Call 000 straight away if you or the person you are caring for
- has difficulty breathing, or noisy or very slow breathing
- is very hard to wake, or confused in a way that is getting worse
- has rapidly increasing swelling of the face, tongue or throat, or difficulty swallowing
- has heavy bleeding that does not slow with firm pressure
- has chest pain or collapses.
In short: go home with a responsible adult who stays with you overnight. For at least 24 hours, do not drive, drink alcohol, operate machinery or make important decisions. Start with water and light food. Protect numb lips and cheeks. Follow your dentist's instructions for bleeding and mouth care, and contact them or your anaesthetist if something does not seem right.
Before you leave
You will be watched until the effects of the medicines have worn off enough for you to go home. healthdirect describes the usual signs: you are fully awake and alert, can walk, your side effects are manageable, bleeding is minimal and you can drink. ANZCA’s sedation guideline says patients should be escorted and discharged into the care of a responsible adult, with written instructions covering eating and drinking, pain relief, driving, operating machinery and making legally binding decisions. Keep those instructions; they are specific to you.
The first 24 hours
- Going home. Travel with your escort. You cannot drive, and you should not travel alone by public transport, taxi or rideshare.
- The first few hours. Rest. Your lips, cheeks or tongue may stay numb for several hours, so avoid hot drinks and chewing until feeling returns, to avoid burns and bites.
- Eating and drinking. The Australian Society of Anaesthetists suggests starting with water, then clear drinks, then light food such as toast or soup. After oral surgery, keep to soft food and follow your dentist's advice.
- The rest of the day. Stay home and take it easy. No alcohol, no driving, no machinery and no important personal or business decisions for at least 24 hours.
- Overnight. An adult should stay with you for the first night.
Looking after your mouth
Your dentist will give you instructions for the treatment you had. After extractions, the Better Health Channel’s advice includes biting on gauze to control bleeding, avoiding vigorous rinsing, spitting and straws, and waiting at least 24 hours before warm salt-water rinses. Take pain relief as your dentist or anaesthetist advised, and do not exceed the dose on the packet.
Common effects and what helps
- Drowsiness and slowed thinking. Expected. Rest, and leave decisions until tomorrow.
- Feeling sick. Sip water and eat lightly. If vomiting continues, contact your anaesthetist, dentist or GP, because it can lead to dehydration.
- Sore or dry throat after a general anaesthetic. The Australian Society of Anaesthetists says this usually settles within one to two days.
- Bruising where the cannula was. This fades over a few days.
- Headache or tiredness. Rest and fluids usually help.
- Gaps in memory for the time around the appointment. This is common after sedation. Ask your escort to keep the instructions you were given.
When to contact your dentist or anaesthetist
Contact the dentist or anaesthetist who treated you, using the phone numbers on your discharge instructions, if:
- bleeding does not settle after firm pressure on gauze for the time your dentist advised
- vomiting continues, or you cannot keep fluids down
- pain is getting worse rather than better, or is not controlled by the recommended pain relief
- you develop a fever, increasing swelling or a bad taste or smell from the mouth
- numbness lasts much longer than you were told to expect
- the cannula site becomes red, hot or more painful
- anything else worries you.
If you cannot reach them, you can call healthdirect on 1800 022 222 for health advice at any time, or go to your nearest emergency department. For emergencies, call 000.
For the person staying overnight
- Check that they are breathing comfortably and can be woken easily.
- Help with drinks, light food and pain relief at the advised times.
- Keep phones charged and the discharge instructions and numbers within reach.
- Make sure they do not drive, drink alcohol or sign anything important until the next day.
For children, see the aftercare section of our guide for parents. For recovery after other kinds of anaesthetic, see Dr Aly’s guide to after your anaesthetic.
Sources
- Australian Society of Anaesthetists. After your anaesthetic. Page modified 27 May 2026.
- ANZCA. PG09(G) Guideline on procedural sedation (sections 3, 5, 7.5, 9.3, 9.4, 13.4; Appendix III; Appendix V glossary). December 2023; links reviewed July 2025.
- healthdirect Australia. General anaesthetic. Last reviewed Dec 2025.
- Australian Society of Anaesthetists. Anaesthesia for oral surgery (patient information pamphlet). Last reviewed 12 Mar 2024.
- Better Health Channel (Victorian Department of Health). Wisdom teeth. Reviewed 3 Jun 2022.
- The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne. Day surgery: dental surgery, discharge care (Kids Health Info). Updated Jul 2025.
- Written by
- Altitude Creative, health content team, on behalf of Dr Walid Aly
- Clinical reviewer
- In progress
- Review date
- Clinical review in progress
- Next review due
- Set at clinical review
How this guide is written, reviewed and corrected: editorial policy.
In an emergency, call 000. This information is general and does not replace advice from your treating practitioner.