Not afraid of dentists, but I do fear the bills. We had one family dentist who just started doing stuff because we had insurance and he had a new fancy office that he had to pay for. No insurance now and we go to a small practice where one of our DILs used to work as an assistant. If we get a dentist who remembers who we are, the bill is very reasonable, but if we get one of the others.... All dentists in Alaska are expensive and have been so since the Pipeline days, when many people had very good dental insurance. The dentists flocked here and the prices went sky high. The pipeline and the workers are gone with their insurance, but the prices are still high since there are so many dentists and they have trouble paying their bills and student loans. For major work, it is cheaper to fly to Seattle and have it done there unless it is emergent.