Dr. Matthew S Ames, DDS

I went to Dr. Harvey and Ames Orthodontics now called Ames orthodontics to get braces as a young adult. I had the braces for about 3.5 years thinking that braces would greatly help me along with having lower jaw surgery at Essentia Health. I have suffered ever since having the lower jaw surgery now going on 11 years. I have permanent paresthesia in my lower left jaw along with neuropathic pain from when my nerve was cut during the surgery. I was told by dentists that the feeling would come back which gave me hope but the numbness has remained permanent. Even after 10 years the dentist told me that the feeling could come back only to later find out by another dentist that their was now only a very small chance that the feeling would come back. I have seen oral surgeons who cannot do anything about the numbness in my lower left jaw along with neurologist and pain therapists who also cannot relieve my pain. I feel so hopeless about my situation because their is nothing I nor anybody else… can do about it and I know that I will have to live with this permanent condition for the rest of my life. I wish the doctors at Essentia Health would have told me more about the jaw surgery and the dangers of it. I did sign a consent form which says their is a small risk of complications but me being a young adult, I did not fully understand all of the potential life changing ramifications that could happen because of this surgery. I think Harvey and Ames orthodontics could have also told me about the risks of the surgery as I know they must have had to know since they are doctors and know more about these procedures than I do. I am extremely sick of taking medications that doctors prescribe to me that do not do anything to help me with my physical pain. I also now suffer from major depression and its hard a lot of times for me to just function. I have a deep empty hopeless feeling inside of me knowing that I cannot get better and don't look forward to much in my life now. I only hope that I can help others who are thinking about having jaw surgery and shed light on the potential risks and complications that go along with it.