A filling without an injection?

missm29

After not visiting the dentist for years i finally went for a checkup and i need a small filling at the top near the front, i have no pain. The dentist said i don't need an injection, and this worries me, is this normal or are they trying to save money, its a nhs dentist although i do have to pay £29. The dentist isn't english and just said don't worry, but i am terrified and tempted to cancel because it doesn't hurt. I always find it easier to go when i'm in terrible pain, i know i'm pathetic can handle child birth twice but a trip to the dentist i freak out at.

Rikki

I had a small filling like this some years ago. If the decay is not near a nerve there is no need for an injection and you don't feel a thing. Its perfectly all right.

....and I'm not the greatest lover of going to the dentist.

PinkGrapefruit_2

I've had several fillings done without injections, they weren't that bad and mine were quite big.

whitewing

I have had them done without an injection too, and no worries at all. You also don't get that numbness either so can speak normally.

horse76

They certainly won't be trying to save money, I'm sure your dentist must generally feel you will manage without an injection. If it is a small filling you need, the cavity will probably only take a few seconds of drilling, so probably it will be more hassle to have an injection. If you can put up wth abit of cold spray for a few seconds then I'd go for it, but if you are really worried about it, speak to your dentist and ask him if he'll give you some local anesthetic. After all it's more important you're comfortable.

Bare in mind even thought the tooth isn't causing you any bother now, it could eventually if left untreated, and could turn out to be a bigger and more costly filling in the future.

HTH

jugglebug

From a dentists perspective...
If a patient requests no Anaesthetic (and they do remarkably often) I dont think "YAY, that some cash saved" because it honestly isnt really that much, when you compare it to the aggro of the patient moving around because they are uncomfortable.

I can only imagine it is early enamel caries that he wants to treat. Enamel is insensitive so we can do what we like to it, with no chance of pain.

If the problem extends into dentine, then pain may be a problem and I always want to give LA regardless as the pain can be totally unrelated to depth.
In your case I wouldnt worry much, but make a clear agreement with the dentist (such as a hand signal) that should you need him to stop he knows immediately.
I agree this with every one of my patients before I ever pick up an instrument, numb or not

edit. When I say not that much, I am talking less than a quid

dizziblonde

I'm the worst dental phobic in the world (had toothache for a year before I saw the dentist once) and when I decided I finally needed to kick things into gear and actually start GOING to the dentist he found a few fillings needed doing - and one he did without an injection... I was terrified anyway, missing out the horrible needly bit was in hindsight a good move - but I didn't feel a thing (apart from my usual utter terror).

McKneff

The amount youre being charged is strange. There are three payment bands.
One just under £20, one just under £50 and one just under £200.
With a filling yours should be the middle one

scotsgirl_3

I started going to a dentist recently after nearly 10 years, and have had 2 fillings, one with anaesthetic, one without. In my case, he wasn't able to say for definite if I would need a jab or not, so he just worked at it very very slowly - couldn't feel a thing. The first one, he got so far, and could see that it would be too deep so gave me a jab. Couple of weeks later I had the 2nd one and it was a little shallower so didn't need it.

Doubt it will be cost cutting - mine was a private dentist

missm29

anniehanlon wrote: »

The amount youre being charged is strange. There are three payment bands.
One just under £20, one just under £50 and one just under £200.
With a filling yours should be the middle one

Thanks for the replies, have never heard of people having fillings without injections, not that i pay much attention, i feel a bit better knowing that it can be done.

My last dentist was private but quite cheap compared to what my relatives pay, i only went when in terrible pain. This one is a new nhs, i paid £16.50 last week for a checkup and they said that i need a filling which will cost £29.10, hope i don't have to argue about the price on the day. Have only joined because i hope to fall pregnant this year and i will be able to have free treatment if needed, with my last 2 children i suffered terrible whilst pregnant and had to pay a private dentist as i couldn't get a nhs one.

Teerah

The price sounds fine then. Its really one charge of £45.60 but you are paying it in two seperate amounts. Thats a band 2 charge as it should be.