I love my dentist. He does really good work, I barely feel a thing, and on the rare occasion that I ask for another shot or a break, he responds immediately. He always gives me a topical before the shot, although I don't strictly need that.

Crowns don't do anything for my appearance though, since I brux too much to get porcelain ones (the whole reason my "real" teeth are crumbling). More gold in my grin every year or two.

DH had some bad childhood experiences and won't go near the dentist, and his teeth are terrible. He had to have a couple of extractions several years ago and never went back for a bridge or implants (even though the extractions went really well, he was able to find a dentist who would sedate him and I made sure he started taking the pain pills before either the sedation or the local wore off. But like anything, one bad childhood experience has a whole lot more effect on the psyche than any number of good adult experiences.

Glad you made it through.