With the advances in technology over the past couple decades patients can now get fully sedation dentistry work done. This type of dentistry is much more expensive but it is a great way for those with dental phobias to be able to get the professional dental care they need without having to be really nervous or scared.
You can currently get sedation dentistry through gas, oral or pill sedation, or intravenous sedation. Each of these types has their own advantages and disadvantages to it.
If you are at a point in your life where you are to scared to go the dentist then I highly recommend you investigate the possibilites of sedation dentistry. I feel that professional dental care is important enough that it would be worth the extra hassle and extra costs to at least get to your dentist once a year.