How do you survive the dentist?

By thinking happy thoughts, listening to music on head-phones and getting them to tell me whats happening.

If you cannot refrain from unpleasant thinking due to the constant reminder of what they're doing, then nothing much but stick it out.

If they hurt you in anyway what-so-ever, then be sure to kill the dentist (after he's done his job) with his own tools. If the procedure itself doesn't make you want to commit murder, then the enourmous bill you get for going through torture should!