A What would you do question for ya'll - The Orange Mane

Mtbrncofn · 05-05-2005, 09:59 PM

I need some feedback.

Two days ago I was at the dentist having an insane amount of fillings done, and it was taking so long that some of the anesthetic had worn off. I have all my wisdom teeth and apparently dentists absolutely hate that fact. I also have a very small mouth to go with those wisdom teeth. ( I know, hard to believe, huh. ) That makes for no room to work on those damn wisdom teeth.

My dentist started drilling on one of the wisdom teeth, and I could feel it. So I told her, and she gave me more of the anesthetic. When she did it, I felt this weird electric shock thing in the middle of my bottom lip. I jumped, she jumped, and never thought anything more about it.

Fast forward to 12 hours later that night. I still can't feel part of my face. I'm beginning to think there is probably something wrong. I had fillings done last week also, and the stuff wore off in about 2 hours. Anyway, to make a long story short, turns out she either partially severed or fully severed a nerve. She has been a dentist for 30 years and only had this happen one other time. Go figure my number would come up. This can take up to 6 months to come back. Joyous.

So my question here would be: Should I get some kind of discount or I'm sorry that I ****ed up your face percentage off for this crap? The dentist is a real sweetheart as is everyone else in the office, but all of my friends seem to think I should have at least gotten some of my money back.

What do you guys think?

DBroncos4life · 05-05-2005, 10:26 PM

Two things I guess go find someone to see if there is any really wrong with your mouth and maybe talk to a lawyer. Im not saying sue but he sometimes having them talk to the doctor it will speed them up and maybe they will offer you some money back.

Crushaholic · 05-05-2005, 10:41 PM

Listen to Bill Cosby's old "Dentist" routine and get a good laugh out of it. It portrays pretty much what you were describing.

Mtbrncofn · 05-05-2005, 10:41 PM

Ok, maybe you missed the part where I said, I can't feel part of my face. That constitutes as something wrong in my book.

These people are so nice, I would never want to mention the L word. I was just trying to think of a tactful way of posing it.

Crushaholic · 05-05-2005, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mtbrncofn

Ok, maybe you missed the part where I said, I can't feel part of my face. That constitutes as something wrong in my book.

These people are so nice, I would never want to mention the L word. I was just trying to think of a tactful way of posing it.

I guess there really is something wrong if you still don't have sensation in your face. The part about the Cosby routine refers to not feeling one side of his face. However, it should have gone away, by now. I don't know...

TheNextStep · 05-05-2005, 10:46 PM

Talk to a lawyer. For one thing, in all the paperwork you had to sign at the dentist's office, liability waivers are usually included (not that it is necessarily enforceable, by the way). For another, you're looking at paying for (a) a procedure that will leave you injured for up to 6 months and (b) any associated medical costs as a result of the injury.

I'm not saying "Go after 'em for everything they're worth" because I personally get a little disgusted by our overly-litigious society where people try to turn an honest mistake into a retirement fund... but I am saying that you shouldn't have to pay for being injured, nor should you shoulder the cost of rehabilitating from that injury.

Mtbrncofn · 05-05-2005, 10:47 PM

I meant that for DB, Crush. Sorry about that.

I went back in today and she said that is what happened and was feeling terrible about it. I'm just hoping that it comes back in say a couple of weeks versus a couple of months or so. It's a pretty good sized area of my face. It starts at the left side corner of my mouth and goes all the way back to the hinge part of my jaw, up to right under my cheekbone.

DBroncos4life · 05-05-2005, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mtbrncofn

Ok, maybe you missed the part where I said, I can't feel part of my face. That constitutes as something wrong in my book.

These people are so nice, I would never want to mention the L word. I was just trying to think of a tactful way of posing it.

I meant go see a doctor to see what kind of nerv damage you have. My syatic (sp) nerve in my shoulder is paralyzed and my deltoid (sp) muscle is messed up because of it. It took many doctors to find out what was wrong with me. Now about the lawyer idea, use them as a mediator. Thats the only thing I could think of.

Mtbrncofn · 05-05-2005, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheNextStep

Talk to a lawyer. For one thing, in all the paperwork you had to sign at the dentist's office, liability waivers are usually included (not that it is necessarily enforceable, by the way). For another, you're looking at paying for (a) a procedure that will leave you injured for up to 6 months and (b) any associated medical costs as a result of the injury.

I'm not saying "Go after 'em for everything they're worth" because I personally get a little disgusted by our overly-litigious society where people try to turn an honest mistake into a retirement fund... but I am saying that you shouldn't have to pay for being injured, nor should you shoulder the cost of rehabilitating from that injury.

