We think that this one is important to share as it is all too common and many people still carry phobias from early dental experiences. I wouldn’t know of course
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Dear Heliotrope,
After a few trials and errors, I finally found a good dentist for my strong-willed and very mature pre-teen. The dentist understands children and my child cooperates well with him, even for tooth extractions. When I brought him in this week for another tooth extraction (his baby teeth are messing up the alignment of his incoming teeth and he has one infected tooth), I discovered that the secretary had made a mistake and booked him with a new dentist. The new dentist seemed nice and confident, and as tooth extractions are familiar to my child, I decided to go ahead. I requested anesthetic gel prior to the anesthetic injection. The new dentist applied it, then without waiting said, “This may be a bit unpleasant”, and immediately stuck a needle deep into my son’s infected tooth. His moans were heart-wrenching (and this is NOT a kid who normally shows pain). Suddenly my son sat up, a look of deep betrayal on his face.
