Pre-Operative Instructions
Pre-Operative Instructions for Your Dental Appointment
Preparing correctly for your dental procedure keeps you safe and helps everything run smoothly on the day. This guide provides a general guideline on what to do before appointments involving sedation, oral surgery, and general dental work at Cambridge Centre Dental Care.
The instructions you need depend on the type of procedure and whether you are having sedation. Find the section below that matches your appointment. If you are unsure which applies to you, call us at 519-624-4640 and we will confirm.
Important: The specific instructions our team gives you when booking your appointment always take priority over this general guide. If anything here differs from what you were told, follow the instructions from our office and call 519-624-4640 if you have questions.
If You Are Having Oral Sedation
Oral sedation involves taking a prescribed medication in tablet form before your appointment to help you relax. Follow these steps unless our team has told you otherwise.
Before your appointment
- Follow the specific fasting instructions given to you when booking. These vary depending on the medication used.
- Take the sedative medication exactly as prescribed, at the time our team specified.
- Arrange for a responsible adult to drive you to and from the appointment. You cannot drive after oral sedation.
- Wear loose, comfortable clothing.
- Tell us about all medications and supplements you take, and any changes to your health since booking.
On the day
Have your responsible adult bring you to the clinic. The medication will already be making you drowsy, so do not attempt to drive or travel alone. Plan to have someone stay with you for several hours after the appointment, as the effects take time to fully wear off.
If You Are Having Iv Sedation
IV sedation is administered through an intravenous line and produces a deeper level of relaxation. Preparation is more involved than for oral sedation, and fasting is required.
Fasting before IV sedation
Do not eat or drink anything, including water, for the number of hours our team specified before your appointment (typically 6 to 8 hours). An empty stomach is a safety requirement that reduces the risk of a rare but serious complication during sedation. If you eat or drink when you were told not to, your appointment may need to be rescheduled.
Medications before IV sedation
Take your regular prescription medications only as directed by our team. Some medications should be taken with a small sip of water on the morning of the procedure (for example, blood pressure medication), while others may need to be adjusted or paused. If you have diabetes, ask us specifically about your medication, since fasting affects blood sugar management. Do not make changes on your own. Confirm with our office first.
What to arrange and wear
- A responsible adult must drive you home and stay with you for the rest of the day. You cannot drive for at least 24 hours after IV sedation.
- Wear loose, comfortable clothing with short sleeves or sleeves that roll up easily, since the IV is placed in your arm.
- Remove nail polish from at least one finger on each hand so a monitoring sensor can be placed.
- Leave jewellery and valuables at home.
- Tell us about any recent illness, especially respiratory issues or a cold, as these can affect sedation.
If You Are Having General Anesthesia
General anesthesia puts you fully to sleep for the procedure. At Cambridge Centre Dental Care, general anesthesia is administered by Dr. Firas Al-Qadhi, a Royal College-certified anesthesiologist, working with a team of registered nurses. Preparation is the most involved of all sedation types.
Fasting before general anesthesia
Do not eat or drink anything, including water, for the full period our team specified before your appointment (typically 8 hours, or from midnight the night before for a morning appointment). This is a strict safety requirement. If you have not followed the fasting instructions, tell us immediately, as the procedure may need to be rescheduled for your safety.
Health and medication review
Before a general anesthesia appointment, our team reviews your full medical history and current medications. For patients having general anesthesia, do not take any medication on the morning of the procedure unless our anesthesiologist or team has specifically authorized it. Tell us about all health conditions, allergies (especially to medications), and any recent illness. If you develop a cold, fever, or breathing problem before your appointment, call us, because it may affect whether the procedure can go ahead safely.
What to arrange and wear
- A responsible adult must accompany you, remain at the clinic during the procedure, and drive you home. Plan for that person to stay with you for the rest of the day.
- Do not drive, operate machinery, or make important decisions for at least 24 hours afterward.
- Wear loose, comfortable clothing and flat shoes. Short sleeves allow monitoring equipment to be placed.
- Remove nail polish, jewellery, contact lenses, and any removable dental appliances before the procedure.
- Do not smoke or vape for at least 12 hours before the procedure. Reducing or stopping earlier helps your breathing and recovery.
If You Are Having Nitrous Oxide (laughing Gas)
Nitrous oxide is a mild inhaled sedative that wears off quickly. Preparation is simpler than for IV sedation or general anesthesia. Dr. Stephanie Harper DDS is a certified nitrous oxide sedation provider at our clinic.
