ironsiderodger, dare I say it helps immensely if the dentist uses nitrous oxide sedation before giving the local anesthetic, and keeping it on for the duration of the procedure. It doesn't work in all cases in adults, but it is really great for helping little ones relax and be able to cope with any dental treatment. Novocaine? Hasn't been used for decades. More like lidocaine, its second cousin. It might also help for the dentist to use (on you, and on little Sammy) marcaine, which is a much longer-lasting local anesthetic which also gives a deeper level of anesthesia.