Pre-Operative Instructions

We have made our new patient forms available to you as Adobe Acrobat files. For your safety and convenience, we recommend printing and completing these forms in the comfort of your home.

Please remember to bring your completed forms with you for your first appointment. If you have any problem getting these files to print properly, please call our office and we will gladly send or fax them to you.

• Pre-Operative Instructions (1 of 10)
• Medical History Update (2 of 10)
• Medical Consultation & Physician Report (3 of 10) 
• Disclosure & Consent (6 of 10)
• Nerve Injury Disclosure & Consent (7 of 10) 
• Post-Operative Instructions (8 of 10) 
• Acknowledgment of Privacy Practices (10 of 10) 

Types of Anesthesia

General Information

As we all know, any never-before-experienced event can cause a certain amount of anxiety and even fear within us; and, dental procedures are no exception to this rule. Many times the most common concern is: Will I experience pain during my dental procedure? Fortunately, modern anesthesia technology now makes it possible to perform even complex surgeries in the dental office (rather than in the hospital) with little or no discomfort to the patient. In cases involving dental surgery, local anesthesia that numbs the surgical area (Novocaine) is used either by itself or in combination with one or more of the following: nitrous oxide (sometimes called "laughing gas") to relax you; oral pre-medication; intravenous "I.V." sedation (also known as "twilight sleep" or "conscious sedation") for relaxation. In fact, many patients report that their surgeries were remarkably pain- and anxiety-free!

During his years of university-based hospital training, Dr. Roberts received extensive training in medical and dental aspects of anesthesia. Prior to your surgery, you can expect Dr. Roberts to give you a complete review and description of the specific types of anesthesia you will receive. There will also be time to ask any questions you may have or to express your concerns. And remember . . . when it comes to anesthesia, the more you know, the less you will have to be anxious about.

Local Anesthesia

Local anesthesia, also commonly known as novocaine, is used during most dental procedures. This medication is administered as an injection designed to temporarily prevent the teeth nerve fibers from transmitting impulses, thereby numbing the area. The local anesthesia is the only type of anesthesia which, used alone, will completely eliminate pain. It is possible, however, to combine local anesthesia with various types of conscious sedation techniques to further reduce your awareness and anxiety with the procedure.

Nitrous Oxide

Nitrous oxide, or "laughing gas", is the lightest form of conscious sedation. It is administered by breathing through a nasal mask. It has several very appealing properties. First, it is very short acting and is completely eliminated from the body minutes after turning it off, thereby allowing the patient to leave the office without an escort because there is no hang-over effect. Secondly, nitrous oxide can be patient regulated. If you want to feel more of its effects, you simply breath more frequently and deeply. Conversely, if you breathe through your mouth, you will feel less of its effects. Finally, the last appealing property is the cost. In most cases, there is little or no cost associated with the use of nitrous oxide. The big drawback to nitrous oxide is that even at its highest level of effectiveness, it is only minimally effective at reducing awareness and anxiety. Although its effects vary from patient to patient, most patients feel nitrous oxide "just takes the edge off".

Oral Pre-medication

Oral pre-medication or pills are the next step up in the conscious sedation spectrum. Many different medications can be used, with Valium, Halcion, and Ativan some of the most common ones. The advantages to oral pre-medication are that it is more effective than nitrous oxide and it is also very inexpensive to administer. The patient will usually take the medication a half hour to one hour prior to the appointment and the duration of the effects will vary. But, in all cases, the patient must have an escort both to and from the office. Although more effective than nitrous oxide, the effectiveness and onset of action are unpredictable.

Intravenous "I.V." Sedation

Rx Information

All of the following information is to be used as a guide for the patients of Dr. David Roberts.

How to use this Index:

Find the medications that Dr. Roberts prescribed for you and carefully read the details. This index should help you to become more familiar with your medications enabling you to maximize their potential. Dr. Roberts intends to help his patients through the healing process in as many ways as possible. All of this information is downloadable and printable for your convenience.

Medications:

• Advil 200 mg.-- Generic Name: Ibuprofen
• Zofran 8 mg. Tablets -- Generic Name: Ondansetron ODT
• Vicodin Tabs-- Generic Name: Hydrocodone
• Penicillin VK 500 mg. Tabs-- Generic Name: Penicillin V. Potassium
• Decadron Tablet 4 mg.-- Generic Name: Dexamethasone
• Peridex Oral Rinse-- Generic Name: Chlorhexidine