Had laughing gas once for a filling and honestly, it was a weird experience—felt like I was floating, but still very aware of everything happening. IV sedation, though, was way smoother for me. I remember chatting with the dentist one second, then suddenly waking up in recovery, zero memory of the extraction itself. Felt groggy for maybe half an hour afterward, but the rest of the day was pretty chill. Just make sure you have Netflix ready at home, because daytime TV is even worse than dentist playlists...
"IV sedation, though, was way smoother for me. I remember chatting with the dentist one second, then suddenly waking up in recovery..."
Interesting you say that, because IV sedation is honestly what makes me more nervous. I've heard others mention that "blank" feeling afterward, and the idea of losing chunks of time weirds me out a bit. Laughing gas seems less intense—at least you're aware and somewhat in control. Guess it depends on your comfort level with being totally knocked out versus just feeling floaty during the procedure...
I get what you're saying about the weirdness of losing chunks of time. Had IV sedation once myself, and honestly, it was a pretty surreal experience. Like, I literally blinked and suddenly it was all over. But for me, that blank space was actually a relief—I didn't have to deal with the anxiety of hearing drills or feeling pressure during the extraction. It's like my brain just skipped over the stressful part entirely.
On the flip side, I've also tried laughing gas, and while it definitely made things feel less intense, I still felt pretty aware of everything happening around me. It was relaxing enough, sure, but I could still hear the dentist talking and feel some of the sensations (not pain exactly, more like pressure). For some people that's comforting—being aware and somewhat in control—but for me personally, it wasn't quite enough to drown out my anxiety completely.
I think it comes down to how you handle dental anxiety in general. If you're someone who needs to feel at least somewhat "present," laughing gas might be perfect. But if you're like me and just want to skip straight past the whole ordeal, IV sedation can be a real lifesaver. Either way, it's great we have options now... dental procedures used to be way scarier before sedation methods became common!
I totally get why IV sedation sounds appealing, especially if anxiety is a big issue. But honestly, the idea of completely losing chunks of time freaks me out a bit. I had laughing gas for my extraction, and while it didn't erase the experience entirely, it did make things feel distant enough that I wasn't panicking. It was like being in a dreamy state—aware but not really bothered by what was happening.
One thing I'd add is that IV sedation can sometimes leave you feeling groggy or out of it for hours afterward. My friend had it done and said she felt pretty off for the rest of the day. With laughing gas, I felt back to normal within minutes after they turned it off, which was reassuring for me since I'm cautious about side effects.
I guess it really depends on your comfort level with being fully "out" versus just relaxed enough to cope. Both have their pros and cons... it's good we can choose based on our own anxiety levels and preferences.
I felt exactly the same way about IV sedation when my daughter needed extractions. The idea of her being completely out and not remembering anything made me uneasy... you never know how kids will react afterward. We went with laughing gas, and honestly, it was the best decision for us. She was calm enough to get through it without panic, and afterward, she bounced back quickly—no lingering grogginess or confusion. Definitely depends on your comfort zone, but for us, lighter sedation felt safer and less stressful overall.