Yeah, I am definitely not the suing type. There really is no rehab involved. There's nothing you can do except sit and wait for the nerve to regenerate. It's annoying, mostly because I keep biting the side of my cheek and not knowing I have done it til I taste blood.

Is this the kind of thing I approach them about and if so, how would I go about that?

Mtbrncofn · 05-05-2005, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DBroncos4life

I meant go see a doctor to see what kind of nerv damage you have. My syatic (sp) nerve in my shoulder is paralyzed and my deltoid (sp) muscle is messed up because of it. It took many doctors to find out what was wrong with me. Now about the lawyer idea, use them as a mediator. Thats the only thing I could think of.

Ahh, ok, I see where you were going with that now. I just hate to bring even the mention of a lawyer into it. I was really just hoping for a big discount on that day's work. I just paid them $1800 to have all this stuff done, damnit!

TheNextStep · 05-05-2005, 10:53 PM

Let me ask this: How much did it cost you? Is the amount enough to get worked up over?

If it is, I'd talk to a lawyer. If it isn't, I'd either try to talk to them about it or else I'd chalk it up to bad luck and move on.

Mtbrncofn · 05-05-2005, 10:54 PM

Btw, it has been almost 3 days now, and nothing is coming back yet. Send some good vibes my way, guys and gals. Maybe it'll last the minimum instead of the max.

DBroncos4life · 05-05-2005, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mtbrncofn

Ahh, ok, I see where you were going with that now. I just hate to bring even the mention of a lawyer into it. I was really just hoping for a big discount on that day's work. I just paid them $1800 to have all this stuff done, damnit!

well I would have thought they would have offered you something already. It sucks man I know. My whole left arm feels like its a sleep and it will be that way for the rest of my life. I would hate to have something like that happen to my face.

Mtbrncofn · 05-05-2005, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheNextStep

Let me ask this: How much did it cost you? Is the amount enough to get worked up over?

If it is, I'd talk to a lawyer. If it isn't, I'd either try to talk to them about it or else I'd chalk it up to bad luck and move on.

Well for that half of the fillings, it was $800. It comes straight out of pocket, so yeah it's not a drop in the bucket for us. We don't have insurance either.

If I try to talk to them, what exactly do you think I should say?

Mtbrncofn · 05-05-2005, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DBroncos4life

well I would have thought they would have offered you something already. It sucks man I know. My whole left arm feels like its a sleep and it will be that way for the rest of my life. I would hate to have something like that happen to my face.

Yikes. At least this is only temporary, they say. I'd hate to have something like you have for the rest of my life!

TheNextStep · 05-05-2005, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mtbrncofn

Well for that half of the fillings, it was $800. It comes straight out of pocket, so yeah it's not a drop in the bucket for us. We don't have insurance either.

If I try to talk to them, what exactly do you think I should say?

Seriously, if it's $800, I'd talk to a lawyer. Most of them will listen to you and tell you whether or not you have a case without charging you. So... go talk to somebody who has an actual knowledge of whether you legally have a leg to stand on before you do anything else. Whether you decide to sue or try to work it out with the dentist on your own after that is up to you... but at least find out what your options are from somebody who would be better qualified to tell you than a bunch of internet schmucks like us.

Candy Cigarettes · 05-05-2005, 11:02 PM

MT-
Nerves can be damaged in all sorts of dental procedures, even when just receiving a shot of novocaine. Typically, dentists give you a timeframe of up to six months to recover feeling, but sometimes they don't tell you that the nerve may not heal by itself. Severed nerves may require an operation (suturing or replacement). I would get further info from your dentist on exactly what she thinks is wrong and some sort of assurance that this will be taken care of. Also, look at your dental and health insurance policies (if you have one) to see what is covered. If you do a Google search using the terms - dentist severed nerve - you will come across some articles on nerve damage. Having part of your face numb for an extended amount of time would be miserable. Hope it heals up soon!

Broncoman13 · 05-05-2005, 11:06 PM

Being that it is not permanent I wouldn't necessarily bring in a lawyer though they would be able to address the situation if you don't have success.

Personally, I would be going through the exact same thing you are. I would feel terrible asking for anything back, even though the service provided wasn't "up to par". It won't be easy, but you should approach the dentist herself. Let her know that you feel terrible about the whole thing but you feel that this service is not on par with the services normally received in her office. Like you said, she feels bad for the incident, but feeling bad doesn't exactly pay the piper. Hopefully she'll understand where you are coming from and agree that the service wasn't what you paid for and offer to return some of, if not all of your money. Hope everything works out for you and I'm happy to see you're still carrying the title of NON-SMOKER!!!!!!!

Mtbrncofn · 05-05-2005, 11:07 PM

Thanks all for the advice, even you schmucks as TNS puts it.

