When getting your wisdom teeth removed, how come some dentists give you an iv & laughing gas while others just the laughing gas? is one way vs. the other better? what's the difference?

That : That is a good question. Laughing gas (nitrous oxide) is less invasive as you need no iv, and is at less risk to cause respiratory depression (problems with breathing). Iv sedation is deeper and more appropriate for more significant procedures. Either approach is acceptable.

Impacted: There are varying degrees of difficulty when removing wisdom teeth. If the wisdom tooth is erupted into the mouth and not impacted, they can be very easy to extract in the general dentist's office with just n2o and local anesthesia. If the teeth are severely impacted, it is best to have IV sedation.

Anesthesia: The best choice of anesthetic is dependent on the procedure and patient needs. Some patients fear needles or the sound of a drill or are easily made nauseous. Nitrous should be avoided if the patient is easily nauseous. Nitrous oxide can be used to relax a patient before the local anesthetic is infused. And an IV used for those afraid of drilling sounds.