- You do not usually need to fast for nitrous oxide, but avoid a large or heavy meal in the two hours before your appointment to reduce the chance of nausea.
- Most patients can drive themselves home after nitrous oxide because it clears from your system quickly, but confirm this with our team when booking.
- Tell us if you have a cold or blocked nose, since nitrous oxide is inhaled and nasal congestion can interfere with it.
- Take your regular medications as normal unless told otherwise.
If You Are Having Oral Surgery (wisdom Teeth or Extractions)
Before oral surgery
- Fill any prescriptions your dentist gave you in advance so you have pain medication ready at home.
- Stock up on soft foods (yogurt, smoothies, soup, mashed potatoes) and cold items for the recovery period.
- Arrange for someone to drive you home if you are having any form of sedation.
- If you smoke, stopping before and after surgery reduces the risk of complications like dry socket.
What to expect on the day
Plan to rest for the remainder of the day after oral surgery. Arrange time off work or school if your dentist recommended it. Set up a comfortable spot at home with pillows to keep your head slightly elevated, which helps reduce swelling.
If You Are Having a Standard Procedure with Local Anesthetic Only
For routine procedures like fillings, crowns, or a root canal done with local anesthetic and no sedation, preparation is minimal.
- Eat a normal meal before your appointment unless told otherwise. There is no fasting requirement for local anesthetic alone.
- Take your regular medications as usual.
- You can drive yourself to and from the appointment.
- Brush and floss beforehand, and let us know about any changes to your health or medications.
Root canal treatment in Cambridge
Questions about preparing for your appointment? Call 519-624-4640. We are open 7 days a week.
A General Checklist for Any Sedation Appointment
If your appointment involves any form of sedation, use this checklist alongside the specific instructions our team gave you.
- Confirm your fasting start time and follow it exactly.
- Confirm which of your regular medications to take and which to pause.
- Arrange a responsible adult to drive you and stay with you afterward.
- Wear loose clothing with accessible sleeves and flat shoes.
- Remove nail polish, jewellery, contact lenses, and removable dental appliances.
- Tell us about any recent illness, allergy, or health change before the day.
Frequently Asked Questions About Preparing for Your Appointment
Fasting keeps your stomach empty, which reduces the risk of a rare but serious complication where stomach contents enter the lungs during sedation. This is why the fasting instruction is strict and why an appointment may be rescheduled if you have eaten or had liquids when you were told not to. The fasting requirement applies to IV sedation and general anesthesia, not usually to nitrous oxide or local anesthetic alone. It depends on the type of sedation. For IV sedation and general anesthesia, the usual instruction is no water within the fasting window our team specified. Some protocols allow clear fluids up to a few hours before, but only if our team has told you that specifically. When in doubt, follow the exact instruction you were given and call us to confirm. Tell us right away, before the procedure begins. Do not hide it. Eating when you were told to fast can make sedation unsafe, and the procedure may need to be rescheduled. This is a safety issue, and our team would always rather reschedule than proceed when it is not safe. Yes, for oral sedation, IV sedation, and general anesthesia. The sedative effects impair your ability to drive safely for hours after the procedure, even when you feel alert. A responsible adult must drive you and, for deeper sedation, stay with you for the rest of the day. This is not optional. If you cannot arrange this, call us to discuss options before your appointment. This depends on your procedure and the medication. Some medications should be taken as normal with a small sip of water, others need to be paused or adjusted, particularly for diabetes and blood thinners. Do not decide on your own. Confirm with our team when booking, and follow their specific instructions. Call us. A cold, fever, cough, or breathing problem can affect whether sedation or surgery can go ahead safely. It is better to call and let our team decide than to arrive unwell. We may proceed, adjust the plan, or reschedule depending on the situation. For IV sedation and general anesthesia, remove nail polish from at least one finger on each hand so a monitoring sensor works correctly, and remove contact lenses before the procedure. Avoid heavy makeup. For nitrous oxide or local anesthetic, this is not necessary. Follow the specific instruction you were given for your appointment type. Call our office at 519-624-4640. When you book a procedure involving sedation or surgery, our team gives you instructions specific to your case. If you have lost those instructions or are unsure about any detail, call us before your appointment. We would always rather answer a question in advance than have you arrive unprepared.
Confirm your pre-op instructions by calling 519-624-4640, or book and manage appointments online.
Contact Cambridge Centre Dental Care
If you have any questions about preparing for your procedure, call us before your appointment. Our team is available seven days a week.