I have a Dental Phobia also. I just about panic when I have to go. My gag reflex is horrible. I have TMJ so having to hold my mouth open causes my jaw to hurt for two days. I get panicy just calling the dentist. I have to have lots of gas to relax me or I start crying and go into panic mode. I guess it is the fact that I am in a chair, I can't get up, I have someone holding my mouth open, they are gaging me.

I have found also if the noise of the drill bothers you, take a cd player with headphones in and listen to it and when they drill turn it up loud to drown out the sound. then when they stop, turn it down so you can hear the dentist....... it works!!!