(Strip Number 976, Original Publication Date, 12 November 1985)
Panel 1: After his dieting crack, John gets serious and tells Ted to face the fact that he blew his last chance with Connie.
Panel 2: He then tells him that the reason that he fails at relationships is because his fear of commitment means he only wants the women he cannot have.
Panel 3: A pissed-off Ted tells John that he refuses to take psychiatric advice from a dentist.
Panel 4: After Ted storms off, John thought-bubbles that getting him to a psychiatrist would be like pulling teeth.
Summary: Leaving aside the non-joke about how John pulls teeth for a living, it's sort of ironic that John can correctly diagnose other people's mental problems but be blind to those of himself and his own family. Mister Clear Senses clearly doesn't seem to realize that Elly ain't kidding about feeling trapped. Also, Ted's motivation for not wanting to be in a stable relationship is about to change to being an overly conscientious son who unconsciously sabotages good relationships so he won't leave his beloved smother in the lurch.