I had IV sedation for a tooth extraction a couple years back, and honestly, it was way easier than I expected. Like you said, the numbing cream made the needle barely noticeable, and next thing I knew, I was waking up in recovery. Laughing gas never quite did it for me—still felt a bit too aware of everything. Curious though, has anyone experienced any grogginess or side effects afterward with IV sedation? I felt fine, but my wife was pretty out of it for hours...
"Curious though, has anyone experienced any grogginess or side effects afterward with IV sedation? I felt fine, but my wife was pretty out of it for hours..."
Yeah, sedation experiences can really vary from person to person. I've had IV sedation twice now—once for wisdom teeth and another time for a tricky extraction—and both times were pretty smooth sailing overall. Like you mentioned, the numbing cream made the needle part a non-issue, and honestly, I barely remember anything after that point. Just woke up feeling like I'd had a nice nap.
But about the grogginess afterward... I definitely felt a bit foggy-headed for maybe an hour or two post-procedure. Nothing major, just kind of slow-moving and sleepy. My dentist explained that it's pretty normal since everyone's body metabolizes the sedative differently. Some people bounce back quickly (sounds like you did!), while others might feel sluggish or even slightly dizzy for several hours afterward.
Funny enough, my brother had IV sedation too and he was completely zonked out for half the day. He kept asking me the same questions over and over on the drive home—pretty amusing actually! But by evening he was totally fine again.
Laughing gas never really worked great for me either; I always felt too aware of what was going on around me, and it didn't help much with anxiety. IV sedation just feels more effective if you're nervous or want to completely zone out during the procedure.
Anyway, sounds like your experience was pretty positive overall, which is awesome. It's always reassuring to hear when dental procedures go better than expected... makes it easier to face future appointments without stressing too much.
Glad you both got through it okay—I’m actually scheduled for IV sedation next week (first time ever, and I'm pretty nervous tbh). Hearing your experiences helps... though I admit the idea of being groggy afterward makes me a little anxious. But I guess that's better than being fully awake and panicking during the extraction, right? Anyway, appreciate hearing everyone's stories—it definitely helps ease some of the jitters. Fingers crossed mine goes smoothly too.
I've done both IV sedation and laughing gas, and honestly, IV sedation was way easier for me. Yeah, you're groggy afterward, but it's not as bad as it sounds—more like waking up from a deep nap. Have you arranged someone to drive you home afterward? That's probably the most important thing. Also, keep some soft foods around for the first day or two... soup, yogurt, stuff like that. You'll appreciate having it ready when you're still feeling a bit out of it. Good luck, you'll do fine.
Glad to hear IV sedation isn't too bad... honestly, I'm still a bit nervous about needles, but your description helps. Already got my ride sorted and stocked up on ice cream—figured I deserve a treat after surviving this, lol. Thanks for the reassurance!
