To quote FDR: "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." Yes, I know a dental horror story, but it was once, and it was an infection above and beyond the routine dentist visit.
Matter of fact, yesterday, I got the the last crown replaced. The DT or whatever civilians call dental techs, just calls me a hardass, Old Corps Marine. Something she learned from her Marine SO. Went in yesterday to get the temp pulled and the permanent crown put on and they started in on me about novacaine. Gave 'em my most disdaining sneer. You aren't shooting me up with that crap so I can sit for 30 minutes for it to kick in so you can get in and out of my mouth in 3 minutes or less. Get to work. My sea story for the day
I spent the last 12 months and a good $10k fixing teeth. Nothing major. Mostly neglected maintenance. I walked in thinking man, they are going to pull every tooth out of my head
I had one pulled that is in the queue for an implant (in the back so no hurry), and I think 4-5 crowns replaced.
Other than the pain in the butt juggling the babysitting, the hype of going to the dentist was a LOT more than any issue. The cost with insurance still sucked. I think we're trained from an early age to mind-f*ck ourselves before we ever get there. And dental nowadays is nowhere near as traumatic as it was when I was a kid and they still used hand-crank drills and tree saws