My husband doesn't do Novocaine either. Me, I'm telling the doctor to give me the syringe, fill it up and I'll inject myself.

I've had enough pain from my teeth and dental work that no way I'd go through grinding without optimum anesthetic.
The doctor did tell me something interesting. Their practice is down a doc and they can't get anyone to commit to rural medical practice. He said that they talked to two grad students from Stills university school of dentistry and they both told them that they were graduating with 450,000 dollars worth of school dept. So naturally they want to go where the big bucks are. And that ain't in small towns of 1500 people.
I mean can you imagine?!? We ran into that when we retired. DH talked to a grad from his college who told him he had over 250,000 in debt and was looking for work to pay it off, not buy a practice.
It does not bode well for rural health care.