The last time I had root canal work done was following an abscess (now we're talking serious pain!).

The dentist assured me that anaesthetic was not necessary; the abscess had killed the nerve.

Not quite, matey. The nerve has three roots. One was most definitely still alive, as I discovered when he drilled into it.

You know those cartoon pictures of cats hanging from the ceiling by their claws.......?

I can totally relate..

I found I had an abscess in my tooth when the filling in that tooth collapsed into the abscess…
I worked at boots the chemists in the research labs at the time and they used what they could to get me sedated enough to get me to a dentist…

That's what they told you

Well, I made it.

I don't think I got "the needle". I'm not sure what I got - Biiiiink, maybe it was a "painless injection system" thing? I didn't even have a 'fat, drooling lip'. Now, I feel a little bit sore (only like I went a bit crazy with the floss) but nothing like I have in the past. Whatever it was, it was the best numbing from a dentist I've ever had!

The guy was so freakin' quick. As soon as I got zoomed back in the chair... Bam! "say aaaahhhh..." and I can feel my gum going numb... zero pain! I was going to ask about the needle and some local numbing gel but never got the chance! For my sake, a very good strategy on his part really - I never saw it coming. After I asked how he numbed me up but he said a bunch of gobbly-gook very quickly and I'm hard of hearing so missed a lot of it. And actually thought that maybe it's best I don't really know anyway; ignorance can be bliss, eh?

batty x-ray, laying there, my mouth full of drill, I had to really try hard not to break into a big grin a few times thinking about "little stress balls you can squeeze". I've a groove in my hand from digging in one of my fingernails over that!

dozzzy, Souvenir and MikeUK - I'm so sorry for your horrible experiences and I'm so glad I didn't read them til just now!

Thanks for all your input everyone. It gave me something to think about and grab ahold of. I was terrified waiting in the waiting area and nearly ran out. It's weird how doing something you've done many, many times before without much of a thought suddenly seems very scary in a different culture... eventhough intellectually you know it won't be that different. That surprised me - I've been here over 4 years!

And I go back tomorrow for a cleaning...
... but I love that stuff.

so didn't your dentist have balls then?

glad it went well for you- brave woman

Great to hear that your experience went well!