To want a local anaesthetic for deep clean

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Some dentists/hygienists understand, some are dismissive, I always explain that I need an anaesthetic because my teeth are really sensitive. Today I lost my shit because despite explaining this she said she'd be quick, before I knew it in she went, I nearly hit the roof, I lost my temper because I had told her specifically that I needed local, I can still feel it now hours later, and she only touched one tooth, Is it because they can't be arsed? Or is it that administering it is difficult,? so many huffs and puffs from some when I ask, then others will quickly get on with it,no problem.
How do i insist on it next time, so I don't lose my shit because the stupid cow didn't listen.

I recommend this thing https://www.dentalwarehouse.co.uk/lumoral-starter-pack.html
I have cancer and you’re not allowed to go to the hygienist during treatment, I was really worried about losing teeth. I have used it throughout the last year and my dentist is v impressed with my lovely clean teeth!

Caries is decay.

Mine just gives me the numbing cream followed by the injections. No injections, no clean.

This is my policy too!

A "deep clean" isn't just having your teeth cleaned extra thoroughly - they go beneath the gum line and clean out the pockets where gum disease infection lives. I was really shocked when they told me I had gum disease and needed the deep clean, had no symptoms. Can happen to anyone, a pain in the arse!

Dentist told me a trick, rub sensodyne neat onto the teeth where the cleaning usually hurts. Do it several times a day for couple of days before appointment especially last thing at night.

Also ask for numbing gel (that won’t help your teeth though)
I also take 2 cocodamol an hour before

Also you can always always request a fully manual clean without the water pik as it’s the water jet that I find hurts the most. Obv they’ll get less work done in the appointment but it reduces the pain

😂😂😂

Don’t worry, I love going to the hygienist, I find it really relaxing. But I hate the dentist and local anaesthetic doesn’t work properly on my nerves so it’s nice to have a good clean over the drill any day!

I find dental treatment a real struggle. I'm badly claustrophobic and have sensitive (but pretty problem free luckily) teeth. I now travel to a dentist who is great with nervous patients and is more than happy to offer sedation. He is fairly pricey and I travel a bit, but it's been so worth it. First time I went to him he said he could hear my heart beating with fear when he started looking in my mouth...now I can lay back and watch the TV above the chair knowing he won't do anything shocking without telling me first and talking me through the procedure and options. I'd say have a good look around for a new dentist.

Me neither and I've only ever had one filling in my life so it's not like I have a load of issues. Maybe I've just been lucky.

If they use anaesthetic they have to do it in two sessions. They cannot numb both sides of your mouth at the same time because you then cannot feel when you are closing your jaws and can bite your tongue or cheek without realising it.

I can imagine it might hurt. To me it's tolerable and actually quite pleasant. I like the feeling of all the crap being scraped out.

I guess I'm a bit weird! I'm going to ask for another one next month I think.

If any dental professional has a bad bedside manner and huffs and puffs or doesn't do what I need them to then I would switch.

Mine tried to do a deep clean last year and I told her to stop on the very first tooth, and that I’d rather have my teeth taken out and falsies fitted than go through that again.

Honestly, I have friends in their 60s and 70s that have never seen a hygienist and they still have all their teeth.

My previous dentist used to do a scale and polish once a year, none of this ‘cleaning the pockets out’ stuff.

The hygienists at our surgery only work privately so like hell am I paying £50 a pop three or four times a year to go through agony!

It takes longer and you may not be able to have your entire mouth debrided (if that’s what is clinically needed); quantities and large areas of local anaesthetic would contraindicate that. The sensodyne thing another poster states works for some patients. Others not. It may just be that you are one of those patients who will have to have a 2 visit scaling /debriding to get it all
done with local anaesthetic. Hygienists and /or hygienists therapists can place local anaesthetic-that’s all part of modern training and has been for a long time now.

I'm due a deep clean soon and have made the hygienist promise they will use numbing gel throughout. I cannot and will not cope in the chair without it.

I'm recovering from my lifelong dentist phobia and am by no means cured, but I can sit in the chair now and have some treatment without sobbing but not for long 😂 so the hygienist absolutely needs to do what I'm paying for or it'll set me back years.

I’m a dental therapist, but spend most of my time doing hygiene work. It’s so sad you’ve had such bad experiences in the past, it never needs to be that painful.

Couple of things to consider here. A “deep clean” is layman’s terms for subgingival instrumentation, essentially cleaning into gum pockets. When people have gum disease the attachment of the gum to the tooth is lost and a pocket forms, forming a gap between the gum and the tooth. To treat this, the root surface below the gum line needs to be cleaned, in most circumstances done over a couple of sessions using local anaesthetic.

