Just to offer a counter-example to all those stories, I have the world's best dental surgeon! I found him 30 years ago when I had a bad tooth, and in the last 3 years had to have 3 more done...(old age & such)...he was still working and had gotten better. He is near retirement now, and I may have the one other tooth done before this guy goes.

Even sent my wife to him, and she agrees!

We also have an excellent 'regular' dentist.

(oh...yeah...I do have a couple of old stories about dentists I didn't like much, but recent good stories have faded those.)