That is how it happened, with the shot of novocaine. I did go back in this morning so she could see exactly what had happened and see what I could and couldn't feel. Basically, it's a rarity, but it happens. I was secretly hoping that after all her apologies, she would say that they were refunding part of my money, but alas....no such statement was made.

Mtbrncofn · 05-05-2005, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bronco Man 13

Being that it is not permanent I wouldn't necessarily bring in a lawyer though they would be able to address the situation if you don't have success.

Personally, I would be going through the exact same thing you are. I would feel terrible asking for anything back, even though the service provided wasn't "up to par". It won't be easy, but you should approach the dentist herself. Let her know that you feel terrible about the whole thing but you feel that this service is not on par with the services normally received in her office. Like you said, she feels bad for the incident, but feeling bad doesn't exactly pay the piper. Hopefully she'll understand where you are coming from and agree that the service wasn't what you paid for and offer to return some of, if not all of your money. Hope everything works out for you and I'm happy to see you're still carrying the title of NON-SMOKER!!!!!!!

I guess I will just bite the bullet and talk to her about it. I am not good about this kind of stuff. I get chickened out quickly with stuff like this. They are so damn nice in there, they have to take it well....I hope.

Thanks for the non-smoker thing too, B-Man! Three weeks tomorrow!

Broncoman13 · 05-05-2005, 11:10 PM

Sounds like you may need to bring it up to her yourself. I don't know your pain, but understand what you're going through. Feeling bad, like I said before doesn't make up for a poor service. Hate to put the pressure on but you need to step up to the plate and let her know what you think.

Mtbrncofn · 05-05-2005, 11:12 PM

Is there a time frame on this? It might take a week or so for me to get up the courage to do this.

Broncoman13 · 05-05-2005, 11:14 PM

Looks like you have tomorrow to do it or all weekend long to think about it. I wouldn't be to hasty, but certainly don't want to give it a week or anything. I'd bring up the tasting blood part to support your argument too!

Mtbrncofn · 05-05-2005, 11:17 PM

Really? I was hoping you'd come back and say I had at least TWO weeks to think it over.

Man, I am a pansy.
Aha! I do have all weekend. They don't work on Fridays.

Candy Cigarettes · 05-05-2005, 11:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mtbrncofn

Really? I was hoping you'd come back and say I had at least TWO weeks to think it over.

Man, I am a pansy.
Aha! I do have all weekend. They don't work on Fridays.

05-05-2005, 09:59 PM	#1
Mtbrncofn Ring of Famer Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Bigfork, MT Posts: 8,558	A What would you do question for ya'll I need some feedback. Two days ago I was at the dentist having an insane amount of fillings done, and it was taking so long that some of the anesthetic had worn off. I have all my wisdom teeth and apparently dentists absolutely hate that fact. I also have a very small mouth to go with those wisdom teeth. ( I know, hard to believe, huh. ) That makes for no room to work on those damn wisdom teeth. My dentist started drilling on one of the wisdom teeth, and I could feel it. So I told her, and she gave me more of the anesthetic. When she did it, I felt this weird electric shock thing in the middle of my bottom lip. I jumped, she jumped, and never thought anything more about it. Fast forward to 12 hours later that night. I still can't feel part of my face. I'm beginning to think there is probably something wrong. I had fillings done last week also, and the stuff wore off in about 2 hours. Anyway, to make a long story short, turns out she either partially severed or fully severed a nerve. She has been a dentist for 30 years and only had this happen one other time. Go figure my number would come up. This can take up to 6 months to come back. Joyous. So my question here would be: Should I get some kind of discount or I'm sorry that I ****ed up your face percentage off for this crap? The dentist is a real sweetheart as is everyone else in the office, but all of my friends seem to think I should have at least gotten some of my money back. What do you guys think?

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05-05-2005, 10:26 PM	#2
DBroncos4life Hey pic Mod!?!?! FU Why yes, that is Bacon Bacon. Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: The wrong side of right. Posts: 26,568	Two things I guess go find someone to see if there is any really wrong with your mouth and maybe talk to a lawyer. Im not saying sue but he sometimes having them talk to the doctor it will speed them up and maybe they will offer you some money back.

05-05-2005, 10:41 PM	#3
Crushaholic Armchair Poster Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Topeka, KS Posts: 22,044	Listen to Bill Cosby's old "Dentist" routine and get a good laugh out of it. It portrays pretty much what you were describing.

05-05-2005, 10:46 PM	#6
TheNextStep The Enemy Within Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 2,814	Talk to a lawyer. For one thing, in all the paperwork you had to sign at the dentist's office, liability waivers are usually included (not that it is necessarily enforceable, by the way). For another, you're looking at paying for (a) a procedure that will leave you injured for up to 6 months and (b) any associated medical costs as a result of the injury. I'm not saying "Go after 'em for everything they're worth" because I personally get a little disgusted by our overly-litigious society where people try to turn an honest mistake into a retirement fund... but I am saying that you shouldn't have to pay for being injured, nor should you shoulder the cost of rehabilitating from that injury.

