Laughing gas is definitely more predictable for staying alert, but IV is great for folks with real dental anxiety or for longer procedures. It’s all about what makes you feel safest and most comfortable, really.
Funny thing—I once had a patient who swore up and down that IV sedation would “knock him out cold” like general anesthesia. He was so convinced he’d wake up hours later with no memory. Turns out, he woke up mid-procedure, asked if we were done yet (we weren’t), then promptly dozed off again. Afterwards, he just kept repeating that the whole thing felt like a weird dream where his mouth was numb and people kept poking at him with tiny tools.
I’ve noticed the “foggy” feeling can be a bit unpredictable. Some folks bounce back and want to hit the gym (not recommended, by the way), others need a nap and some Netflix before they feel normal again. Nitrous is much more forgiving—once it’s off, you’re pretty much good to go unless you’re super sensitive.
I do think it comes down to what freaks you out more: being too aware or feeling out of control. Personally, I’d rather have nitrous if it’s just one tooth and I’m not too anxious. But for anything complicated... yeah, give me the IV and let me zone out.
Nitrous is much more forgiving—once it’s off, you’re pretty much good to go unless you’re super sensitive.
That’s actually what worries me a bit. My kid gets super loopy with even small doses of meds, so I’m not sure nitrous would wear off that fast for her. Has anyone had their child feel “off” for hours after laughing gas? I get that IV is heavier, but at least they monitor everything closely. Just seems like there’s no perfect option if your kid’s sensitive to stuff.
I totally get your concern. My kiddo had nitrous for a filling, and while it did wear off pretty quick, she was still kind of spacey for a few hours—like, just not her usual self. Nothing scary, but it lingered longer than I expected. Honestly, I kinda wish we’d gone with IV so they could keep a closer eye on her. It’s so hard to know what’ll be the “least bad” option when your kid reacts weird to stuff...
I hear you on the weird aftereffects. But honestly, I’d pick nitrous again over IV for my kid, just based on recovery. My son had IV sedation once for an extraction, and he was totally wiped out the rest of the day—slept for hours, cranky when he woke up, and it just felt like a bigger deal. With laughing gas, he was a little loopy at first but bounced back pretty quick, maybe an hour or two tops. I get wanting closer monitoring, but IV felt like using a sledgehammer for a small job, at least for us. Every kid’s different though... sometimes you just have to go with your gut and hope for the best.
With laughing gas, he was a little loopy at first but bounced back pretty quick, maybe an hour or two tops.
That lines up with what I’ve seen too. I had IV once for a wisdom tooth and it knocked me flat for the whole afternoon. Nitrous just left me a bit foggy, but I was up and about soon after. For routine stuff, nitrous feels less intimidating—though I get why some folks prefer the extra control with IV. It’s a tough call sometimes, especially for kids.
