This is giving me flashbacks of the time my daughter had to have a baby tooth pulled because the adult tooth coming up under it had caused an infection. It took two trips to the dentist, and they finally gave her gas. My husband also bribed her with a new toy. The dentist told my husband that in his experience the smarter kids are more likely to panic because they can easily imagine everything that can go wrong and are less likely to just accept the statement, “This won’t hurt a bit!”
I think it’s important for kids to like their dentist and feel comfortable. Switching from one office to another doesn’t give your son a chance to build trust with a dentist. Maybe the next appointment can be just a “get to know you” session. Your son and the dentist can talk about what will happen, exactly what your son is afraid of, and what the dentist will do to prevent those fears from becoming reality. When you go to get the cavity filled, it won’t be done by a stranger.
My kids aren’t generally scared of the dentist, but the sight of the numbing needle coming right at your face can make anyone nervous. Our dentist has a unique approach where he directs the child’s attention to whatever DVD is playing in the exam room and brings the needle in slow and from the side. He’s filled a few cavities for my kids and pulled two baby teeth, and the kids never actually saw the needle. He also uses gas when needed.
Good luck!