Aw, have a heart, LHG! The filling is about 20 years old, and a chunk cracked and came out. No, it's really not pain I fear, because I've never had a bad experience with that. I just don't like choking on the water and the hose, and the smell, and squirming in the chair for 2 hours. Anyway, a lady at work steered me to a sweet woman dentist that her daughter works with, so I went today for an x-ray. I'm lucky to be getting away with a crown and no root canal. When I return in 2 weeks, I'll take a couple of sedative tablets, and they assure me I won't care about a thing!
Except the bill maybe. $1350, $570 of which is my share to pay.
But, yes, I should go for preventive visits. I know I'm not alone here, in putting those off!