05-05-2005, 10:47 PM	#7
Mtbrncofn Ring of Famer Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Bigfork, MT Posts: 8,558	I meant that for DB, Crush. Sorry about that. I went back in today and she said that is what happened and was feeling terrible about it. I'm just hoping that it comes back in say a couple of weeks versus a couple of months or so. It's a pretty good sized area of my face. It starts at the left side corner of my mouth and goes all the way back to the hinge part of my jaw, up to right under my cheekbone.

05-05-2005, 10:53 PM	#11
TheNextStep The Enemy Within Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 2,814	Let me ask this: How much did it cost you? Is the amount enough to get worked up over? If it is, I'd talk to a lawyer. If it isn't, I'd either try to talk to them about it or else I'd chalk it up to bad luck and move on.

05-05-2005, 10:54 PM	#12
Mtbrncofn Ring of Famer Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Bigfork, MT Posts: 8,558	Btw, it has been almost 3 days now, and nothing is coming back yet. Send some good vibes my way, guys and gals. Maybe it'll last the minimum instead of the max.

05-05-2005, 11:02 PM	#17
Candy Cigarettes Highlander Silence Flows Faster Backwards... Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Shady side of Hades Posts: 396	MT- Nerves can be damaged in all sorts of dental procedures, even when just receiving a shot of novocaine. Typically, dentists give you a timeframe of up to six months to recover feeling, but sometimes they don't tell you that the nerve may not heal by itself. Severed nerves may require an operation (suturing or replacement). I would get further info from your dentist on exactly what she thinks is wrong and some sort of assurance that this will be taken care of. Also, look at your dental and health insurance policies (if you have one) to see what is covered. If you do a Google search using the terms - dentist severed nerve - you will come across some articles on nerve damage. Having part of your face numb for an extended amount of time would be miserable. Hope it heals up soon!

05-05-2005, 11:06 PM	#18
Broncoman13 Broncoholic JT #80 Join Date: May 2001 Location: Colorado Posts: 16,961 Adopt-a-Bronco: Orange Julius	Being that it is not permanent I wouldn't necessarily bring in a lawyer though they would be able to address the situation if you don't have success. Personally, I would be going through the exact same thing you are. I would feel terrible asking for anything back, even though the service provided wasn't "up to par". It won't be easy, but you should approach the dentist herself. Let her know that you feel terrible about the whole thing but you feel that this service is not on par with the services normally received in her office. Like you said, she feels bad for the incident, but feeling bad doesn't exactly pay the piper. Hopefully she'll understand where you are coming from and agree that the service wasn't what you paid for and offer to return some of, if not all of your money. Hope everything works out for you and I'm happy to see you're still carrying the title of NON-SMOKER!!!!!!!

05-05-2005, 11:07 PM	#19
Mtbrncofn Ring of Famer Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Bigfork, MT Posts: 8,558	Thanks all for the advice, even you schmucks as TNS puts it. That is how it happened, with the shot of novocaine. I did go back in this morning so she could see exactly what had happened and see what I could and couldn't feel. Basically, it's a rarity, but it happens. I was secretly hoping that after all her apologies, she would say that they were refunding part of my money, but alas....no such statement was made.

05-05-2005, 11:10 PM	#21
Broncoman13 Broncoholic JT #80 Join Date: May 2001 Location: Colorado Posts: 16,961 Adopt-a-Bronco: Orange Julius	Sounds like you may need to bring it up to her yourself. I don't know your pain, but understand what you're going through. Feeling bad, like I said before doesn't make up for a poor service. Hate to put the pressure on but you need to step up to the plate and let her know what you think.

05-05-2005, 11:12 PM	#22
Mtbrncofn Ring of Famer Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Bigfork, MT Posts: 8,558	Is there a time frame on this? It might take a week or so for me to get up the courage to do this.

05-05-2005, 11:14 PM	#23
Broncoman13 Broncoholic JT #80 Join Date: May 2001 Location: Colorado Posts: 16,961 Adopt-a-Bronco: Orange Julius	Looks like you have tomorrow to do it or all weekend long to think about it. I wouldn't be to hasty, but certainly don't want to give it a week or anything. I'd bring up the tasting blood part to support your argument too!

05-05-2005, 11:17 PM	#24
Mtbrncofn Ring of Famer Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Bigfork, MT Posts: 8,558	Really? I was hoping you'd come back and say I had at least TWO weeks to think it over. Man, I am a pansy. Aha! I do have all weekend. They don't work on Fridays.