Painful dental checkups - help please!

[AniseedTwist]

Hi,
I have bad gum recession on lots of my teeth which means that my teeth are very sensitive and any dental work, including cleaning and especially scraping is excruciating, as it feels like it directly hits my nerves.

Also, when I have a filling aneasthetic doesn't work on these painful spots. So, understadably I am dreading going to the dentist tomorrow for a checkup. I've been using sensodyne, which doesn't seem to have much of an effect.

Does anyone have any idea what I or my dentist can do to reduce the pain? I'm getting to the stage where I'd be willing to have these (mainly double) teeth out rather than suffer like this - but that may be a bit extreme. Less extreme suggestions appreciated for now...

Thanks.

[bigsister]

My dentist uses a handscraper on my teeth because I have the same problem as you, which is far less painful. Ask him if he has any numbing gel, which he uses on me before injections.
Good luck.

[sense4all]

There is a liquid soother you could use yourself just before you go in. Stick a cotton bud in it to apply to your gum line before you go in : it is called Anbesol. This is good for gum discomfort : for "nerve" discomfort that is down to your dentist - sorry.

[Solarjunkie]

My dentist told me to put a pea sized bit of sensodyne on my finger & put it on the gums last thing at night. The effect builds up, but it does help.

[Panic Button]

My dentist said the same as Solarjunkie, but specified to use the gel Sensodyne

[AniseedTwist]

Thanks a lot for all your answers, I will try all of them. Good tip about the sensodyne gel, as I've been trying with original pink version and it comes off easily. I had to delay my apt because of illness but hopefully I'll have a less painflul experience next time because of these things.

Thanks.