Phobias (Phobium?) are like that: quite simply they reach down below any level of rationality (or rationalizations *G*) we have and hit us in the gut.

I won't go into it, but mine isn't dentists. Lots of good suggestions in here: talk to the doc before and explain that you're afraid, ask lots of friends for good dentists, find one that YOU KNOW, get used to him/her.

Through some hypnnosis and what they call "habituation training" (?), I'm mostly able to deal with mine -- which is a good thing because it affects one of my favorite activities. But I still get the cold sweats and the clenched fists in the right situation. I just have to stop, get a grip on myself, and reconvince myself that *I*m in charge ... and then take care that there really AREN'T any snakes. *G*

BB,
NightWing