Totally get what you're saying about humor being tricky...had a doc once who tried cracking jokes about my insurance coverage, and I was like, "Dude, too soon." 😂 Maybe it's less about humor itself and more about feeling genuinely heard? How do you usually gauge that during consults?
Yeah, humor can be hit or miss, especially when you're already nervous about something like surgery. Honestly, for me, it's all about how much the doc actually listens and responds to my concerns. Like, if they're just nodding along and then jumping straight into their usual spiel, that's a red flag. I usually try to ask a couple of specific questions—nothing too complicated, just stuff I'm genuinely worried about—and see how they handle it. Do they brush it off or actually take a minute to explain things clearly? Also, body language is huge...if they're constantly glancing at their watch or seem rushed, I start feeling uneasy. Had one doc who literally sat down, looked me in the eye, and said, "Tell me what's worrying you most." That simple gesture made a huge difference in calming my nerves. Guess it's really about finding someone who makes you feel comfortable enough to open up.
You're spot on about the body language thing...it's subtle but definitely noticeable. When I had my dental implant surgery last year, I remember feeling pretty anxious. I asked the surgeon a couple of detailed questions about the bone graft procedure—like how long healing typically takes and what complications might pop up. He didn't rush at all, actually pulled up a chair and explained step-by-step what he'd be doing. Made a huge difference in easing my mind. Sounds like you're already good at picking up these cues, so trust your gut.
Totally agree with you on the body language thing. I had my first consultation last week and was pretty much sweating bullets going in...lol. I asked about a dozen questions (probably drove the doc nuts), but he was super chill about it. He even grabbed a pen and sketched out the whole bone graft process step-by-step on the back of a brochure. Honestly, seeing it visually helped me way more than just hearing it. Definitely pays to find someone patient enough to handle anxious newbies like me.
That's awesome your doc took the time to sketch it out for you—visual explanations are seriously underrated. I remember when I had my bone graft done, I was practically shaking in my shoes, haha. My dentist didn't sketch anything, but he did pull up some 3D animations on his tablet, and honestly, that made all the difference. Finding someone who genuinely gets how nerve-wracking dental stuff can be is half the battle. Glad you found a keeper!
