Most dentists, though, say this is hardly the growth industry any of them would wish for.

What does the dentist first say to the patient when he or she is led into the operating room?

But some of them would have, my dentist had said.

I'll call you when the dentist says what we all expect him to say.

But some dentists said there were limits to what they should share with patients.

Meanwhile the dentists say the threat to go private is a very real one.

The dentist said last week that he had been true to his word.

"I would like to know what the plan is, if you don't mind telling me," the dentist said.

Why stop with something the dentist says is good for you?

"Oh, we play music on the radio," my dentist said recently.