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 used to have fillings without anaesthetic as a child. It was horrific. I wouldn't even consider it.

What should I expect with the LA then? I'm mainly scared of any part of my neck, throat or tongue becoming numb. I can deal with a numb gum, I don't really feel those anyway! I'm not too bothered about my lips having sensation either. The tooth that needs filling is right lower molar, 3rd molar? - I'm just looking at pictures on Google for names of teeth - I have more teeth than those pictures! Anyway, it's the 3rd molar in, just to give an idea where in my mouth the injection will be.

Your neck and throat shouldn't feel numb. Your tongue might feel thick, especially if the filling is in the lower jaw, but not numb with no sensation.

Ah, sorry, it's my second molar - didn't realise the first says PREmolar

I've had lots of injections and never had more than numb gums, cheeks, lips and maybe the side of my tongue. I would say my nose has maybe tingled a bit.

Never throat.

@itsmylifeitsnowor Fab, thank you, that eases me a bit. It's such a silly fear for me to have, I've been getting all worked up over it and the rational part of me realises I'm essentially getting worked up over having no pain!

It's not just a matter of tolerating the pain, you have to do so while keeping still. I don't know how so many PPs have managed to do that.

LA in the upper jaw is barely noticeable afterwards. Lower jaw is when your lips and cheek feel thick and swollen (they don't actually swell). Carry a tissue afterwards because you can feel like you're drooling because you can't tell if your mouth is fully closed. (It probably is but you can't feel your lips touching.). Also, you might sound and look a bit odd when you speak because you don't have full control of one side of your mouth - just explain that you've just been to the dentist.

It gradually wears off and you realise that normal sensation has resumed.

No, and I never would!

I had four wisdom teeth out in Aug - they're right at the back of your mouth. Even with extra local, I had no numbness in my throat or neck - it was more in my cheek. Get the local!

Hope it all went OK.

I hate injections and so have always opted to have fillings without local anaesthetic, but I don't think they were deep ones.

I've had root canal treatment on a back tooth without anaesthetic and that was uncomfortable. But not horrendous. However, I subsequently had to have that tooth extracted and did opt for local anaesthetic, it was fine and has made me rethink it. If I had to have another filling I'd probably opt for it now as it wasn't as bad as I feared.