"Our first surgeon was friendly enough but always rushed—no matter how many questions we asked, we never felt truly heard."
I totally get what you're saying here. We had a similar experience with my daughter's first specialist. Nice guy, great credentials, but every appointment felt like he had one foot out the door. Eventually, we switched to someone else who took the time to really listen and explain things clearly. Honestly, that made all the difference in our confidence going into surgery. Sometimes it's worth trusting your gut and looking around a bit more...
I had a similar thing happen when I was looking into dental implants and bone grafting. The first dentist I saw was super nice, but I always felt like he was mentally onto the next patient before I finished asking my questions. Ended up switching to someone who actually sat down, showed me diagrams, and talked through the whole process step-by-step. Made such a difference in easing my anxiety. Did you find it tricky to bring up your concerns about feeling rushed, or did you just decide to move on quietly?
"Did you find it tricky to bring up your concerns about feeling rushed, or did you just decide to move on quietly?"
Honestly, I totally get where you're coming from. I've had a fair share of dental work over the years, including implants and bone grafting, and I've learned the hard way that communication is everything. At first, I used to just quietly move on if I felt rushed or uncomfortable. I figured it was easier than having an awkward conversation. But after a while, I realized that speaking up—even if it's a bit uncomfortable—is usually worth it.
I remember one dentist in particular who was super skilled and highly recommended, but every appointment felt like a race against the clock. He'd breeze through explanations, and I'd leave feeling more confused than when I arrived. Eventually, I just decided to politely mention it during one visit. I said something like, "Hey, I really appreciate your expertise, but I'm feeling a little overwhelmed and rushed. Could we slow down a bit so I can fully understand what's happening?" Surprisingly, he took it really well and actually thanked me for letting him know. Things improved noticeably after that.
But I also understand why some people prefer to just quietly switch providers. Sometimes it's just a gut feeling, and if you're not comfortable, you're not comfortable. Finding someone who takes the time to sit down, show diagrams, and genuinely listen makes such a huge difference—especially with something as anxiety-inducing as dental surgery.
So, yeah, it can definitely feel tricky to bring it up, but in my experience, most dentists appreciate honest feedback. And if they don't... well, that's probably a sign you made the right call moving on! Glad you found someone who made you feel at ease. It really does make all the difference.
I totally relate to this. I recently went for a second opinion myself because the first dentist seemed rushed and didn't really explain things clearly. At first, I felt kinda guilty about it—like maybe I was being too picky—but honestly, dental surgery is stressful enough without feeling rushed or confused. Glad you spoke up and things improved...makes me think maybe I should've said something too instead of just quietly moving on.
I totally get where you're coming from with that guilt feeling...it's weirdly common, isn't it? I think we're sort of conditioned to just trust professionals without question, so when we do question things, it feels like we're doing something wrong or being difficult. But honestly, dental surgery—especially something as involved as a bone graft—isn't just a minor thing. It's your health, your comfort level, and your peace of mind at stake.
A few years ago, I had a similar experience. My dentist at the time was nice enough but always seemed rushed and distracted. Whenever I asked questions about my procedure, he'd give me these vague answers or brush them off quickly. It didn't feel right, but I kept quiet because I didn't want to seem annoying or overly anxious. Fast forward to the day of the procedure—I was sitting in the waiting room feeling completely unprepared and stressed out. Thankfully, a hygienist noticed how nervous I was and took a few minutes to calmly explain everything in detail. Just those few minutes made such a huge difference in my anxiety levels.
Looking back now, I realize how important it is to feel comfortable and informed about your treatment plan. You weren't being picky at all—just advocating for yourself. That's actually pretty brave, especially when you're already stressed about surgery. And even if you didn't speak up directly at the time, going for that second opinion still counts as advocating for yourself in my book.
Honestly, it's great that you're sharing this experience here because it reminds everyone else that it's okay—and even necessary—to ask questions or seek another opinion if something doesn't feel right. Dental health can be complicated enough without adding confusion or uncertainty into the mix. Glad things improved for you after speaking up...and don't beat yourself up too much about quietly moving on before. We all learn as we go along, right?
