That’s interesting—I actually had the opposite experience. Nitrous made me feel a bit spaced out, but at least I was aware of what was going on. With IV, I woke up feeling like I’d lost a chunk of time and was way more groggy than I expected. Did you have any issues with nausea after IV? I’m weighing both options for my next extraction and honestly, not loving either choice... but I’d rather be a little loopy than totally knocked out if recovery’s easier.
Nausea’s actually one of the more common complaints after IV, especially if you’re sensitive to meds or didn’t eat beforehand. I’ve seen some folks bounce back fast, others need a few hours to feel normal. Nitrous is definitely lighter, but sometimes it doesn’t quite take the edge off for everyone. If you’re leaning toward staying more aware and want an easier recovery, nitrous with local might be your best bet—just depends on how much anxiety you get during these things.
I get super anxious in the chair, so I’ve had both IV and nitrous for different extractions. IV knocked me out pretty good, but I woke up woozy and queasy for a while—definitely not a fan of that. Nitrous was a lot gentler, but I could still hear the tools, which kind of freaked me out. Has anyone ever mixed nitrous with some oral sedative? I’m curious if that’s a middle ground or just overkill.
I’ve actually had nitrous plus an oral sedative for a tricky extraction a couple years back. The dentist gave me Valium beforehand, then used laughing gas during the procedure. I was still aware, but way less anxious—kind of floaty, honestly. Didn’t feel like overkill to me, but everyone reacts differently. The combo didn’t knock me out or leave me groggy after, which was a big plus. Did your dentist mention that option?
Valium plus nitrous is like the chill-out cocktail of dental work—did the trick for me too, and I was back to Netflix the same night. IV sedation always sounded a bit too “full blackout” for my taste. Anyone ever get amnesia from IV? That’s what freaks me out a bit.
