TL;DR
If your treatment involves general anesthesia, follow the fasting times on your written instructions exactly, because food or drink in the stomach can be dangerous under anesthesia. Ask before the day which medications to take or hold, and never stop a blood thinner or diabetes medicine on your own. Wear loose, short-sleeved clothing with no jewelry, nail polish or contact lenses. An adult must drive you home and stay with you for the rest of the day. Call Stone Falls Dental Care at (618) 624-2800 if you become ill or anything changes beforehand.
How should I prepare in the days before general anesthesia?
Preparation starts at your pre-operative visit, when your medical history and medications are reviewed and you can ask anything that worries you. Use that visit fully. The more we know about your health, the smoother the day of treatment will be.
- Bring a complete list of your medications, including vitamins, supplements and herbal products, with doses.
- Tell us about any heart, lung, kidney or liver condition, diabetes, sleep apnea, past reactions to anesthesia, and any chance you could be pregnant.
- Arrange for a responsible adult with a license to drive you home and stay with you for the rest of the day.
- Avoid alcohol for at least 24 hours before your appointment.
- Stop smoking and vaping for as long as you can beforehand; even a day helps your breathing under anesthesia.
- If the patient is a minor, a parent or legal guardian must come and stay for the whole appointment.
When should I stop eating and drinking before anesthesia?
Stop eating and drinking at the exact times given in your written instructions. An empty stomach matters because anesthesia relaxes the reflexes that normally keep stomach contents out of the lungs. If you eat or drink after the cutoff, call us before you leave home, as the appointment may need to move.
- No solid food after the time on your instructions; for a morning appointment this is usually midnight.
- Until your liquid cutoff time, drink only clear liquids such as water, clear apple juice or black coffee without milk or creamer.
- No milk, juice with pulp, alcohol, chewing gum, mints or candy after your cutoff.
- If you are unsure whether something counts as a clear liquid, leave it out and ask us.
Which medications can I take the morning of treatment?
Take only the medications you were told to take, with a small sip of water. Many people continue their usual blood pressure, heart, breathing and seizure medicines, but your own list is checked one by one at the pre-operative visit.
- Never stop a blood thinner on your own; any change must come from the doctor who prescribed it.
- Diabetes medicines and insulin often need a changed dose while you are fasting, so ask for specific directions.
- Tell us well ahead if you take a weekly GLP-1 medication such as semaglutide or tirzepatide, since anesthesia guidance for these may change your instructions.
- Bring any inhaler you use, and take it that morning if you normally would.
What should I wear and bring on the day?
Dress for comfort and for the monitors that will be placed on you during treatment. Brush your teeth that morning as usual, taking care not to swallow the water.
- Wear a loose, short-sleeved top and flat, comfortable shoes.
- Leave jewelry, piercings and watches at home.
- Remove nail polish from at least one finger so the oxygen sensor reads accurately.
- Skip makeup, lotion and contact lenses; bring your glasses instead.
- Bring a photo ID, your insurance card and your medication list.
Who needs to come with me, and what happens after?
An adult must drive you home after general anesthesia and stay with you for the rest of the day. The drugs used can affect your judgment and reflexes for many hours, even when you feel alert. For the next 24 hours, do not drive, operate machinery, drink alcohol or sign important documents.
Your aftercare depends on the treatment, so follow the written instructions you are sent home with. Our pages on care after a tooth extraction and after implant surgery are there to read ahead.
When should I call the office before my appointment?
Call (618) 624-2800 as soon as anything changes. A cold, cough, fever or stomach bug in the days before can make anesthesia less safe, and rescheduling is far better than taking that risk. Call too if your medications change, if you might be pregnant, or if your driver falls through, so the day can be arranged properly. Questions are welcome at any point beforehand, however small they seem, because a clear answer the day before is far better than uncertainty on the morning itself.