I totally get the anxiety—my brain basically turns into a hamster on a wheel when I even *think* about dental stuff. I haven’t actually had either IV or laughing gas yet, but I’m scheduled for my first extraction in a couple weeks and can’t decide which is less terrifying. The idea of being knocked out sounds kind of amazing, honestly. Like, just skip the whole ordeal? But then I see those price estimates and my stomach drops faster than my wisdom tooth ever will.
Laughing gas seems… doable? But I keep worrying that I’ll be too aware and freak out mid-procedure. A friend told me she felt like she was watching the whole thing from the ceiling, which sounds cool in theory but maybe not if you’re a nervous wreck like me.
I guess it comes down to whether you want to remember *anything* or just zone out and pay for it later (literally). Part of me wants to just tough it out with the gas and save some money, but man, those “what ifs” won’t quit. Anyone else go in super anxious and find laughing gas was enough? Or did you regret not doing IV?
Honestly, I was super anxious too and thought for sure I’d need IV, but I ended up just doing laughing gas for my wisdom tooth. It surprised me how much it helped—felt floaty, but not totally out of it, and the nerves kind of faded into the background. I do remember bits, but it wasn’t scary like I’d imagined. If you’re worried about being too aware, maybe mention it to your dentist? They can usually adjust the dose. For me, saving the cash was worth it, and I didn’t walk away traumatized or anything.
For me, saving the cash was worth it, and I didn’t walk away traumatized or anything.
I get what you mean about cost, but did you worry about being too aware during the procedure? I keep reading stories where people remember weird sounds or pressure and it freaks me out. I know laughing gas works for some, but I’m honestly not sure I could handle being “half-there.” Did you feel any pain at all, or just kind of disconnected?
I was in the same boat—super nervous about hearing drills and feeling stuff. Ended up with laughing gas for my wisdom teeth because IV sedation was way more expensive. I won’t lie, you’re definitely “there,” but it’s like you just don’t care as much. I remember the sounds, but it felt distant, almost like watching a weird movie where you’re the main character. No pain, just pressure and some odd noises. Honestly, the worst part was worrying about it beforehand. If you’re really freaked out by being half-aware, IV might be worth the extra cash for peace of mind.
That’s a pretty spot-on description of what laughing gas feels like. It’s wild how your brain just kind of tunes out the stress, even though you’re still aware of what’s happening. I’ve seen some folks actually prefer that, since they like knowing what’s going on. But for others, being “out” with IV is less stressful. Did you have any trouble with recovery after the laughing gas, or did you feel back to normal pretty quick?