If you’re telling the hygienist you need a deep clean when that’s not what you actually need, it’s possible they’re looking in your mouth and seeing you don’t have any gum pocketing, so try to convince you you don’t need the anaesthetic. It would be more helpful to tell them you have dentine hypersensitivity and request local.

I caveat this by saying I always listen to my patients and if they tell me they find cleaning really painful and want local then I’ll give it to them no problem. But in many cases the injection is more painful than the actual treatment, so I’ll give patients the option of trying with some desensitising paste first (not numbing gel as this only numbs the gums and won’t help sensitivity) and in most cases when patients are willing to try it works really well and is quicker, less painful and you’re not left with a numb mouth for hours afterwards.

I’m really lucky in my clinic in that I’m given plenty of time, however sadly lots of hygienists work under massive time pressure with not enough time to complete everything they need to do, and adding the extra time that’s needed to do the local adds stress. Not your fault I know, but not the hygienist’s either as appointment times are dictated by management. It may be helpful to explain you need extra time when booking the appointment, of course you may need to pay extra for this.

Finally, and I mean this kindness and it may not be the way you act in real life, but your post makes you sound quite aggressive. Maybe have a think about the way you speak to the dental staff, they’re more likely to help you if you speak to them with kindness.

Edit as double posted

I'm due for a deep clean with the hygienist, my dentist started to do it for me and it was excruciating as my teeth are sensitive. He offered me the numbing injection, so it can be done. Private dentist though. No NHS available here.

I'm not sure if it would help you but I have sensitive teeth and always take a couple of ibuprofen about 45 mins before my dental hygienist appointment which I find helps a lot.

Forgot to add, taking ibuprofen about an hour before your appointment and rubbing sensitive toothpaste on your teeth just before your appointment can help.

There’s also a machine that uses warm water, but it’s very expensive so slightly harder to find. Pretty sure the manufactures EMS have a map on their website if you Google something like EMS GBT finder

Thanks everyone, I think I will have to go with the either numb it or no clean option, and be firmer!, I'm still having electric type shock pain this morning, she seems to have really hit the nerve. It pissed me off because if she had said outright no I'm not going to numb it, and we haven't got time for that I would've said fair enough and gone on my way it's the implications that you're a wimp, and the eye rolling, and should just put up with it, silly woman type thing that really fucked me off, I didn't shout or anything BTW, I did however make it very clear I was angry that she just dived straight in when I'd told her not to. it seems it really should be standard to numb you up,for gum disease, as I've said some do, some don't, I have gum disease and that's why it's so painful.
The implication that I should just put up and shut up because it's the nhs is wrong imo too, it should be standard care surely? That some dentists are seemingly more competent and efficient shouldn't be the case.

My previous hygienist used something called a Cavitron; which used water and vibrations. It was horrendous. My new hygienist (practice was taken over by a new team) uses something different. I said it was much better, and she said the equipment cost over £10,000!

Yeah the cavitron is an absolute workhorse but can be uncomfortable

Yup that’ll be the EMS, initial outlay is about £13k then you’ll need several attachments at a couple of hundred quid a go and 6 monthly servicing which is also eye watering. Clearly a very forward thinking practice you go to!

I feel your pain, literally. I had babies, Major abdominal surgery, fractures. My teeth were in such good nick, even in my 60s. I kept my old dentist when I moved,it was 100 mile round trip, but I unexpectedly had to return to work nearby. When I was due to retire, found a local dentist specialising in severe phobias, private, because I hadn't needed work for years. Dentist was lovely, hygienist, came out into the waiting room tossing her waist length hair. I had a cup of tea, neither her or the nurse offered to take the cup. I looked round for a suitable surface. Neither of them said a single word. I asked if she'd seen my notes, severe dental phobia, yes. I yelled a lot,was getting hot sweaty dizzy,air con had broken,it was mid summer. She said some people find it a bit sensitive,you can't find something sensitive! Asked what the instruments were,was asked why did I want to know. Told her when I was nursing we never went at someone with an instrument without showing and explaining. Told her I was having a panic attack, she swept out of the room and told me to sit in the waiting room.long story followed...I couldn't find where I parked my car!! Actually went into the local Samaritans office! Now, have a lovely NHS dentist and the hygienist is very kind.

"Going to the hygienist" and having a deep clean are not necessarily the same thing! A visit to the hygienist can be for a scale and polish, a regular clean - but a "deep clean" is a particular procedure required for gum disease, done over a number of appointments. There's no way I'd have it without anaesthetic.

I dont go anymore.
Mine would just discount my pain and keep going.
I cancelled my next appointment and Im never going again