Day Of Surgery

Very Important Instructions

Surgery will be cancelled if the instructions below are not followed:

• No solid foods (including chewing gum and candy) 8 hours before surgery
  
• No liquids 8 hours before surgery
  
• Be prepared to be here for 3-6 hours for treatment to be completed.
  
• Wait times will vary depending on the amount of dental treatment our patient need
• We have a limited setting area please only have mom, dad, or guardian accompany the patient to the appointment.
  

Things to Bring

Failure to bring these items may result in delayed or rescheduled appointment

• Completed Patient Forms (see Patient Form Download)
  
• All Medical and Dental insurance cards for the patient. (Health Plan, Dental Plan, State Benefits Card, etc.)
  
• Parent/Guardian picture ID
  
• A parent or guardian must accompany the child on the day of surgery
  
• If the legal guardian is someone other than the biological mother and/or father, the guardian must bring guardianship papers or court order
  
• Parent or guardian must remain on our premises while patient is in surgery

What to Expect

Here’s a quick overview of what a typical surgery day is like: 

• You and your child will be greeted by one of our friendly staff; who will assist you in completing the pre-registration process.
  
• After completing pre-registration, you will be asked to wait in our waiting room until your child’s name is called.
  
• Wait times can vary between 1-3 hrs depending on the surgeries that have been scheduled on that day. We suggest bringing a favorite book or toy to help keep your child occupied during your wait.
  
• Once your child’s name is called, you and your child will be taken back to the Pre-Op area where a Nurse will go over a brief medical history with you.
  
• While in Pre-Op you and your child will meet the Anesthesiologist to discuss the anesthesia and review the medical history and also meet the Dentist who will explain the dental treatment. They will explain what will happen before, during and after surgery, and answer any questions you may have.
  
• When your child is ready, they will be given medication to help them relax before going into the operating room.
  
• Once in the operating room, an IV is placed and monitoring devices are attached.
  
• The parent is taken back to the waiting room while the patient is undergoing a complete exam including x-rays and treatment plan. During this process, a Dentist, Anesthesiologist, Nurse and Dental Assistant are in the room to help monitor and keep your child safe.
  
• A member of the surgical team will come out to report the status of the patient and inform the parent of the proposed treatment plan.
  
• Once treatment is completed then the patient is taken to the recovery room and the Dentist will come out to speak the parent/caregiver.
  
• After a brief period in the recovery room, a staff member will bring the parent to the recovery room where the nurse will go over discharge instructions and answer any questions.
  
• While we strive to complete the entire surgery process as quickly as possible for our patients, the total length of time with each child varies depending on the schedule that day as well as the amount of treatment needed and the time it takes for your child to recover.