EDWARDSVILLE — A dental patient claims an oral surgeon mistakenly extracted a wisdom tooth and caused the plaintiff to suffer a fractured jaw and nerve damage.
Patrick Immken filed a complaint Nov. 9 in the Madison County Circuit Court against Thomas Heidenreich, D.D.S., and Bi-State Oral and Facial Surgery LLC, alleging negligence.
Immken states in his complaint that he met with Heidenreich on March 6 in regards to having his wisdom teeth extracted. He underwent wisdom tooth removal on March 13, which was performed by Heidenreich.
Immken alleges that on March 17 he was seen by Heidenreich because he was suffering from paresthesia. Immken also alleges he saw Heidenreich again on March 23, complaining of continued bilateral jaw pain, lip and chin numbness.
According to his suit, Immken underwent "mandibular fixation for greenstick fracture" on March 31, which was performed by Heidenreich. He returned on April 30 "with worsened pain." Immken then underwent removal of "the arch bars/wires from the closed reduction" on May 8. He alleges that during his treatment, Heidenreich failed to diagnosed his "mandibular left wisdom tooth needing to remain." He also alleges he suffered nerve damage, a fractured jaw and "devasularization of other teeth" and required additional surgeries due to Heidenreich's negligence.
Immken seeks compensation of more than $50,000 and all other just relief. He is represented by Keith Short of Keith Short and Associates PC in Alton.
Madison County Circuit Court case number 20-L-001572