I get what you're saying about anxiety being worse than the actual procedure, but honestly, I wouldn't downplay the importance of choosing the right dentist or surgeon. Sure, playlists and laughing gas help ease nerves during the appointment, but the real comfort comes from knowing your doc has solid experience and a good track record. I've seen cases where patients went with convenience or cost over credentials and ended up needing revisions or dealing with complications later on—trust me, that's way more stressful than ice packs and jazz playlists.
Not trying to scare anyone, just think it's important to emphasize that doing your homework beforehand really matters. Anxiety isn't always irrational; sometimes it's your gut telling you to double-check credentials or ask more questions. Better safe than sorry, especially when it comes to something like bone grafting... just my two cents.
That's a really fair point. When I had my bone graft done, the dentist's credentials made all the difference—I felt way calmer knowing she'd handled plenty of similar cases. Still, I do think managing anxiety itself is pretty important, since even the best docs can't completely erase nerves. Curious though, how do you usually verify a dentist or surgeon's track record...reviews online, patient testimonials, or something else?
I get why credentials matter, but honestly, online reviews can be hit or miss. I've seen glowing testimonials for docs who turned out pretty average. Personally, I prefer asking around locally—friends, family, even my GP—for a more balanced take.
Totally get your point about online reviews being sketchy sometimes... I've seen dentists with 5-star ratings who turned out to be meh at best. But honestly, local word-of-mouth isn't foolproof either—my aunt swore by her dentist, and let's just say my teeth disagreed, lol. I'd say mix both methods and trust your gut.
I dunno, trusting your gut sounds good in theory, but when it comes to something as serious as bone graft surgery, I'd probably lean more heavily on detailed consultations. Reviews and recommendations can steer you wrong, sure, but at least in a consultation you can ask tough questions and see how they handle your concerns. I once ignored a weird vibe I got during a first meeting and regretted it big time later... lesson learned the hard way.
