Before You Arrive

Regarding Your Health and Medications

If you take any medications regularly for any health conditions, it is important that you take them as prescribed on the day of your appointment as well. Do not skip medications unless specifically told to by your physician or by Dr. Hoffrichter. Failing to take your prescribed medications could result in the cancellation of your appointment. If you have any questions about this, do not hesitate to call us prior to your appointment for clarification.
If you take any blood-thinning medications, such as Coumadin (warfarin), Plavix (clopidogrel) or Ticlid (ticlodipine), you will need to contact the prescribing doctor to see if you should stop taking the medication prior to oral surgery. In all cases, we defer to the judgment of the treating physician.
If you are diabetic, please click here.
If you are having treatment with either local anesthesia (just getting numb in the area) or with nitrous oxide (a.k.a. laughing gas), you may eat prior to your appointment and continue any medication as normal. If you are planning on intravenous anesthesia (going to sleep), click here for a list of important instructions.
If you have ever been told that you need to pre-medicate with an antibiotic prior to dental treatment, then you will need to do so prior to treatment in our office as well. (Pre-medication is most commonly required for patients with a history of heart murmur, certain heart problems, or with any kind of joint replacement surgery.) If you need to pre-medicate and are out of your prescription, you may contact our office for a new prescription. If you have questions about whether or not you need to premedicate, contact your physician. Patients coming for consultation, x-rays, suture removal or follow-up do not need to premedicate.
If you wear dentures, please avoid using any adhesive the day of your appointment, if possible.
If you have any questions about your own health conditions or medications, feel free to contact us prior to your appointment.