You should've said something even if you weren't completely sure it wasn't numb, before they started drilling. After all, it's better to be safe than to be sorry. But in this case, you were sorry. Hopefully you'll remember this if you ever get another root canal done, so that you won't make the same mistake twice.

Your logic is sound, and applies in many cases. However, in my one really bad dental experience, I was numb as far as I could tell, and couldn't do anything until it was too late. I was getting all four wisdom teeth removed, and each area was numbed individually with a local anesthetic. The first three went just fine, and when they numbed the last tooth, I thought everything was normal. However, once they got through the gum and started drilling and prying, I felt nearly every action with excruciating clarity. You can't say anything when they have a device in to hold your jaws open and to stretch your lips, and my groans didn't carry over the sound of the drill or the whirring of the suction apparatus. For whatever reason, they had my arms and legs in restraints, AND I was on an intravenous muscle relaxer, so I didn't have much range of motion. Sure, I could've raised my hand slightly, but the two nurses were very unprofessional and inattentive, so they didn't notice any of the signals I tried to give. Sometimes, you're just kind of screwed, and you have to lay there and endure the pain. I can't imagine what it would've been like having a root canal under such circumstances.

Normally if you put your hand up they'll immediately stop and check to make sure you're ok. Might be worth keeping that in mind for next time.

Or just start flailing and screaming, that'll probably clue them in too.

*waves arms frantically*

HEALPH FMY TEEPH AR NAHT NUMF!!

As someone with a phobia of dentists, this legitimately gave me heart palpitations. I am so sorry.

I get pretty much a subconscious panic attack. I may be fine, but something will cause me to have the kind of panic attack where I shake uncontrollably. It sucks. I hate dentists too haha never have.

That's awful OP. I cringed just reading it. Feel better soon!

When I had to have a root canal, my dentist sent me to a specialist. After one shot, I said it wasn't numb and they hit me again....Everything seemed okay until he started working on the roots themselves and then it was like lightning through my skull. Two more shots in my jaw and one straight down into the tooth-hole before that sonuvabitch was completely numb. Not a fun experience for anyone involved.

It turned out I had extra roots in that molar, I blame it on that.

There are a number of factors as to why even a "heavy" dose of local anesthesia hasn't worked. The most common once can be ,anxiety , an infection under that tooth generally an abscess for which the root canal treatment is being done or if you are a chronic marijuana/drug abuser! I know this because i go to a dental school! :) Better ways to make sure if the tooth is numb or not that what you experienced! Hope it wasn't too painful :)

Love the Castaway reference. I assume the ppl down voting your comment had no idea what you were talking about.

Dental school should have told you that eds patients also have issues with anesthesia working.

I had the same thing happen on a root canal so they gave me one more shot.. right into my exposed nerve. Probably some of the worst pain I've had at a dentist but it went away quick.
Hope yours wasn't too painful.

now when you use the word drilling, I immediately think about the street side jackhammer drilling tool instead of the tiny little tooth driller.

That happened to me once. The dentist was mad when I screamed louder than the drill. He proceeded to shove an extra large needle between gum and tooth to make sure he got the nerve the second time. That hurt more than drilling without novacaine.

What Butcher Did You Go To?? Jeez my dentist always ask and checks to make sure before he begins any work. Speak up next time OP. Sorry you had to endure pain.