Mommas, I feel for you, but worry about your children more. I ,too, am terrified of a dentist, but I made darn sure that my children had check-ups twice a year. We started at the age of three, just letting them squirt water and have visual checks. None of them are scared to go , just have always understood a dental check-up was something to be done. They do the same with their kids. By not wanting my kids to go through what I did, I covered my fear, and gradually, I got a lot better myself. Please, don"t let your children grow up terrified to see a dentist! It doesn't hurt like it did years ago, new methods and instruments make it a lot easier on the patient.