Giving gas for tooth extraction is all very humane in its way, but the time for anaesthetics is when the patient first decides that he must go to the dentist. From then on, until the first excavation is started, should be shrouded in oblivion.
--Robert Benchley, "The Tooth, the Whole Tooth, and Nothing But the Tooth"

The other day I went to the dentist. Since this was my first time at this particular dentist's office, they took X-rays. I expected this, but I did not expect them to take 18 of them. Snuggled in my lead apron, I had lots of time to wonder about the genesis of the bitewing x-ray and why, after all of these years, no one has come up with a way to make this process more comfortable. It is no fun forcing those things into your mouth, and the mouth-shredding potential of the inevitably oversized, sharp-edged, inflexible film holders, or whatever they are, is mind-boggling. (And don't even get me started about these things. There's nothing fun about them, no matter how happy that model in that picture looks). Seems like there should be a greater hue and cry about this, or at least an offer of pain reliever. The literature of dental radiography doesn't offer much insight, but here are some useful links:

Article about the differences between dental phobia and dental anxiety.
Questionnaire about dental anxiety
Site about dental phobia
Dental fear central

Last week's visit, sadly, will not be my last, owing to circumstances beyond my control. See you in the chair!