This is going to be a long read, but I am tired of being dismissed, pushed aside, and unheard…read more
On 11/21/21, I went to Montana Oral Surgery in Butte, MT, for what was supposed to be a routine wisdom tooth removal. I thought all was fine, although I remember briefly waking up during the procedure due to the amount of pain I was in after pulling my lower right wisdom tooth. (My ride home could quite literally hear me scream from the waiting room) After the procedure, I was told everything went well. It is noted in my medical records that there were no concerns(???) The days following I noticed that I no longer had feeling in my lower right portion of my jaw. This includes my tongue, gums, teeth, and a portion of my lower lip. I could not taste, feel pressure or any hold/cold sensation. Instead, there was a substantial amount of pain that radiated from my jaw to neck and head. I had let my oral surgeon know, and it was presumed that I had a dry socket and possible damage to my lingual nerve. I was told the feeling would return with time. Two weeks later, (still in substantial pain) I seen my primary, and was told I need to see a neurologist for my nerve pain as my lingual nerve in my jaw was most likely damaged. No one was ever contacted from that referral. I seen my primary dentist shortly after to see if he could help me in anyway. Unfortunately he could not help me either.
Two months had passed and I was still in pain, and still had no feeling. I contacted my oral surgeon and asked for help seeking a neurologist or specialist who could help me. He had contacted a doctor in Bozeman who had done lingual repair in the past but he no longer performs this surgery, so he referred me to a nerve special in Seattle at Harborview Medical, as this was the closest option for me that we were aware of.
Because of Covid and insurance/referall processes, I was finally able to see a specialist in Seattle on March 10th, 2022.
I paid $1500 just to GET to this appointment with no compensation. I was there a total of 26 hours. Below I have my testing and scan results, showing damage to my lingual and IAN nerves. I was scheduled for nerve repair for May 2022, but unfortunately I was not able to afford travel costs as a single mother to go back and forth to Seattle multiple times.
Time had passed, I opened a business, I had seen a couple different doctors asking about pain management as my window for repair had closed and the pain is now something I have to live with. April 2024, I had gone back to see my oral surgeon, because once again, I'm still in pain. It was discovered that I have left over root in my jaw. I was told it might be the cause of my pain, but it likely wouldn't change anything. I was scheduled to have surgery to get it removed, but after everything I had already been through, I was honestly terrified of going back to that office and having him work on me again.
I decided to call the founder and main doctor of Montana Oral Sugery on 2/26/25. I spoke to the receptionist and explained my situation and that my pain had just gotten worse. I was told "you signed a waiver stating that these things can happen". I understand the legalities, but I didn't sign off on being in pain every single day of my life. I was asked "I'm sorry, but what would you like us to do for you"? I WANT YOU TO HELP ME. I'm so so tired of being in pain every single day. Watching and scheduling out what I eat so that I'll be able to chew my food. Biting my tongue everyday. Slurring my speech because I can't feel my tongue. Tylenol/ibuprofen every day multiple times a day. These are NOT things that I have signed off on. I've seen multiple doctors on my own accord, and Montana Oral Surgery offered me NO solution or sympathy. I have called the Great Falls and Helena offices crying. I'm tired of being told that there is nothing they can do for me. I am past the window to seek legal help. I felt the need to share my story to warn others of how poorly this practice has treated me. Others might have had a good experience, but the last 3 1/2 years of my life I have been in pain and have only gotten maybe 20% of my taste back. This has been a nightmare and they have offered very little to no resolution, no referrals and have pretty much swept me under the rug. This has taken a huge toll on my mental health. I don't even know where to go from here.
This practice has completely derailed my quality of life. There has not been a day in almost 4 years that I am not in pain.