Heh, I'm 23 and still can't stand going to the dentist, In fact, I have to go next Wednesday morning for a cleaning and check up. Joy.
Moral is: NEVER GET YOUR TEETH DRILLED. even w/ novacaine(aka the numbing medecine, sleepy juice, etc.), you can still feel it!
Two things:
1. If you have a cavity and don't get it drilled out and filled, it can eventually abscess and you could wind up having a root canal and then a cap put on your tooth. Never happened to me thankfully, but it can happen. A filling is a lot better than a root canal!
2. At least in my state, they can't use novacaine (sp?) any longer as it was deemed too strong. Nonetheless, whatever they use now works about as well I'd say. However, if you get a needle and you feel them drilling and it hurts: wave your hand at the dentist.
You should NEVER feel pain while having a tooth drilled! Sounds like your dentist didn't wait long enough before drilling; for me it has usually taken about 7 minutes after my dentist gives me a needle before I feel numb and then he starts drilling. I've only had a problem with pain once. Hurts afterwards, yes, but not
during the filling.
If you ever have to get a filling again, tell your dentist beforehand it hurt last time when he drilled, and hopefully he'll wait longer for you to get number.