Has anyone had a (deep-ish) filling without local anaesthetic?

[AhMaToofs]

Due my first ever filling tomorrow. I'm not scared of dentists, nor injections. What I am bloody scared of is numbness in any part of my body (daft when it's to prevent pain, I know, I can't help it!).

Has anyone here any experience of going without LA? I generally have a high pain threshold, but I've never had problems with my teeth before, so that statement has never applied there!

I've had deep fillings where the injection hasn't worked and it was incredibly painful. It felt like being jabbed by red hot needles and not something I'd recommend. I've had other dental work without injections and been fine but if you have a live nerve I think that means it will hurt.

I've had two 9lb babies without any pain relief (not by choice) so I don't think I'm a wuss

You'll be in absolute agony while it's being done. I doubt if the dentist would even do it.

No and I wouldn't even consider it (it's unpleasant enough even with anaesthetic).

Yes I have but the filling wasn’t too deep. I hate the injections so decided to give it a go without them. It was ok tbh- painful but not terrible. But mine was quite shallow - I think I’d have to have the injections if it was deep. He did use the drill though

The dentist won’t do it without the anaesthetic. They need you to keep still and they won’t risk you flailing about in pain with a drill in your mouth.

Try to think of it like this- if your arm is numb, you can’t move it properly and that is a weird sensation. When your tooth/gum is numb you don’t even know it’s numb unless someone tries to stick something into it. Afterwards it feels a bit weird and sometimes your tongue can go too, but surely you can cope with that?

The most horrific experience of my life. Do not do it.

I’ve had injections starting to wear off during dental work and that was bad enough. Really do not recommend trying without, and yes agree dentist is unlikely to agree anyway.

I've had the dentist start before the local had kicked in. It was unbelievably painful.

Unless you have the world's highest pain threshold the dentist just won't do it.

I'd be surprised if the dentist agreed to do it. Like a PP, I've had deep fillings where the injection hasn't properly worked and I haven't been totally numb when they start drilling. It flipping hurts, and I've always asked them to stop and inject again. Can't imagine just going for it without anything.

I want to add other than my dramatics that it was actually unsuccessful too, I imagine because I was practically balling my eyes out and being held down. It was torture.

I then had to pay privately to be seen again as i obviously had zero intention of seeing that nhs dentisit again and I ended up having it taken out. I was offered root canal but I just couldn't face the wait and the pain and decided it was the lesser of two evils.

Honestly don't be tempted, I promise that a numb face is better than even 1% of the pain I endured and the trauma of it happening.

Why did you not have pain relief @itsmylifeitsnowor ?

Yeah, these comments are what I needed to see! Eek.
I will suck it up and have the injection.
The dentist did say he was willing to let me start out without the injection due to my fear, but that he'd stop immediately and inject if it became too painful. After reading these I'll just go ahead with the numbing so I don't prolong the experience.

They will do it if you ask. My gran has never had anaesthetic for a filling as she hates it.

I’ve got quite a few fillings, including a very deep one on my upper second molar that I was told was very close to being a root canal. All done with no pain relief. The most painful bit is the drill bit, but it’s only painful when quite close to the nerve and it’s a very short pain. I would say it is quite painful but completely manageable imo

Don’t even think about it. Dentists these days are incredibly skilled with the placement of the anaesthetic. I had an extraction that I didn’t even feel and had no numbness anywhere than my gum.

Yes. Worse thing I've ever done

I have all my fillings without LA because I haven't got time for a dribbling, numb face all day.
But I have to say when the dentist hit a nerve one time I did hit the ceiling.
The choice is yours. Ask the dentist if they can manage this particular filling without doing that.

They put adrenalin in local anaesthetic so it lasts longer but sdrenaline makes my heart race and starts off a panic attack which I hate. Ask if they can give you LA without adrenalin. That's probably what the problem is.

I've had a couple of fillings without anesthesia and it's been fine. Don't know how deep they were though. My dentist has absolutely no issue with it. They check if I'm coping regularly and I've always managed.

I can't stand the numb feeling either.

I feel I have an ok pain threshold.
For me, dental pain is a hard no.
I was told I didn't need injection for a small filling years and years ago. The pain was way too much for me. I would definitely not do it, myself. I appreciate we're all different though.

Most of my fillings have been done without local anaesthesia. The only time I willingly had it was for a root canal. I had to have a filling replaced recently and the dentist refused to do it without local whereas my previous dentist understood that my fear of locals was worse than my fear of pain.

I would do what your dentist suggests - see how you go without local but be prepared to have it if necessary.

My DH has all his fillings without injection - and he's got quite a lot of fillings. His fear of the needle was far worse than his fear of the drill. I don't know how he does it! I go to the same dentist and am definitely in the injection for avoidance of pain camp.

The injection totally depends on your dentist. Depends how deep your filling goes etc as to wether they will do it.

I had a very light filling that I couldn't have the injection for as I was breastfeeding and it was sensitive - sore at some points but not unbearable.

@Heather37231 because the dentist very casually said did I want to skip as it shouldn't take long and I'll feel back normal sooner.