Grace Under Pressure Galvanizes
By: Grant Stucki, Oral Surgeon
So here’s what happened.
A dentist referred a patient to me for the extraction of an upper canine tooth.
She said, “I tried to take it out yesterday… for like, an hour… but couldn’t get it. I got the crown off, but the root wouldn’t budge.”
Then she added, with a grin:
“You’re welcome. I loosened it up for you. I’m sure it’ll come out in one minute now.”
Cue deep breath. Lip purse.
If you’ve been in this game long enough, you know this moment. That inner voice saying, “Really?” But you keep it together—because we’ve all been there.
Behind the Referral
I called her before seeing the patient (always a good move). She explained what happened, and I reassured her:
“I got you. No worries—I’ll take care of it. Thanks for the referral.”
Then I added something honest:
“Maxillary canines are no joke. Those roots are long, curved, and pure evil.”
She laughed, relieved. I didn’t criticize. I understood. That creates connection.
When the Patient Tells Their Side
Later, the patient came in—great attitude, but clearly hurting. He pointed to his jaw—the back of it, not the front where the canine tooth lives.
He said:
“I think she slipped and cut me back there.”
I checked—sure enough: contusion, ulcer, swelling, tenderness, and barely 10mm of opening. He got roughed up.
My initial reaction? Anger. Frustration.
But then—perspective.
We’ve All Been There
The doctor tried to help. She got in deep. And—most importantly—she stopped and referred him.
That’s a win in my book.
I’ve been in over my head. You probably have too. The real mistake? Not knowing when to pass the baton.
Kindness Over Criticism
On a recent podcast, I talked about this:
When generalists refer, they’re often feeling embarrassed. Frustrated. Like they failed.
But what if we specialists responded with empathy instead of ego?
It’s powerful. It builds trust. And it helps everyone—especially the patient.
Helping out a colleague with grace and understanding is a galvanizing process for the relationship.
Thought Points:
- Ever had to clean up someone else’s mess?
- Ever needed someone to clean up yours?
- What did their attitude teach you?
- What do you wish you had done differently?
Action Points:
✅ Show grace—even when it’s hard
✅ Help the person, not just the tooth
✅ Talk kindly about colleagues, especially in front of patients
✅ Remember: empathy heals more than incisions
We’re all in this together. Let’s treat each other like it.