I think dentists have to be somewhat sadistic in order to go into the profession.

I'm an anti-dentite.

I love my dentist. He's the best in the world, the only dentist I've ever visited; I've never had a cavity. He just cleans my teeth, tells me to keep on keeping on, and sends me on my way.

I make special trips to Maryland to go to his office.

Where in Maryland, Hugh? Maybe I need to see this guy.

Rainbaby, why is the guy complaining? He DOES get paid to do this.

Tell him to shut up and do the work already.

But nicely.

In Columbia, mullacc; if you want his name, send me an email.

I have hygienist fear. I try to keep up with flossing and using this (SFW, just sorta gross) but, you know, life gets in the way.

I had a GREAT dentist, who had a very meticulous hygienist who used to berate me about the buildup and the bleeding she was causing me.

That dentist got too expensive and quit playing nicely with my dental plan, so I have another one and the hygienist is more laid back but I still live in fear of cleaning.

So fillings, crown preps, a breeze, but the stressful regard of a hygienist is what gets me.

I also think it's a gender thing, as I had a very domineering and disapproving older sister, and hearing about this from these women who are mucking around in my mouth sorta triggers that.

Daily flosser here. I'll have to sit in the crown seat in the not too distant future though, thanks to dentists in my childhood who filled 10x the surface area necessary for molar cavities. *rolls eyes*

I've always liked my dentists and been neutral to strongly negative about the hygienists. I feel like they don't listen to me and they almost always manage to poke the sensitive parts of my teeth where the enamel has worn away, which I specifically point out at the beginning and ask that they not poke.

All the dentists I've had have come in, been extremely gentle, and told me what nice teeth I have. The last time I got X-rays the dentist and hygienist spent five minutes discussing how pretty my teeth were. I like ego boosts, in whatever odd form they come. :-)

I have an awesome dentist and he has even awesomer hygienists. I've always had lots of pain from a simple cleaning and I don't know what these guys do, but there's no pain afterwards! And, she smugly admits, I'm one of those few people who don't have to floss. The dentist and hygienists grumble at me for not doing it but admit that it's not really necessary - yet. I guess it's the way my teeth are spaced or something.

Dentists are difficult for me. My one inheritance from my Dad was soft teeth and bad gums. Plus, I grew up without "City water", meaning no fluoride in water. So, dental has always meant lots of cavities, etc. And, no insurance whatsoever...
So, I put it off as much as possible. They always say less than positive things about my teeth as if I can do something about genetics! Don't like dental visits at all.

I was seriously dental-phobic till a few years ago (and I also didn't floss for, like, a million years). I lucked out and got a great dentist and great orthodontist, so I never mind seeing them and always want to sort of show off how well I'm doing with the flossing and the wearing of the retainer. (I actually find it weird to go to bed now without the sensation of having flossed and with my retainer in.)

Dentist on a power trip?