Possibly not your favourite place to be of an afternoon!   (source)

Hands up who loves their dentist? Anyone? Nobody? Oh sorry, there’s one lady at the back, but she doesn’t count. She’s married to him! Let’s be honest, not many of us love our dentists. It’s not their fault. They are only doing their jobs, after all, so let’s hope they don’t take it personally when you say you hate them. We’re sure you don’t really mean it. It’s probably the experience you don’t enjoy, and not the actual dentist themselves.

Here are the top five reasons why people hate visiting the dentist.

1. The pain. From the ‘needle of doom’ to the ‘drill of all fear’ ©, we don’t want to face the pain the dentist can cause us. The fact that you haven’t kept your teeth in tip-top condition is another matter. Remember when your dentist told you to floss regularly? You will when you return to the dentist with an agonising toothache.

   2. The invasiveness. You lie back in the seat, open your mouth, and let the dentist prod and poke away with wild abandon. It’s as if they are looking into your very soul while you’re letting them explore your mouth as if they were on a caving expedition. If you value your personal space in any way, a visit to the dentist is sure to annoy you.

   3. The assault on your senses. Why is it dentists all smell the same? It could be the smell of fear from the other patients in the waiting room, but it’s also that weird chemical smell that pervades the room. In case you were wondering, the answer is right here. Then there are the sounds. The sound of the drill growling in the dentist’s chamber, and the foreboding sounds of the dental nurse’s footsteps coming towards you. “It’s your turn for the chair,” she says, with imagined glee. And of course the taste. From the metallic flavour of the dentist’s instruments to that weird green mouth rinse you are told to swill, your senses are being assaulted at every turn.

   4. The expense. It’s not only your mouth being stretched open; it’s your bank balance too. Dentists can be expensive, but let’s be honest, you wouldn’t be feeling the pinch if you had bothered to go for those check-ups earlier in the year. You really do need to book an appointment! Your dentist will sort out any problems before they get worse, and more expensive, down the line!

   5. The lecture. You know you haven’t looked after your teeth, so you don’t need the dentist to drone on longer than his drill. “Oh dear, look who hasn’t been brushing their teeth,” they say. “Didn’t we tell you to floss?” “Have you looked in the mirror recently?” You can only hang your head in shame and pray that the lecture and the whole hellish experience will be over soon.

And yet…

You couldn’t live without them. When you need help, they are always there to ease your pain. In fact, some of your hate may only be based on childhood experiences. Dentists have moved on a lot since you last visited them twenty years ago, and decent practitioners such as Armstrong & Eshleman, P.A. have the accreditation and technology to prove their worth. So, no matter how much hate you have inside, ask yourself two questions. Are you overreacting? They may not be as bad as you imagine. And then… Why didn’t I take better care of my teeth? You won’t need to visit as often if you cut down on all your tooth decaying habits. Food for thought? Yes, but not of the sugary kind! Thanks for reading.