I haven't been to the dentist recently enough to remember. It seems like I keep them open but try to avoid eye contact.

I hate the dentist. I don't go very often, and haven't gone for a while.

Thankfully, SonofV didn't get that character flaw from me. Since we had a very recent trip there, I'll vote his proxy (poorly): Both. He uses a hand held mirror to watch what is going in his mouth. I watch too, it was very interesting. He only doesn't watch at two times--when the UV lightpipe is curing some sealant or other and when he's asleep. Yep. He fell asleep in the chair as the doctor was grinding and sawing away on him. Holy moly.

Manners? MANNERS? WHAT DO YOU MEAN MANNERS FUCK THAT, THERE'S NO MANNERS INVOLVED THERE'S JUST AM I GOING TO CRAWL OUT OF THE CHAIR AND GNAW THE INSULATION OFF OF THE XRAY MACHINE OR NOT AM I GOING TO FORCE THE DENTIST TO CHASE ME THROUGH THE OFFICE AND CATCH ME IN ORDER TO GET A LOOK AT MY MOUTH THERE'S JUST GENERALLY AM I GOING TO BE ON THE 6:00 NEWS OR NOT/??///?????

[shudder... leaves to go get a Scotch]

Hi, I'm back. Sorry about that... no, really, I don't have a problem with going to the dentist. Honestly. Seriously, some of my best friends are dentists.

I close my eyes, clasp my hands across my stomach, and try to remember to breathe periodically.

Mine has TVs mounted above the ceiling tile, aimed straight down.

My mother-in-law says she uses Lamaze breathing to keep her calm, and her dentist has commented to her that a surprising number of his female patients do that.

Stop reading my mind Steve.

I wonder if they have acousitc tile to absorb the screams of pain.

My dentist has TVs mounted on the tops of the walls in the corner of the room. I concentrate on that unless I'm expecting pain then I close my eyes.

Why are your knuckles white?

They [usually] aren't, but my shoulders get very tense.

My mouth FUCKING HURTS. I had all four wisdom teeth out yesterday morning. Arrrgrgrggrhhhh.

(Bonus: as I was preparing to leave the recovery area, still a bit groggy, Mrs. Dallas was asking a couple clarifying questions about what I should and should not do. I'm very proud that, in my lessened mental state, I was able to ask, "What about peanut brittle?" The nurse, who was walking away, gave a very curt "No peanut brittle!" I asked Mrs. Dallas later and she agreed with me that it sounded like the nurse didn't think I was joking. :angel: )

I keep my eyes open for the most part, but they have a television for me to watch. It is on some kind of metal movable arm thing, so they can adjust it for me to watch. That way it is also distracting. Since I usually have my appointments at 8am to get them done before work, I would fall asleep if I closed my eyes. Those chairs are pretty comfy!

Hehehe I just read this... yeah, I will fall asleep too if they let me. Nothing they do bothers me.

Wow - sounds like you all spend much longer in the dentist's chair than me!
Then again, apart from fluoride treatments as a child, I've only ever had 20 minute check-ups. Good healthy old gnashers on me. The only downside is that it's going to be even more terrifying to have my first filling or tooth out later in life. :scream:

That's British dentistry for you ;)