).
on the day:
Do not apply any make-up, moisturisers, or fake tan.
Dress comfortably: a loose fitting short sleeve t-shirt is ideal
6 hours prior to surgery, stop eating. Milk, juice, and sugary drinks are all considered food.
2 hours prior to surgery, do not drink any more water
How to look after yourself after your procedure:
Pain management
Take medication as instructed EVEN when you’re not in pain
Numbness and bleeding
You will be numb after surgery. Be careful not to bite your tongue, cheeks or lips.
It's normal for the surgical site to have a slight ooze and dribble, but rinsing and spitting will make it worst. Playing or checking out the wounds will make it worse, so leave it alone.
Eating
It's very important to eat something when you get home, even if it's something small.
You should choose to eat soft foods that require minimal effort to chew: mashed potatoes, eggs, and fish are all good examples.
Do not drink from straws, or eat hard foods (like raw carrots).
Swelling
Unfortunately, swelling is a normal side-effect so please use ice packs as directed
Cleaning
When brushing your teeth, avoid the wound(s) as much as possible.
Additionally, it's very important that you use mouthwash as directed.
General care
Make sure that you rest up and take it easy.
Get in touch if you have any concerns.
