I like my current dentist, and do not experience debilitating fear of dentists. That is a surprise because my childhood dentist was godawful. He told our parents he "didn't believe in novocane" and said he thought going to the dentist should be unpleasant so that children would take better care of their teeth.

But looking back on it, I do think he was a sadistic old pervert who enjoyed seeing children squirm in pain beneath him.