Does getting a filling hurt?

Question

I think I need to get a filling in one of my teeth, but I’ve never had one before and I’m a bit worried about it. I don’t want to ask any of my mates about it because they’ll take the mickey out me if they know I’m scared about getting a filling!!! Does it hurt? I know it’s not supposed to hurt after you get the injection, but how bad is the injection? Do you always have to get an injection for a filling or could I get it done without? And how long does it take for a filling? Cheers.

Answer 1

I'm a dentist.

Read these words carefully:

There is procedure that your dentist performs that should cause you pain. The only thing that should hurt is the injection of local anesthetic, which, if done properly, should hurt only minimally.

Once profound anesthesia of the tooth has been obtained, you should only sense the vibration of the drill and the air/water in your mouth. There should be no pain.

I cannot tell you, however, how long the procedure will take. It depends on the extent of the decay, the number of tooth surfaces involved, the doctor's experience, the restoration material to be used, the quality of the doctor's assistant, your ability to open your mouth wide and keep your mouth opened wide (more on this below), and the extent to which you salivate. Generally, on a good patient, placing a two-surface amalgam filling takes me about ten to fifteen minutes. A two surface composite (i.e. tooth-colored) filling runs about twenty minutes. A fidgety patient who repeatedly closes his/her mouth will require more time.

One of the things that patients do to make our job difficult is not open their f-ing mouths wide. You tell them "open wide" and they'll open wide for two seconds before closing half way again. The less you open, the less we can see, which understandibly means that the quality of our work is less. When your doctor says "open wide", that means you should open wide and keep your mouth opened wide until he/she tells you to close. It's in your best interest to do so.

Answer 2

I'd definitely recommend having the injection, I can't imagine how much it would hurt getting your tooth drilled without numbing it first!!! I guess if it's a REALLY small cavity it might not hurt, but I'd go with the injection, it's just a bit of a pinch for a few seconds then it's gone and you don't feel anything except pressure in your tooth. Tgive you the injection and wait about 10 minutes until it's worked and then they do the drilling and filling which only takes about another 10 minutes or so......you should be out of there in half an hour easy.

Answer 3

Do Fillings Hurt

Answer 4

Hi, I avoided the dentist for 6 years because I needed a filling. I was told I needed one when I was 12 and that I would need an injection.. As im terrified of needles, I wouldnt let them give me a filling so they put a temporary one in.. But recently it fell out and I thought id be brave and go back. Im absolutely terrified of the dentist and when it was time for the filling I was told "it may hurt abit or it may not.. so do you want the injection?" to which I replied..HELL NO and went on without it.. and I can honestly say it didnt hurt at all!! It took about 10 minutes, if that. My whole appointment was 30 minutes, with a polish and clean etc. Dont be scared, its fine!

Answer 5

All you feel when the dentist is giving you the filling is the pressure of the drill and the instruments. If you do not want to hear the drill I advise you take an Ipod or similar device in and crank up the volume.
The injection will hurt. it feels like a burning pinch inside your mouth but it only lasts seconds and them your mouth starts going numb.
I will tell you not to have any Boiling hot drinks, Coffee/Tea/Hot chocolate for a few hours after the filling as your mouth is still numb and you could get badly burned.
Good Luck.

Answer 6

No big deal..... it's more a MENTAL fear than anything.

The noises are strange and can be scary if you decide to think of it that way. But just noises.

Your teeth are very close to your sinuses and you brain... it is IMPORTANT to take care of them and not get infections.

The way I see it, you can go to the Dentist regularly over the years and pay along the way..... or you can wait and loose all your teeth and pay thousands replacing them with dentures.

The needle they use in your mouth is long but TINY and if you look away and remember to BREATHE, there's not much too it.

Oh, when I was about 8, I took a filling without any pain killer because I saw the needle and I had this huge fear of needles back then....... the dentist kept stopping and asking me if I wanted the shot and I refused. I took the entire filling without pain medicine. It hurt, I wouldn't recommend it, but I was 8 and I lived through it.

However, I recommend the pain meds...... and think HAPPY THOUGHTS......

Answer 7

It usually doesn't hurt but depends on how bad the cavity is. Sometimes they can just rub a numbing gel around the tooth, but sometimes you have to get a shot (it's totally minor, though). The filling process itself doesn't hurt at all b/c you are numbed. All they do is just shave off the thin piece of tooth that is decayed and fill it back in with a liquid. I've had some where I didn't have to be numbed at all and they didn't hurt....just a tip: get the clear or white filling, not silver!

Answer 8

It isn't so bad... the shot is what hurts the most and that is just minor. The worst you will have problems with is being so numb afterwards for a couple hours that you will be drooling all over your self and will talk like your either slow or drunk - that goes away though =)
It may feel funny for a few days, something your not used to in your mouth but after a few days, you won't notice it.

Answer 9

From what my friends have told me it doesn't hurt that much- after the injection of novacaine or other local anesthetic your dentist uses. It depends on how much work will need to be done if an injection would be needed. As to if you have to get one, you could talk to your dentist. I've also heard that it doesn't take that long to get it done. I have had the injection to get teeth pulled when I was younger. If they do it right, then it doesn't hurt that much- just a sting when the needle goes in. Other than that, it's not that bad.

Answer 10

A filling does not hurt and your dentist will advise and give you anaestetic. In some cases, they use a cream to numb the teeth and mouth before the fillings are done.

Answer 11

No, not if they numb it first, but then you you have to put up with your mouth being numb for about 4 hours. Yes you could get it without the injection, but then you can feel the pain of them filling the tooth. The numbing isn't bad you just feel a little sting for a couple of seconds.