To wonder where your gaze should go at the dentist

[Wonderland18]

When I was little I used to look at the reflection in the dentists goggles, as I got older I realised that was awkward (who the fuck wants someone creepy staring at or around their eyes)
I started staring at the light but that felt awkward too.
Now I’ve settled on shutting my eyes the full time.

It’s so strange but it’s something I’ve clearly overthought. Where is appropriate to gaze? Is shutting your eyes the safest? Imagine how creepy you’d look staring up at the dentists face?

Is there even a right answer? Where does everyone look?

I stare at the light!

I close my eyes

I shut my eyes

I close my eyes

I never know either! I alternate between staring at the roof and closing my eyes but both feel weird and I feel like the poor dentist will think I’m crazy either way.

Close eyes

My dentist has a screen of a fish tank on the ceiling that I watch.

I stare straight into the dentists eyes and occasionally try to lick his hand.

The ceiling - don’t look right at the light, look past it.

There is a mural on the ceiling of my dentist to prevent such overthinking!

I close my eyes because they are very photosensitive and the light it too bright.

My dentist has a tv fixed to the ceiling with subtitles on it. It’s great except when you are engrossed in something and he leans over and blocks the view.

Not helpful to you, OP, sorry. I’d shut my eyes.

My dentist has travel posters on the ceiling for that very purpose.

Hahaha these are also the thoughts that go through my head when on the dentist chair. I close my eyes mostly, because her head kind of blocks out most things and I don’t want to seem like I’m staring at her. If I do have my eyes open I look at the corner of the ceiling just past the bright light.

Close my eyes and occasionally open them to stare into the dentists eyes in alarm

I stare at the ceiling. Same scenario at the opticians when they're right in your face - I try to stare past them!

My dentist has a tv with wildlife programmes on it. He used to have a poster of birds, then he upgraded.

I stare at a light (and visualize it is the sun and I'm really on a beach rather than somewhere in central London)

I close my eyes and try to go to my happy place

I shut my eyes.

I look at the light, it makes me quite sleepy

I watch the TV screen on the ceiling. Years ago I was going to a very handsome dentist with the most beautiful green eyes, it was really hard to not stare at him. If there’s no tv ten close your eyes and think of anything you want.

I look at the light or the ceiling, I don't close my eyes I would feel weird. Or I look at the clock wishing the time away.

I wish he had a TV on the ceiling. I might suggest it to him next time.

I close my eyes and usually nod off, have to be prompted to move my head. I just switch off. If there is considerable drilling I will still keep my eyes closed but will not be relaxed. New dental nurse is not very good and will jab the sucky thing in and it hurts, also mixes the wrong cement for temp. crowns so they have to be drilled out, and doesn't know which colour is which when asked for something. Disconcerting so it affects my sleep while I am there.

Only time I look at anything is when I have to sit up for something to set/a rest and then I look out at the garden.

I really should suggest the poster on the ceiling thing, I don’t know if they quite have the funding for a screen up yet as their fairly new.

I think I’ll continue with the eye closed thing, although @pancaketits’s occasional lick of their hand sounds like an option 😂😂