The collywobbles

Nobody's proud to be a fraidy-cat dental patient. I show none of the usual outward signs: no tensing or groaning or anything like that. Sometimes, I must go pale, though, because there are occasions when there's a pause and I'm asked whether I'm all right. When I arise from the chair, I always feel weak, as though I've been through some terrible ordeal, even when there's no pain and very little noise. Upon encountering a new dental assistant, there's the little spiel about flossing, until the assistant tries it and usually remarks on the closeness of the teeth and goes right for the waxed stuff and still has trouble. Anyhow, it's done for this time around. Whew!