to expect pain-free dental treatment?

[Lightshines]

Just that, really. Every time I visit the dentist, the procedures hurt.
Even that little air-blowy thing makes my teeth hurt.
Had to have a filling recently, had 2 injections but I still felt pain when the dentist was drilling and had to 'raise my hand' to ask her to stop.
Have been told I need a root canal treatment but am so reluctant based on my previous experiences.

I don't think I am a wimp. I rarely take painkillers for anything, so I wouldn't say I have an unusually low pain threshold.

But it occurred to me that maybe my expectations are unrealistic and I should expect there to be pain, to a lesser or greater extent, in the dentist's chair?

Hi,

I haven't read all of the thread so forgive me if someone has already mentioned this.

All my life I found any dental procedures carried out under a local still hurt, as a child I used to have to be given more injections than an adult would have as they just didn't seem to work.

However I recently found out that I am hypermobile and that a common symptom of this is reduced effectiveness of local anesthetics. Do you know if you are hypermobile? Check the Beighton score for criteria to diagnose hypermobility.

I have just read the whole thread and someone else has mentioned hypermobility - definitely check into this OP as it was a real lightbulb moment for me when I read down all the symptoms of it.

Red-haired people do need more anaesthesia/analgesia than those with hair of other colours. (Sis is an anaesthetist and has told me this many times)

Some people have very sensitive teeth too - even cold air on the mouth sets off the nerves. Sensodyne toothpaste helps, but not enormously.

I have severe dental phobia, and have sedation every time. You honestly don't remember a thing, not pain, not even the dentist himself! It's great, but there's a long waiting list and you still have to pay the NHS charges. (about £70 I seem to remember, plus the actual treatment) You also need someone with you as you come out a bit 'weird' and of course can't drive.