I had nitrous for an extraction last year and honestly, it did help a lot with anxiety. I'm usually a nervous wreck about dental stuff—even routine cleanings get me tense—but the laughing gas made things feel distant and fuzzy, kind of like I was aware but couldn't really care much about what was happening. It didn't completely erase nerves, but it definitely took the edge off enough to get through comfortably. IV sedation felt like too much for me too, so nitrous was a good middle ground. Hope your extraction goes smoothly!
I totally get where you’re coming from—nitrous can make things way more manageable for a lot of people. But I’ve gotta say, IV sedation really saved me when I had all four wisdom teeth out last year. I was so anxious that even the thought of being “aware” under nitrous freaked me out. With IV, it’s like you blink and it’s over, and I didn’t remember a thing. The recovery took a bit longer—felt groggy for a few hours—but honestly, I preferred that to being aware at all.
I know IV sounds intense, but the dentist walked me through it step by step: first, a quick check to make sure I was healthy enough, then an IV in my arm, and next thing I knew I was waking up with everything done. If you have a history of severe dental anxiety, it might be worth looking into. Nitrous is great for some, but for others, IV can actually be less stressful in the long run. Just my two cents—everyone’s comfort zone is different!
With IV, it’s like you blink and it’s over, and I didn’t remember a thing.
That’s exactly what I needed to hear. I’ve been stressing hard about my upcoming extraction—like, losing sleep over it. Nitrous sounded okay at first, but the idea of being even a little aware freaks me out too. I keep imagining hearing the noises or feeling pressure or whatever, and just...nope.
Your description of IV makes it sound way less scary than I thought. The “blink and it’s over” thing is honestly reassuring. I’d rather feel a bit groggy after than have memories of the whole thing. I’m always worried about feeling out of control, but maybe being totally out is actually better for my nerves.
Thanks for sharing how it went for you. It helps knowing someone else felt the same way beforehand and got through it alright. Still nervous, but this makes me lean more toward IV now.
I totally get where you’re coming from. I did IV for my wisdom teeth because I was super anxious, and honestly, it was the best decision for me. I barely remember anything—just waking up groggy with everything done. The worst part was just being a bit out of it after, but honestly, way better than hearing or feeling anything during. If you’re already losing sleep over it, IV might be worth it for peace of mind.
SEDATION FOR TOOTH EXTRACTION - IV OR LAUGHING GAS?
I hear you on the anxiety front—dentist chairs are basically my least favorite place on Earth. I did IV for my wisdom teeth too, but man, did my wallet feel it later. Don’t get me wrong, it was nice to just zone out and wake up with the teeth gone (and apparently I told the nurse about my deep love for mashed potatoes while I was still loopy), but the bill was… not so relaxing.
If you’re losing sleep over it, IV sedation is a solid option for peace of mind. But honestly, if cost is a thing (and for me, it always is), laughing gas isn’t too shabby either. I had it once for a filling and while I was definitely aware of what was happening, I didn’t really care. It was like floating through a mildly weird dream where you know you should be nervous but just… aren’t? Plus, recovery’s faster—you walk out feeling more or less normal, not like you’ve just been hit by a tranquilizer dart.
I’m all for comfort, but sometimes my credit card has other plans. If insurance covers IV or money’s not a big deal, go for it. If not, laughing gas might surprise you. Either way, you’ll get through it—I promise. I spent weeks dreading mine and then after, I was like, “Wait, that’s it?” Just make sure someone films your post-sedation rambling. You’ll want to see it later… or maybe not.
Anyway, don’t stress too much. Both options work—just depends how much you want to remember (and pay for).
