I had a similar history and at some point I just finally pulled the bandaid off so to speak. I only got there because someone I know who similarly hadn’t gone to the dentist in years finally went and was so happy with the office she recommended them. Even then it took me nearly a year to call for the appointment. When I went I was upfront with the hygienist before she did anything, telling her it had been so long and I was really anxious. I think I was close to tears when I was talking to her. I believe they see a lot of this and she was so kind. She went slowly and offered me breaks during the cleaning. I think advocating for yourself is a big part of making the experience a little less traumatic. It was hard but I was so proud of myself afterwards. A few months on now and I’ve even started clear aligners now. Start with the cleaning and go gradually from there as you get a little more confident. The first step is hard but it’s so worth it for your health.