When I was young, I often went to the dentist who saved me from pain thanks to anesthesia.
he vibrations of their tools and the smell never really bothered me.
Keeping a smile is important
When I was little I was after going to my parents' dentist - in the late 1970s. He was quite awful and had learned the trade in the 1930s. I later went to a pediatric one who was good into my 20s (too much of a PITA to switch.) His replacement after he died was a woman with bad breath who had Rush Limbaugh playing - as someone FAR to the left neither were something I appreciated. Once I was no longer on my dad's insurance, couldn't afford it as insurance where I worked was shit - no dentist in the count took it and it had a $1000 deductible.
For me, dentists are no more, but less scary than anything else that causes pain, which in my case is:
-Arthritis
-Broken bones
-Chest Pain
-Dentist
-etc...
SHIT
I didn't mean to make it alphabetical... but here we are...
I used braces when I was younger, so I went to dentist every two weeks or so, don't remember, but I never had any problema. I even went there alone, as a 11 or 12 years old.
The most intrusive operation I did was to remove my wisdom teeth, but it was ok.
I don't fear them but I always hate actually going to the clinic.
The dentists themselves are literally angels to me, they would probably be more appreciated if people got to experience *severe* dental pain and having that fixed by them. That is not fun, I can assure you that.
I've avoided going to the dentist for years at a time. Stop/minimize eating sugar and highly refined carbs. Eat lots of garlic, sauerkraut, etc. Floss and rinse with water and a drop of oregano oil. Need to keep the bad bacteria out and promote good bacteria. Haven't had cavities since I was a kid.
I have a proper phobia about dentists. Have had all my adult life. I get the shakes just thinking about making an appointment. That's why my teeth are bloody awful.