I’ve written my doctorate thesis on parts of the history of dental medicine. I think it’s amazing how little has actually moved since the 18th century. We’re even reviving methods from the early 20th century that were thought to be bogus, because we’re just finding out they might actually work. Every few years someone invents a “perfect” new material that can’t win against the established materials because it’s too expensive, takes longer to apply or needs too much retraining. Oh and evey mercury amalgams are still widely used, even in developed countries.

you don’t eat an elephant in one bite. I was in your position many years ago - and I can relate to the anxiety you are feeling. The shame, the fear, the pain - I get it. My suggestion is to take it appointment by appointment. But trust me - teeth are fucking important. There are many things that could go wrong. I had some weird formation above my front teeth, and if I did leave it at that, I would have lost my face. Yes, almost the entire upper jaw, sinuses and nose.