Scaling and root planing

Most painful procedure that doesn’t have the drill. What has been your experience? I thought I was going to go mad from all the scraping beneath my gums and roots. The dentist was really rough and insensitive and lectured the whole time. I have to go back next week to start my fillings, five each side, bottom teeth except for two. This will be done over two two hour appointments. I hope I get the numbing. Sometimes she says they’re just small and I shouldn’t need any but I find myself praying she won’t get out the drill again because it hurts terribly.

This isn't directly related to the OP but I'll mention it anyway because it relates to being uncomfortable in the dentist chair. A good friend of mine who is a long time surgical scrub nurse is scared stiff of being in the dentist chair. She has assisted in numerous open heart surgeries over the last three decades, yet she can't stand to have dental work. She has to take anti-anxiety pills just to go to the dentist. Ironic, huh?

I've had this procedure without numbing as well and can confirm it's very uncomfortable. The soreness after takes over a week to fade so you're just getting constant reminders of the rough scraping you experienced in the chair.

Good luck with the fillings, don't be afraid to stop the doctor and ask for numbing if she doesn't give you any.

Scaling can be very sensitive, my hygienist sometimes uses a numbing gel to help relieve the sensitivity, it does feel lovely when she applies it, I'm not a fan of anything painful, so if she offers, I accept❤️

Perio disease runs in my family so I have this done every so often. Always get the happy gas on my nose, the nice assistant helps distract me a bit while the numbing shots are going in. Headphones on while the doctor is scraping away.

Last time I got a break halfway through, they asked if I wanted to get the other side done at the same time which I agreed. Assistant put the mask back on my nose and asked me to take a few deep breaths. While doing this I saw the dentist squeezing the bag a few times to get me nice and relaxed. I vaguely remember a few more numbing shots but not much else.