Dental Anxiety

Saw a dentist for the first time in 15 years today to get back on track with extractions, fillings, and dentures. I cried throughout the visit, embarrassed by the way my mouth looks and everything they said I needed to get done. At the end, they said they couldn't treat me and that I needed to be seen by an oral surgeon that does sedation (given my anxiety/fear/emotional instability). I feel overwhelmed and hopeless. This is the beginning of my journey. What can I expect and how do folks manage extreme dental phobia?