🦷 Dental Aftercare
Dental Sedation Procedure Aftercare Instructions
A day-by-day recovery guide for dental sedation procedure: what to expect, how to care for yourself, and when to call. Free to read and print.
Typical recovery: about 1 daysDental
What to expect
Sedation Safety
- •These instructions are for post-sedation recovery only
- •Follow procedure-specific instructions for any dental work that was performed
- •Different sedation types (nitrous, oral, IV) have different recovery times
Dental Sedation Procedure recovery, day by day
Day 0 (Sedation Day)
Immediate Post-Sedation
- Do NOT drive, operate machinery, or make important decisions for 24 hours
- Have a responsible adult stay with you for the rest of the day
- Nausea is common; sip clear liquids slowly
- Dizziness and drowsiness may last several hours
Diet
- Start with clear liquids (water, broth, apple juice)
- Progress to soft foods as tolerated
- Avoid alcohol for 24 hours
- Avoid hot foods if mouth is still numb
Day 1-1
Recovery
- Sedation effects should be fully gone by the next morning
- Resume normal activities when you feel alert and steady
- Follow any additional post-operative instructions for the dental procedure performed
- Call if nausea, dizziness, or confusion persists beyond 24 hours
When to call your provider or 911
- •Difficulty breathing or very slow breathing
- •Cannot be woken up or is extremely difficult to arouse
- •Persistent vomiting
- •Chest pain or irregular heartbeat
- •Allergic reaction: hives, facial swelling, difficulty breathing
When in doubt, call your clinic. For a medical emergency, call 911.
Recovery milestones
- Day 1
Sedation wears off
Fully alert and able to resume normal activities
For clinics
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