Guest, avoiding going now will lead to very bad pain eventually. Convince yourself you fear is probably mostly unwarranted.

I never had lidocaine (the numbing stuff most people call novocaine) until I was around 35, because I was scared to death of the shots. I'd heard horror stories, and I had a great imagination.

I had to have a root canal a few years ago, and was also terrified. More horror stories and my imagination again. I didn't feel any better when the guy who was doing it wouldn't dab on the anesthetic to numb where he was going to stick the needle. Said "Oh, I never use that stuff. Trust me, you won't even feel the needle go in." Guess what? I felt him pinch my cheek, but I did NOT feel the needle go in. Other than some swelling afterwards, my tooth hurt less than it did before the root canal.

I've never EVER experienced any dental pain that was even close to what my imagination thought it was going to be like.

You're going to have to force yourself to go, and it won't be easy. You can do it. It's just a matter of getting through the door.

DO tell the dentist that you're scared - dentists know that most of their patients are afraid and know how to help you get through the first appointment. Try to realize it's your fear, not any real thing, that will lead to you having intense pain and losing teeth if you don't go.