Open Wide: Horror Stories From the Chair

Teeth. The thing nobody warns you about until you're crying in the dental chair with half your face numb and a stranger drilling into your mouth for the third time that visit.This episode is Jan and Patti getting brutally honest about their dental horror stories—the bad dentists, the botched procedures, the money spent, and the hard-won lessons that came out the other side. Spoiler: we both came out stronger (and way more committed to flossing).What we get into this episode:Jan's childhood dentist, who did fillings with zero Novocaine (yes, really)Why the dentist's chair can trigger real anxiety and panic, especially if feeling trapped is your thingPatti's multi-year nightmare with a dentist who was charming, attractive, and genuinely bad at his jobThe very expensive lesson in people-pleasing and not trusting your gutWhen to see a specialist vs. letting your general dentist handle itTeeth grinding, Invisalign, and Jan's $12,000 smile glow-upMedications, dry mouth, and tooth loss — something no one talks about enoughThe real reason so many of us go years without seeing a dentistBottom line? Trust your gut, get referrals from someone who's had real work done, and for the love of everything — brush and floss twice a day. Your future self will thank you.Find resources mentioned in this episode here.Learn more about this podcast here.Submit your 90-second lesson/experience here.Apply to be a guest here.Stay updated on new episodes here.*Information shared on this podcast is not medical advice. If you have a concern about your physical or mental health, please seek support from a proessional.