Recommended dentists?

Haven't gone to the dentist in 10+ years, figured I really should. I've talked myself out of it for so long as I see dentists as almost worse than car salespeople, charging you/taking advantage of your ignorance, while being patronizing. I realize thats probably not the case for the vast majority, but do you have any recommendations for empathetic and non-scammy/up-front dental offices?

I'd just like to go there, get set up, see what damage has done, and try to not walk away with thousands of dollars in cleaning/etc, or feeling like I got talked down to.