SIGforum
Local anesthesia injection
September 25, 2025, 12:02 PM
konata88Local anesthesia injection
If you go see your dentist, does he give you a warning that he's going to give you shot? Or does he just surprise you and do it? Assume that the procedure (ie - cavity filling, tooth removal, whatever) is expected and that the would likely use an anesthesia injection. But is "I'm gonna give you a shot now" no longer typical? Just curious.
It didn't hurt but I was a little pissed that there was no immediate warning. But if it's typical now, then okay. New dentist. Old dentist always gave me a warning.
"Wrong does not cease to be wrong because the majority share in it." L.Tolstoy
"A government is just a body of people, usually, notably, ungoverned." Shepherd Book September 25, 2025, 12:06 PM
12131Doing anything invasive, no matter how minor it is, without prior warning in unprofessional. The last and only time I went to the dentist was nearly 40 years ago, and yes, “I’ll be giving you a shot of Novocaine” before the procedure.
Q
September 25, 2025, 12:14 PM
konata88Yea, that's what I figured but I've only had 1 dentist for the last 30+ years, just recently had to change because of retirement.
The new RDH is okay but I'm not sure about the dentist. May be look for another office but they are all just names on a sheet.
"Wrong does not cease to be wrong because the majority share in it." L.Tolstoy
"A government is just a body of people, usually, notably, ungoverned." Shepherd Book September 25, 2025, 12:41 PM
12131quote:
May be look for another office but they are all just names on a sheet.
Call ahead and ask, “Does the dentist give a heads up before injecting?” That’s how you pick your next one.
Q
September 25, 2025, 12:51 PM
kkinaquote:
May be look for another office but they are all just names on a sheet.
Nextdoor is a good place to garner referrals from actual patients.
I don't think I've ever had a stealth stab from any medical professional. And I get stabbed a lot.
September 25, 2025, 01:24 PM
mrvmaxI usually see the syringe so I know it is coming. That and they use the pain killer on the cotton swab to lessen the feel of the needle.
September 25, 2025, 01:37 PM
PASigMy dentist numbs the area he's injecting first, yours did not?
September 25, 2025, 01:40 PM
Redleg06Yes, my dentist gives a heads up. But his assistant also does it when she swaps the injection site with a topical anesthetic. My endo guy goes even one better. He grabs my cheek next to the site and shakes it as he injects. That surprised me the first time he did it. It wasn't painful but it completely masked the injection. I NEVER FELT THE NEEDLE!
"Cedat Fortuna Peritis"
September 25, 2025, 01:45 PM
Rey HRHMy latest dentist told me what he was going to do just like my previous dentist. What impressed me was how small the needle was.
"It did not really matter what we expected from life, but rather what life expected from us. We needed to stop asking about the meaning of life, and instead to think of ourselves as those who were being questioned by life – daily and hourly. Our answer must consist not in talk and meditation, but in right action and in right conduct. Life ultimately means taking the responsibility to find the right answer to its problems and to fulfill the tasks which it constantly sets for each individual." Viktor Frankl, Man's Search for Meaning, 1946.
September 25, 2025, 02:02 PM
konata88Previous dentist also previewed the work that needed to be done - would show me on xrays or video or mirrors what was wrong and what he would do and where.
Nothing with the new doc. Sounds like this is not typical and I should probably find a new doc.
"Wrong does not cease to be wrong because the majority share in it." L.Tolstoy
"A government is just a body of people, usually, notably, ungoverned." Shepherd Book September 25, 2025, 02:03 PM
konata88quote:
Originally posted by Redleg06:
Yes, my dentist gives a heads up. But his assistant also does it when she swaps the injection site with a topical anesthetic. My endo guy goes even one better. He grabs my cheek next to the site and shakes it as he injects. That surprised me the first time he did it. It wasn't painful but it completely masked the injection. I NEVER FELT THE NEEDLE!
My old doc used to do this too - never felt the shot. I didn't feel much w/ the injection with the new doc but he should have told me first. I thought he was going to do a quick exam first. Nope, first time I opened my mouth, got the surprise injection.
"Wrong does not cease to be wrong because the majority share in it." L.Tolstoy
"A government is just a body of people, usually, notably, ungoverned." Shepherd Book September 25, 2025, 02:25 PM
MNSIGThat's certainly not what I did. Other than the cases of a very small child, I always gave warning. The last thing you need is for the patient to be surprised and move with the needle in their mouth.
September 25, 2025, 03:06 PM
Rick LeeI can't believe any dentist would not give a warning. On the the other hand, I've gotten jabs before where I didn't feel a thing and didn't know it had been done, even when I was expecting it. Last tetanus shot I got, the nurse just talked and talked. I finally asked if we were gonna do this and she said we were already done. I hadn't felt a thing.
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07 FFL, Class 2 SOT
September 25, 2025, 03:53 PM
urbanwarrior238quote:
Originally posted by 12131:
Doing anything invasive, no matter how minor it is, without prior warning in unprofessional. The last and only time I went to the dentist was nearly 40 years ago, and yes, “I’ll be giving you a shot of Novocaine” before the procedure.
40 years! That is some good genes
'I am the danger'...Hiesenberg
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September 25, 2025, 05:13 PM
Rey HRHquote:
Originally posted by urbanwarrior238:
quote:
Originally posted by 12131:
Doing anything invasive, no matter how minor it is, without prior warning in unprofessional. The last and only time I went to the dentist was nearly 40 years ago, and yes, “I’ll be giving you a shot of Novocaine” before the procedure.
40 years! That is some good genes
That last visit was for the final fitting of his full set of dentures.
(Sorry 12131. Just kidding.)
"It did not really matter what we expected from life, but rather what life expected from us. We needed to stop asking about the meaning of life, and instead to think of ourselves as those who were being questioned by life – daily and hourly. Our answer must consist not in talk and meditation, but in right action and in right conduct. Life ultimately means taking the responsibility to find the right answer to its problems and to fulfill the tasks which it constantly sets for each individual." Viktor Frankl, Man's Search for Meaning, 1946.
September 25, 2025, 05:35 PM
dsietsWhen I was kid I got a local shot in my mouth at the dentist.
That numbed me for the real shot that came after.
Then he tried to hide the pliers in his hand as he snuck it towards my mouth.
"Whoa, what's that?"
"Don't worry, you won't feel a thing."
(Other than my head being jerked left and right).
September 25, 2025, 05:47 PM
12131quote:
Originally posted by Rey HRH:
That last visit was for the final fitting of his full set of dentures.
(Sorry 12131. Just kidding.)
Made out of ivory. They last a lifetime.
Q
September 25, 2025, 09:05 PM
flesheatingvirusIt's my body. I want to know EVERYTHING they are doing. Hell, I sat up and watched my own vasectomy. It was very interesting.
________________________________________
-- Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past me I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain. --
September 25, 2025, 09:24 PM
jer830Any MD/Dentist, even RN, should communicate with the patient prior to the procedure. Hell even my dental hygienist lets me know what she is going to do even though I’ve been seeing her for a decade.
Perhaps a complaint to the CA Dental Board might be in order. If they feel the complaint is valid, at the minimum your dentist gets a letter, which might save others from going through what you did.
September 25, 2025, 10:34 PM
StorminNorminAny dentist I have had always gave a warning that it was going to feel like a mosquito bite. Really? Bull crap. It hurts worse than a damn mosquito. No warning is unprofessional.
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