Parents’ Corner

Wisdom teeth, IV sedation, and the first 24 hours — what parents need to know.

DAY OF SURGERY

Parent checklist

Screenshot this the night before. Your personalized instructions always take priority if they differ from this general checklist.

Before you leave home

✓ Follow the fasting cutoff exactly — no food, drinks, gum, or candy after the time we gave you.
✓ Give only the morning medications we told you to give.
✓ Call us for a new fever, significant cough, vomiting, breathing symptoms, or other illness.
✓ Confirm your arrival time and make sure a responsible adult is available to drive home.

Have recovery supplies ready

✓ Pick up any prescribed medications before surgery when possible.
✓ Have water or other recommended fluids, soft foods, ice packs, and gauze at home.
✓ Keep the written post-op instructions where the caregiver can find them.
✓ Keep Bluebird’s phone number handy in case something does not look right.

Plan for the rest of the day

✓ An adult stays with your teen during the early recovery period.
✓ No driving, sports, gym workouts, or other risky activity after sedation.
✓ Plan a quiet day at home and several lighter recovery days if needed.
✓ Follow the discharge plan for fluids, food, pain medicine, bleeding control, and oral hygiene.

YOUR TEEN’S FIRST SURGERY

What happens after they leave your sight?

Before sedation, we verify health history, fasting, medications, allergies, and consent. During the procedure, we continuously monitor breathing and vital signs. Afterward, monitoring continues until your teen is ready for discharge.

Oral surgery expertise

Continuous monitoring

Recovery before discharge

How IV sedation works

Worried about anesthesia?

What does IV sedation feel like?

Most teens are deeply relaxed or asleep and remember little or nothing afterward. They continue breathing on their own while we monitor them closely.

Read our IV sedation guide

EXTRA ANESTHESIA SUPPORT

Would you prefer a physician anesthesiologist?

Physician anesthesiologist-supported care may also be available for selected patients or families who prefer that option.

Learn about physician anesthesia support

The questions we hear most

?

Is IV sedation safe, and will they be asleep?

No anesthetic is risk-free. We screen each patient carefully and continuously monitor breathing, oxygen, blood pressure, heart rhythm, and other vital signs. Most teens are deeply relaxed or asleep and remember little or nothing.

No anesthetic is risk-free. We screen each patient carefully and continuously monitor breathing, oxygen, blood pressure, heart rhythm, and other vital signs. Most teens are deeply relaxed or asleep and remember little or nothing.

?

What if my teen is terrified of needles or surgery?

Tell us before the appointment. Needle and surgery anxiety are common, and knowing ahead of time helps us adjust how we explain, pace, and begin sedation.

Tell us before the appointment. Needle and surgery anxiety are common, and knowing ahead of time helps us adjust how we explain, pace, and begin sedation.

?

How much pain should I expect afterward?

Soreness, swelling, and jaw stiffness are expected. We emphasize non-opioid pain control when appropriate, ice, hydration, soft foods, and clear instructions; many teens need little or no opioid medication.

Soreness, swelling, and jaw stiffness are expected. We emphasize non-opioid pain control when appropriate, ice, hydration, soft foods, and clear instructions; many teens need little or no opioid medication.

?

When can they return to school or sports?

Plan for several quiet recovery days. Return to school when they are comfortable, eating and drinking well, and no longer taking medication that affects alertness. Strenuous exercise should wait until bleeding and swelling have settled and your surgeon’s instructions allow it.

Plan for several quiet recovery days. Return to school when they are comfortable, eating and drinking well, and no longer taking medication that affects alertness. Strenuous exercise should wait until bleeding and swelling have settled and your surgeon’s instructions allow it.

?

What should I watch for at home?

Some oozing, swelling, fatigue, and discomfort are normal. Call for persistent bleeding, repeated vomiting or inability to drink, rapidly increasing swelling, fever or worsening pain after improvement, medication reactions, or anything that concerns you. Trouble breathing is an emergency.

Some oozing, swelling, fatigue, and discomfort are normal. Call for persistent bleeding, repeated vomiting or inability to drink, rapidly increasing swelling, fever or worsening pain after improvement, medication reactions, or anything that concerns you. Trouble breathing is an emergency.

THE FIRST 24 HOURS

Keep the first 24 hours simple

Stay nearby, follow the written instructions, and focus on fluids, medications, bleeding control, and rest.

Stay nearby

Expect sleepiness and unsteadiness. Keep an adult nearby and help with walking, medications, gauze, and food.

Fluids, food & medications

Follow the discharge plan for fluids, soft foods, pain medication, and oral hygiene.

Know when to call

If recovery seems different from what we described—or you are simply unsure—call Bluebird. We would rather answer the question.