John Németh, winner of multiple Blues Music Awards, built his life and musical career as a singer and harmonica player. But X-rays taken during a routine dentist visit threatened to change that.

John’s dentist discovered an ameloblastoma, a benign but aggressive tumor, that was rapidly growing in his jaw and chin and needed to be surgically removed. This was a reality that could mean the end of his career and the possibility that he might never fully feel his mouth or lips again. He was devastated. Singing and playing the harmonica, skills honed over decades, would become difficult or even impossible and would threaten his family’s livelihood.

During a procedure like John’s, where the tumor encompasses the jaw, removing it often involves cutting or injuring nerves that allow us to feel portions of our face, lips, and chin. In the past, during these types of procedures, the nerves were often unrepaired, leaving people with permanent numbness. If you’ve ever been numbed during a dental procedure, imagine that feeling for the rest of your life. That wasn’t a possibility John wanted to consider.

Thanks to a connection with his initial surgeon, John found himself in my care.

I’m a believer that numbness shouldn’t be the norm—especially when something can be done. So, I have made nerve repair a standard practice during jaw reconstruction to help patients get back to as much normalcy as possible.

When he came to me, I shared information about advanced nerve repair techniques that offered hope: A way to regain sensation after surgery.

“It’s been a career saver,” John told me. “The genre of music that I’m in is all about soul, and if you can’t feel the music, it would really show. I think it would be a game-ender for me. This procedure probably saved me.”

Only a fraction of people who undergo tumor removal surgeries know they should be asking about the potential to restore sensation in their jaw—but it is possible to repair nerves.

John’s story highlights a critical issue: Not all patients have the knowledge, resources, or connections to ensure nerve restoration is part of their jaw reconstruction. This conversation needs to happen between every patient and their care teams.

Without feeling, patients can struggle with basic activities such as eating, speaking, and socializing—things most of us take for granted. Imagine constantly worrying that food is stuck on your face or struggling to enjoy a meal because you can’t feel the food in your mouth. Think of the emotional toll of never really feeling a smile again or enjoying the kiss of a loved one.

These are the daily realities for many people who undergo jaw reconstruction without nerve restoration. And in some cases, when the nerve isn’t reconstructed, patients are also more likely to experience chronic pain. For someone like John, whose entire livelihood relies on precise and dynamic control of his tongue and lips, living without sensation wasn’t an option.

Patients often think, “It won’t happen to me,” but John’s experience is a cautionary tale. His tumor was discovered during a routine dental visit—and was fortunately benign—but what followed was a two-year marathon of treatment and recovery. His journey to receive his final dental implants concluded last year, just before he went on tour in Europe. He’s even racked up an award or two since. John’s story underscores the importance of patients being proactive and well-informed when facing medical diagnoses and care teams taking steps to inform their patients about the quality of life and nerve impacts after surgery. It should be a basic part of surgery preparation and education.

John was fortunate that his surgeon was familiar with emerging work in nerve reconstruction and believed restoring sensation was critical to making his patient whole. John’s case is not unique. Patients across the country have come to my practice in Houston to receive this procedure, including an internal medicine physician who sought jaw surgery and nerve reconstruction just five weeks before her wedding. Remarkably, our team performed the surgery without compromising her appearance for her big day, and within months, she could feel her husband’s kiss—a small yet profoundly significant victory.

But what happens if patients don’t have sensation in their jaw? “I’ve talked to quite a few people that have come to my shows,” John shared. “I met a saxophone player in Denmark, and they had a similar operation done without the technology. And they can’t play the saxophone. They can’t feel it. I feel very lucky that I can do it.”

Beyond being career-ending for some, studies show that nerve deficits can reduce a patient’s life satisfaction by 33 percent, and those who do not undergo nerve reconstruction have a 43 percent higher chance of experiencing chronic post-surgical pain. On the other hand, patients who receive nerve reconstruction can return to near normalcy, and they are incredibly satisfied with their post-surgery lives, often citing the return of sensation as a critical factor in their recovery.

Although the number of nerve repair surgeries has increased in recent years, these procedures are still not the standard in jaw reconstruction. That means millions of post-surgery patients are living incomplete lives with reduced sensation. And they don’t have to. Each health care professional involved in surgery preparation, procedures, and aftercare can play a role in changing this.

The long-held approach of focusing solely on tumor removal and structural reconstruction is no longer enough. Patients deserve more: The potential to regain sensation, function, and quality of life. By integrating nerve repair into standard surgical protocols, we can transform patient outcomes and set a new precedent in reconstructive care.

As surgeons, specialists, and health care providers, it’s time to have these conversations with your patients. Inform them of their options. Advocate for nerve reconstruction as part of comprehensive jaw surgery. If you aren’t offering this, ask yourself why. Is it time? Is it reimbursement? These barriers can and should be addressed because, ultimately, it’s about patient-centered care. Patients trust us to not only remove their tumors but to restore their lives. The ability to eat, speak, and smile with confidence should not be a luxury—it should be the standard. Let’s make sure every patient undergoing jaw reconstruction has access to the full scope of care they need to truly heal.

James C. Melville is an oral and maxillofacial surgeon.