Totally get what you mean—IV sedation left me wiped out for hours, too. With nitrous, I was back on my feet before lunch and honestly felt pretty normal. That said, my cousin swears by IV because she hates being even a little aware during the procedure. Guess it really depends on your anxiety level and how much downtime you can handle. For quick stuff, nitrous seems way less hassle.
IV sedation really knocks most people out, and I’ve seen a lot of folks need the rest of the day to recover—sometimes even into the next morning. Nitrous, on the other hand, tends to wear off super fast. I remember one patient who was back at work later that afternoon after a tricky extraction with just laughing gas. She was honestly surprised by how clear-headed she felt right after.
But there’s definitely something to be said for IV if you’re anxious. I’ve had patients who get so nervous they’d rather not remember a thing, even if it means feeling groggy for a while after. One guy told me he’d take a nap over remembering the sound of the drill any day... can’t blame him.
Personally, I lean toward nitrous for quick or simple procedures—less hassle, less downtime, and you’re usually in and out without needing someone to drive you home. But for longer or more complicated extractions, or if someone’s really anxious, IV can be a lifesaver.
Everyone’s different when it comes to anxiety and how they react to meds. Some bounce back from IV in a couple hours, others need the whole day. Nitrous is more predictable that way. Either way, it’s always worth mentioning your concerns up front so the team can help figure out what’ll make you most comfortable.
Had my wisdom teeth out a couple years back, and I was super nervous about the whole thing. I remember reading a bunch of posts like this trying to decide between IV and nitrous. Ended up going with IV because, like you said,
Honestly, I barely remember anything from the actual extraction, which was exactly what I wanted. But yeah, I was wiped out for the rest of the day—totally groggy, needed someone to drive me home, and even the next morning I felt a bit off.“there’s definitely something to be said for IV if you’re anxious.”
My partner had a much simpler extraction with just nitrous and was up and about almost right away. She even stopped for groceries on the way home, which blew my mind. I guess it really depends on how anxious you are and how much downtime you can afford. If you’re okay with a little grogginess and want zero memory of the procedure, IV is solid. But if you want to get back to normal fast, nitrous seems like the way to go. Just my two cents from going through both sides of it in my house.
I totally get where you're coming from with the anxiety. I went down the same rabbit hole of research before my extraction, and honestly, it felt like a toss-up. Ended up leaning toward IV sedation too, mostly because I was borderline panicking about being aware during the procedure. Like you, I remember almost nothing—just flashes of the room and then waking up groggy at home. The trade-off was definitely that next-day fogginess though. My partner kept joking that I looked like I'd been hit by a tranquilizer dart.
One thing I wish someone had told me: IV sedation meant I needed someone to hang around for a few hours after, not just to drive me home but to make sure I didn't do anything too goofy while still out of it. I actually tried texting my boss about work stuff and sent a bunch of gibberish... so maybe stash your phone somewhere safe if you go that route.
On the other hand, I've had nitrous for smaller dental stuff and it was way less intense. Kind of felt like having a couple drinks—relaxed but still present. Recovery was super quick, but I did notice that my anxiety wasn't totally gone since I could still hear and feel some things (just less bothered by them). If you're really anxious, IV's hard to beat for peace of mind, but if you bounce back fast or have to be functional soon after, nitrous is less of a commitment.
I guess it comes down to how much you want to remember (or not), and what your schedule looks like after. If you can take the day off and have someone help out, IV is pretty forgiving. If you need to get on with life ASAP, nitrous is probably the safer bet. Either way, both options are way better than white-knuckling it with just local—at least for me.
Funny how something as simple as tooth removal can turn into such an epic decision-making process...
That “hit by a tranquilizer dart” feeling is so real. I went with IV sedation for my wisdom teeth and honestly, I barely remember anything except waking up on my couch with ice packs strapped to my face.
Same here—I sent my friend a voice memo that sounded like I was underwater. If you’re super anxious, IV feels like the way to go, but yeah, you’ll want a recovery day and someone to keep an eye on you. Nitrous was chill for me too, just not quite enough for bigger stuff. Funny how much planning goes into something as basic as getting a tooth pulled...I actually tried texting my boss about work stuff and sent a bunch of gibberish... so maybe stash your phone somewhere safe if you go that route.
