Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently asked questions
Diverse age group of patients smiling.
Day of Surgery – Preprosthetic Surgery
  • You will be asked to arrive at the hospital at least 1 1/2 hours before your operation. Go to the Same Day Surgery Unit on the 10th floor of the Victoria Building, Victoria General site.
  • Do not eat or drink anything after midnight the night before surgery. Your surgery will be cancelled if you eat or drink after this time. Nausea and vomiting are more likely to happen during or shortly after your operation if you eat or drink.
  • Note to patients not staying overnight in hospital: You will need to have someone with you to take you home at the end of the operation. Your surgery will be cancelled if you do not have a drive home. Under no circumstance will you be allowed to drive yourself home - you are legally impaired for 24 hours.
  • Stop smoking at least 24 hours before your operation. Smoking can make your recovery harder and can delay healing. Smoking is not allowed anywhere on the hospital grounds. This includes electronic cigarettes.
  • Do not bring valuables to the hospital. The hospital is not responsible for them.
  • The nurse will ask you several health questions and take your vital signs.
  • Tell the nurse if you have any food or drug allergies.
  • You may need blood tests.
  • The oral surgeon may speak with you if he or she hasn’t yet.
  • If the surgeon asks you to, please bring your dentures to the Operating Room in a denture cup that the nurse will give you.
  • You will be asked to change into a hospital gown. Please do not wear any undergarments.
  • Please give the nurse the name and phone number of the person you want contacted after your operation.
  • Note to those waiting: Patients who are having preprosthetic surgery are usually in the Operating Room and recovery area for 2-6 hours. The length of time depends on the type of surgery needed. At the end of the operation, the surgeon will contact a friend or family member when asked to do so by the patient.
The Day of Surgery – Temporomandibular Joint Surgery (Jaw Joint)
  • You will be asked to arrive at the hospital at least 1½  hours before your operation. You will go to the Same Day Surgery Unit on the 10th floor of the Victoria Building, Victoria General Hospital site
  • Note to patients not staying overnight in hospital: You will need to have someone take you home after your operation. Your surgery will be cancelled if you do not have a drive home. Under no circumstance will you be allowed to drive yourself home, as you are legally impaired for 24 hours
  • Do not bring valuables to the hospital. The hospital is not responsible for them
  • Please brush your teeth well before coming to the hospital. Do not swallow any water
  • The nurse will ask you several health questions and take your vital signs
  • Be sure to tell the nurse if you have any food or drug allergies
  • You may need some blood tests
  • The oral surgeon may speak with you unless he or she has already done so
  • You will be asked to change into a hospital gown. Please do not wear any undergarments
  • Please give the nurse the name and phone number of the individual you want contacted after your surgery
  • Note to those waiting: Patients who are having TMJ surgery are usually in the Operating Room and recovery area for 2-8 hours. The length of time depends on the type of surgery needed. At the end of the procedure, the surgeon will contact a friend or family member when asked to do so by the patient
The Day Before Surgery – Temporomandibular Joint Surgery
Stop smoking at least 24 hours before your operation. Smoking can make your recovery more difficult and can delay healing. Smoking is not allowed anywhere on the grounds of the hospital. Do not eat or drink anything after midnight the night before surgery. Your surgery will be cancelled if you eat or drink after this time. Nausea and vomiting may occur during or shortly after your operation.
The Day of Surgery – Corrective Jaw Surgery
  • You will be asked to arrive at the hospital at least 11/2 hours before your operation. Go to the Same Day Surgery Unit on the 10th floor of the Victoria Building, Victoria General.
  • Do not eat or drink anything after midnight the night before surgery. Your surgery will be cancelled if you eat or drink after this time. Nausea and vomiting are more likely to occur during or shortly after your operation.
  • Stop smoking at least 24 hours before your operation. Smoking can make your recovery more difficult and can delay healing. Smoking is not allowed anywhere on the hospital grounds.
  • Do not bring valuables to the hospital. The hospital is not responsible for them.
  • The nurse will ask you several questions about your health and take your vital signs (temperature, blood pressure, pulse and respiration).
  • Be sure to tell the nurse if you have any medication or food allergies.
  • You may need blood tests.
  • The oral surgeon will speak with you unless he/she has already done so.
  • Please brush your teeth well before coming to the hospital. Do not swallow any water.
  • You will be asked to change into a hospital gown.
  •  Please give the nurse the name and phone number of the individual you want contacted after your operation.
 Note to those waiting: Patients who are having jaw surgery are usually in the Operating Room and recovery area for 4-8 hours. The length of time depends on the type of surgery needed. At the end of the operation, the surgeon will contact a friend or family member when asked to do so by the patient.  
Morning of Surgery – Patient’s Checklist
  • Take your medications as instructed by your doctor with a sip of water only
  • Bring ALL your medications in their original containers to the hospital
  • Arrive at the hospital 3 hours before surgery or the time you were asked to arrive
  • Provincial Health Card
  • Private Insurance Card
  • CPAP machine (if you have one)
  • Insurance papers that you may need completed for work
  • All other documents as instructed
Night Before Surgery – Patient’s Checklist
  • Follow special instructions from your doctor
  • Do not eat solid food or drink any liquids after midnight
  • Take a shower or bath
  • Do not smoke after evening meal