I had always known that nerve damage could be a side affect of jaw surgery. I did not know, however, that some degree of nerve damage would most definitely be a side effect for everyone.
My future surgeon explained that the nerves to the skin on the upper jaw almost always completely recover within a year. But all patients experience some decreased sensation in their lower jaws after surgery. The decreased sensation in the lower jaw is permanent. Fortunately, the nerve damage only affects skin sensation, and not any of the nerves connected to the muscles. There's also a 1% or lower chance of nerves of the tongue being affected.
Luckily, my intended surgery date is still 6 months away. There's still time to prepare and do more research.
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