Mowing the lawn... and making a mess

A small story with a big lesson about trust and doing the right thing.

Author

Dr Rosemary Morgan
April 06, 2025

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What Mowing the Lawn Taught Me About Dentistry

The other day I was mowing the lawn. Nothing special—just one of those weekend jobs you do without thinking too much.

I spotted a scrunched-up McDonald’s wrapper in the grass. I could’ve stopped and picked it up, but instead I thought, ah, I’ll just mow over it—it’ll disappear.

Of course, it didn’t.

It shredded into dozens of tiny pieces that blew across the lawn. What would’ve taken five seconds to sort properly, ended up taking fifteen minutes to clean up. All because I didn’t pause and deal with it the right way at the right time.

It reminded me of a few lessons I’ve learned the hard way in dentistry.

When a procedure doesn’t go to plan

There are moments in every clinician’s career where things don’t go quite as you hoped.

A ledge on an endo. A contact that’s too tight. A margin you wish you’d tidied up a bit more. You’ll know it’s not your best—and you’ll be faced with a choice:

  • Do you stop, explain it, and offer to make it right?

  • Or do you keep quiet and hope for the best?

I’ve been there. And I get the temptation. But what feels easier in the moment can often lead to bigger problems—loss of patient trust, stress, or even a formal complaint.

Honesty builds trust. And peace of mind.

Patients don’t expect you to be perfect. But they do appreciate honesty.

Taking a breath, owning what’s happened, and offering to put it right—that’s what earns trust. That’s what keeps you sleeping well at night. And long term, that’s what builds your confidence.

It’s always better to stop and pick up the wrapper than spend your afternoon chasing it in pieces.

Something to reflect on this week:

  • Was there a time recently when something didn’t go quite right?

  • How did you respond?

  • What might you do differently next time?

We all make messes sometimes. It’s how we handle them that counts.

Have a great week

Rosie

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