Got a wisdom tooth extraction coming up next week and the dentist gave me two sedation options: IV sedation or laughing gas. I'm kinda nervous about needles, but also worried laughing gas won't be strong enough to keep me calm, you know? Heard IV sedation knocks you out more, but the idea of a needle in my arm freaks me out a bit. Anyone been through this and can share which they preferred and why?
I totally get where you're coming from—I'm in the same boat, got mine scheduled soon and been obsessively researching this stuff. Honestly, needles freak me out too, but from what I've read, IV sedation is way more effective at keeping you calm and pretty much unaware of what's happening. Laughing gas seems hit or miss; some people say it barely did anything for their anxiety. I'm leaning towards just biting the bullet (no pun intended) and going IV...better a quick pinch than feeling panicky mid-procedure, right?
"Laughing gas seems hit or miss; some people say it barely did anything for their anxiety."
Yeah, that's been my experience too. Had laughing gas for a filling once and honestly, it didn't do much—felt slightly relaxed but still pretty aware of everything. IV sedation, on the other hand, knocked me right out. Didn't even remember the procedure afterward. If anxiety's your main concern, IV might be worth the initial discomfort...
I had laughing gas for my wisdom teeth extraction, and honestly, it worked pretty well for me. Didn't knock me out or anything, but I felt super chill—like I knew what was happening but didn't really care, haha. IV sedation sounds tempting though...my sister had it and said she woke up feeling like she'd just blinked and it was over. Guess it depends how anxious you are about the whole thing. Either way, you'll probably be fine—dentists deal with nervous patients all the time.
I can relate to your concerns about needles—I used to feel the same way. I've had both laughing gas and IV sedation for different dental procedures, and each has its own advantages. Laughing gas definitely helps take the edge off anxiety, as others mentioned; you're awake but relaxed enough not to stress too much about what's happening. However, when I had my wisdom teeth extracted, I opted for IV sedation despite my needle apprehension. The dentist applied a numbing cream beforehand, so I barely felt the needle at all. Once it kicked in, I was completely unaware of the procedure—felt like I'd just closed my eyes briefly and suddenly it was done. If your anxiety is quite high, IV sedation might be worth considering despite your needle worries. Dentists are usually very understanding and skilled at making the experience comfortable. Either way, you'll likely find it's not as daunting as you imagine right now.
