General Information

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General Surgery Information

Your care and safety are our number one priority. Please read through our patient information prior to booking your appointment. Call our team if you have any questions or concerns.

Emergencies

If you are a patient of record and need to speak with Dr. Sowden during non-business hours for urgent care, please call our office number 604 924-8088. The answering service will page Dr. Sowden or the Oral Surgeon on call and have them contact you.

Questions? 604-924-8088
Prior to Surgery / Day of Surgery

Any pre-operative instructions should be carefully followed prior to your treatment appointment. If you are having sedation or general anaesthesia, please have nothing to eat or drink (including water) for 8 hours prior to your scheduled time. If your medical condition requires you take morning medications you may do so with a small sip of water. You will require someone to bring you to the appointment and take you home afterwards. When you arrive for your appointment a staff member will discuss your post- operative care with yourself and your driver.

It is important to remember that while we try very hard to stay on schedule, various circumstances may arise which can lengthen the time allocated for your or another patient’s procedure. Often we are requested to treat emergency patients which can cause delays to our schedule. We greatly appreciate your understanding and patience should this occur.

  • DO NOT DRIVE for the remainder of the day if you have had IV sedation or general anesthetic. You are legally impaired.
  • DO NOT DRIVE OR OPERATE MACHINERY if taking Tylenol #3 as this medication can cause drowsiness.

  • Infection – Most frequently, infections can be directly related to a lack of adequate oral hygiene.
  • Dry Sockets – Infrequently there can be an interruption in the healing process whereby a breakdown of the blood clot occurs in the wound. It is very sore but is easily treated.

  • Nerve Injury – Roots of lower teeth may be very close to the nerve supplying sensation to your lower lip, chin, gums, teeth or tongue. Surgery or injection of local freezing into the area can result in temporary or permanent altered sensation/numbness.
  • Sinus Involvement – As some roots of the upper teeth are directly adjacent to, or within the sinus cavity, removal can result in a sinus opening which could require subsequent minor surgical treatment.
  • Adjacent Teeth and Restoratives – On rare occasions, injury to teeth and fillings are unavoidable, therefore in unique circumstances, additional costs and follow-up visits to your dentist may be necessary.

Although the anesthetic is provided in the utmost safe manner and environment, very rarely can complications arise from the anaesthetic itself. Most rare occurrences are as a result of pre-existing health ailments and can safely be managed. In healthy individuals, adverse events are very unlikely. The type of anesthesia will be discussed in consultation.

YOUR CARE AND SAFETY IS OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY

EMERGENCIES:

If you are a patient of record and need to speak with Dr. Sowden during non-business hours for urgent care, please call our office number 604 924-8088. The answering service will page Dr. Sowden or the Oral Surgeon on call and have them contact you.