Did you have any grogginess after the IV? That’s one thing I worry about—waking up all out of it and saying something embarrassing...
I totally get the fear of IVs—I used to tense up just seeing the setup. But honestly, after my wisdom teeth came out with IV sedation, I was surprised how quickly I felt “normal” again. A bit foggy for maybe 20 minutes, but nothing wild. As for saying embarrassing stuff, I was more concerned about drooling than talking nonsense, haha. The staff’s seen it all anyway, so I wouldn’t stress too much.
A bit foggy for maybe 20 minutes, but nothing wild. As for saying embarrassing stuff, I was more concerned about drooling than talking nonsense, haha. The staff’s seen it all anyway, so I wouldn’t stress too much.
That’s pretty much what I see in the chair—most people are a little out of it for a short while, but it’s not like you’re going to spill your deepest secrets. If anything, you might repeat yourself or ask the same question a couple times. The “embarrassing” stuff is usually just harmless mumbling or asking if the procedure’s done yet.
Between IV and laughing gas, IV tends to give a deeper sense of calm and amnesia, which can be good if you’re really anxious. Laughing gas is milder—some folks love it, but if you’re nervous about being aware during the extraction, IV is often the better call. You’ll need someone to drive you home either way.
If it helps, I’ve watched hundreds of patients wake up from IV sedation and honestly, nobody remembers what they said five minutes later... including the staff. It’s all routine for us.
That’s a really good breakdown. I’ve noticed some folks are more worried about being “loopy” than anything else, but honestly, it’s usually just some confusion or you might ask the same thing a few times. Most people don’t say anything wild—if anything, it’s just mumbling or talking about food.
I’m curious, for those who’ve had both, did you notice a big difference in how you felt after? Some patients tell me they feel alert pretty quickly after laughing gas but are groggy longer with IV. Others actually prefer the grogginess because they don’t remember a thing. Did anyone here have trouble with nausea or headaches after either one? That seems to be the main downside I hear about, especially with nitrous for a small group.
And for anyone really anxious, does knowing you’ll remember less with IV make you feel better about the whole experience? Or does the idea of an IV needle add to your nerves?
Honestly, you nailed it—most folks are way more worried about acting goofy than they need to be. In reality, you’re just a little foggy or maybe repeat yourself (which, let’s face it, is kind of normal on a Monday morning anyway). I’ve seen people get all worked up about saying something embarrassing, but nine times out of ten it’s just “Is it over yet?” or “Can I have a milkshake?”
Between nitrous and IV, I do hear a lot about that groggy vs. alert feeling. Nitrous wears off fast—sometimes people are ready to drive themselves home (don’t, though!). IV can leave you in that “I took a really weird nap” zone for a while, but most appreciate not remembering the procedure itself. For the needle-phobic, the IV can be a bigger hurdle than the extraction.
Nausea’s pretty rare with either, but if someone’s prone to motion sickness or skipped breakfast, nitrous can sometimes make them queasy. Headaches are uncommon but not unheard of—usually gone by the time you’re home.
If you’re anxious and want to remember as little as possible, IV is usually the winner. But honestly? Both options beat white-knuckling it through dental work any day.
IV can leave you in that “I took a really weird nap” zone for a while, but most appreciate not remembering the procedure itself.
That’s exactly what I’m weighing. The idea of just fading out and not remembering anything is tempting, but needles are not my favorite. Nitrous sounds less intense, but I’m not sure I want to be alert at all. The “weird nap” description made me laugh—kind of sums up my last wisdom tooth removal. Still debating if I’d rather risk feeling queasy or just get it over with and forget the whole thing.
