Post-Op Instructions: IV Sedation | Oral Surgeons of Indiana

Name: Oral Surgeons of Indiana
Address: 8240 Naab Road, Suite 355, Indianapolis, IN, 46260, US
Telephone: (317) 876-1095
Price range: $$$

At a glance

A responsible adult must stay with you for the next 24 hours.
Do not drive, operate machinery, or sign legal documents for 24 hours.
Start with clear liquids and advance to soft foods as you feel ready.
You may feel groggy, slightly nauseated, or unsteady on your feet — this is normal and fades through the day.

Recovery timeline

First 1–2 hours
What to expect: You will feel groggy and may not remember the ride home. Some patients feel chilled, mildly nauseated, or thirsty.
What to do: Rest at home with a responsible adult. Sip cool water or a clear, non-carbonated drink. Do not try to walk around alone.
Hours 2–6
What to expect: Drowsiness lifts in waves. Standing up too fast may make you lightheaded. Coordination is still off.
What to do: Get up slowly. Move from bed to couch to bathroom with someone nearby. Continue sipping fluids; try a few bites of bland soft food.
Hours 6–12
What to expect: Most patients feel mostly back to normal mentally but still tired. Mild headache or jaw soreness from the surgery itself is common.
What to do: Eat a light meal of soft foods. Take pain medication on a schedule for the surgery you had. Continue to stay home and rest.
Hours 12–24
What to expect: Energy comes back but reaction time is still slower than usual. Some patients feel emotional or weepy — this is normal after sedation.
What to do: Do not drive, operate machinery, sign contracts, or make important decisions. Avoid alcohol entirely. Plan a quiet day at home.
After 24 hours
What to expect: Sedation effects are fully gone. From here, follow the post-op instructions for the surgery you had (extraction, implant, etc.).
What to do: You can return to driving and normal decision-making. Continue any post-op care for the procedure itself.

Do & don't

Do

Have a responsible adult stay with you for the next 24 hours.
Get up slowly from sitting or lying down for the first day.
Drink cool, non-carbonated fluids and start with soft, bland foods.
Take any pain or anti-nausea medication exactly as prescribed.
Sleep with your head slightly elevated for the first night.
Plan a quiet day — book the next day off if you can.

Don't

Do not drive a car, motorcycle, or e-bike for at least 24 hours.
Do not operate heavy machinery, power tools, or cook over an open flame.
Do not drink any alcohol for at least 24 hours.
Do not sign legal documents or make important decisions for 24 hours.
Do not be alone or care for small children alone for 24 hours.
Do not use a straw if you also had oral surgery — follow the surgical instructions.

What to eat & what to avoid

Eat

Cool water, apple juice, or clear broth as your first sips
Yogurt, applesauce, pudding once you feel ready
Smoothies eaten with a spoon (no straws after most oral surgery)
Soft scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes, oatmeal
Soft pasta, soft fish, soft cooked vegetables
Bland, easy foods — avoid heavy or greasy meals tonight

Avoid

Alcohol of any kind for at least 24 hours
Carbonated drinks for the first few hours (they can worsen nausea)
Hot drinks and hot soups for the first few hours
Heavy, fatty, or greasy foods that may worsen nausea
Spicy foods that can sting an oral surgical site
Anything you had a hard time keeping down in the past after sedation

Medications

Ibuprofen
600 mg every 6 hours with food, on a schedule, for the first 48 hours unless your surgeon told you otherwise. This handles most post-surgical pain.
Acetaminophen
1,000 mg every 6 hours can be alternated with ibuprofen for stronger pain control. Do not exceed 3,000 mg per day from all sources.
Anything else as prescribed by your surgeon
If you were given an antibiotic, anti-nausea medication, or a short course of stronger pain medication, follow that label exactly. Do not mix with alcohol.

These are general guidelines. Always follow the specific instructions your surgeon gave you. If you are unsure about any dose, call our office.

Frequently asked questions

I feel sick to my stomach. Is that normal?

Yes — mild nausea after IV sedation is common, especially in the first few hours. Sip cool, non-carbonated fluids slowly. If you were given anti-nausea medication, take it. If you cannot keep any fluid down for several hours, call us.

When can I drive?

Not for 24 hours, even if you feel fine. Sedative medications affect reaction time and judgment longer than you can feel. We need a responsible adult to drive you home and stay with you.

I do not remember anything after I sat in the chair. Is that okay?

Yes — that is exactly what most patients experience under IV sedation, and it is part of why people choose it. The medications cause amnesia for the procedure itself. Memory should return to normal by the next day.

Can I have a glass of wine tonight?

No alcohol for at least 24 hours. Alcohol combines unpredictably with the sedation medications still leaving your system, and with any pain medication you were prescribed.

I feel weepy or emotional. Why?

This is a common and normal reaction to coming out of sedation. It usually passes within 24 hours. Be gentle with yourself and have someone you trust nearby.

When can I go back to work?

If your job is sedentary and not safety-critical, most patients return after a full day of rest. If your job involves driving, machinery, decision-making, or patient care, plan to take a full 24 hours off and use your judgment about the day after.

Still worried? Call us — we are here.

Our on-call surgeon answers calls 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for our patients. Tonight is exactly when you should call if something feels off — do not wait until morning.

Call (317) 876-1095

After hours, your call is routed to the on-call surgeon — a real doctor from our practice, not an answering service.