"A friend of mine said laughing gas just made her feel relaxed but didn't really block out the procedure entirely, which sounds...less than ideal."
I totally get your hesitation—I felt exactly the same way before my extraction. I ended up going with laughing gas because, like you, I wanted to avoid the grogginess and hassle of arranging a ride. Honestly, it worked better than I expected. Sure, you're still somewhat aware, but it's more like you're detached from what's happening rather than feeling actual pain. Everyone's different, though...trust your gut on this one.
I was really nervous about this too, especially since it was my first extraction. Ended up choosing IV sedation because I figured I'd rather just be completely knocked out and not remember a thing. Honestly, it was pretty great—I closed my eyes, and the next thing I knew, it was all over. No memory of the procedure at all, just a bit groggy afterward. The downside was definitely needing someone to drive me home and feeling kinda sleepy for the rest of the day.
But I've also heard from friends who went with laughing gas that it wasn't bad at all. Like others mentioned, they said they felt relaxed and detached, but still aware enough to know something was happening. I guess it depends what you're more comfortable with—being totally out of it or just chilled out but awake. Either way, the anxiety beforehand is honestly the worst part...once you're there, it's never as bad as your imagination makes it out to be.
"Either way, the anxiety beforehand is honestly the worst part...once you're there, it's never as bad as your imagination makes it out to be."
Haha, this is so true. I went with laughing gas myself because I wanted to avoid the whole groggy zombie thing afterward. Honestly, it was kinda fun—felt like floating on a cloud while someone gently poked around my mouth. Weirdly relaxing. But yeah, the anticipation beforehand was way worse than the actual extraction. Just pick whichever sedation matches your vibe, you'll be fine either way.
"Honestly, it was kinda fun—felt like floating on a cloud while someone gently poked around my mouth."
Haha, that's exactly how I'd describe it too. I went with laughing gas for my extraction, and it was surprisingly chill. The dentist even had some mellow music playing in the background, which made the whole thing feel oddly spa-like. Totally agree though, the buildup beforehand is way worse than the actual procedure...our brains really love to hype things up unnecessarily, don't they?
Haha, glad you had a good experience with laughing gas. I've actually done both IV sedation and laughing gas for different procedures, and honestly, both were way easier than I expected. IV sedation is definitely deeper—you basically blink and it's over—but laughing gas is nice if you wanna stay somewhat aware (and enjoy the mellow vibes you mentioned). Either way, you're right about our brains overhyping things...the anticipation is always the worst part. Just trust your dentist and it'll be smooth sailing.
