The Slice: Let’s take the stress out of trip to dentist

I have an idea that might help those who fear dentistry.

But first, let me make clear that I am not making fun of people who suffer from this anxiety. The truth is, I’m practically one of you.

This wasn’t always the case. I used to take getting a filling in stride. No big deal.

But over the past 10 or 15 years I have turned into a big baby about dental drills. I’m not sure why. It’s not like I’m scarred by some horrific experience.

OK, there have been one or two attention-getting twinges. Nothing of any duration, though.

And I trust my dentist. She takes my anxiety seriously.

Still, we aren’t always rational creatures. Which leads to my idea.

I think those frightened by dentistry would do well to consider how horrible mouth medicine used to be long ago.

And to that end, I recommend watching film or TV depictions of nightmarish dental procedures before your next appointment that involves anything more than just a cleaning.

Admittedly, that might strike you as counterintuitive. But here’s the thing. If you see scenes of some ham-handed barber yanking a throbbing molar in the Old West or watch depictions of medieval gougings that look more like enhanced interrogation than a therapeutic extraction, you arrive at a useful point of reference.

You can ease back into the dental chair and silently repeat to yourself, “Whatever happens, it won’t be as a bad as that.”

You know, compare and contrast.

But I could use some help compiling a list of movies and archived television shows that depict stressful dental procedures. I know I have seen many such scenes over the years. I’m just having a hard time remembering specifics. “Deadwood”? “Cadfael”?

So if you have a nominee, pass it along. I will share.

Let’s agree in advance to skip 1976’s “Marathon Man.”

I’m trying to help people appreciate modern dentistry, not scare them out of their minds with scenes of drill-induced torture.

Today’s Slice question: Has your dread of dental procedures turned you into a hyper-diligent flosser?