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Dental Health (Expert Forum)
Recovering from numbness
Answered by
Private Practice
CA
Questions in the Dental Health forum are answered by Dr. Jerome Tsang and Dr. Jerome Bogin. Topics covered include bridges, cavities, crowns, and x-rays.
Recovering from numbness
by KMiddle, Nov 01, 2009 10:53PM
Hello,
About 2 years ago, I had double jaw surgery for an open bite that doctors claimed I needed to get fixed. I wore braces for a good 6 years. I received the surgery and while the operation did change my looks, I still prefer the older look. there were several concerns that I had with the whole process
1. surgery was claimed to be the only option. a year after the surgery, I went to a dentist that claimed that it would have been possible to fix my bite without surgery because of a special contraction that existed. Is this information available to all dentist?
2. I had asked if the surgery would drastically change my appearance. The doctor who was seeing me through the process had said no since I was supposed to have single jaw surgery at the time.
3. There were several occasions where the doctor was incorrect in his assessment
a. He claimed that I would only need single jaw surgery. After seeing the doctor for several months, 2 days before surgery, it was changed to double jaw surgery.
b. after surgery, a nerve was severed which I believe was downplayed and the doctor claimed that it is possible and not possible that the nerve will regenerate BUT "in my case" he thinks it will heal.
c. a few days after surgery, there was extreme pain in my left nostril. The doctor claimed it was nerve pain. After a while, the pain was so extreme that I couldn't smile and it got to the point I couldn't sleep. The next day, I went to the doctor and he still claimed nerve pain but called in the head doctor. The head doctor said that there was a stitch that didn't dissolve and was pulling my flesh basically.
d. After 6 weeks, I asked the doctor if the swelling was done. The doctor said that he believed the swelling was going down as much as it was going to go
2 years later, the numbness still exists in my lower jaw and it is extremely annoying. Are there procedures that I can have to restore feeling? Is it possible I can take legal action?
About 2 years ago, I had double jaw surgery for an open bite that doctors claimed I needed to get fixed. I wore braces for a good 6 years. I received the surgery and while the operation did change my looks, I still prefer the older look. there were several concerns that I had with the whole process
1. surgery was claimed to be the only option. a year after the surgery, I went to a dentist that claimed that it would have been possible to fix my bite without surgery because of a special contraction that existed. Is this information available to all dentist?
2. I had asked if the surgery would drastically change my appearance. The doctor who was seeing me through the process had said no since I was supposed to have single jaw surgery at the time.
3. There were several occasions where the doctor was incorrect in his assessment
a. He claimed that I would only need single jaw surgery. After seeing the doctor for several months, 2 days before surgery, it was changed to double jaw surgery.
b. after surgery, a nerve was severed which I believe was downplayed and the doctor claimed that it is possible and not possible that the nerve will regenerate BUT "in my case" he thinks it will heal.
c. a few days after surgery, there was extreme pain in my left nostril. The doctor claimed it was nerve pain. After a while, the pain was so extreme that I couldn't smile and it got to the point I couldn't sleep. The next day, I went to the doctor and he still claimed nerve pain but called in the head doctor. The head doctor said that there was a stitch that didn't dissolve and was pulling my flesh basically.
d. After 6 weeks, I asked the doctor if the swelling was done. The doctor said that he believed the swelling was going down as much as it was going to go
2 years later, the numbness still exists in my lower jaw and it is extremely annoying. Are there procedures that I can have to restore feeling? Is it possible I can take legal action?
Doctor's Answer
by Jerome Tsang, DDS, Nov 08, 2009 12:04PM
, Nov 08, 2009 12:04PMTo: KMiddle
I'm not sure about legal action but if you have any concerns, you should definitely discuss it with your surgeon. If you can't resolve it with your surgeon, I would consider going to the local dental society to find a peer review board to evaluate your case.
As for the numbness, it is most likely permanent. It takes about 6 months to heal and after that, it won't be able to heal anymore. It will most likely stay that way it is. You may want to see a neurologist to see if surgery is possible.
As for the numbness, it is most likely permanent. It takes about 6 months to heal and after that, it won't be able to heal anymore. It will most likely stay that way it is. You may want to see a neurologist to see if surgery is possible.
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