My father is in constant pain from a dental procedure gone wrong—and the system keeps sending him back to the same oral surgeon under investigation.

He’s a Medical Assistance (MA) patient. On July 15, he had a wisdom tooth extraction that led to confirmed nerve damage (Inferior Alveolar Nerve injury). His pain is severe, and his condition is urgent

But instead of helping him access a new oral surgeon, we’ve been trapped in a loop—refused outside referrals, dismissed, and repeatedly told to return to the same provider. That provider is under active investigation for misconduct, including racial bias and medical negligence.

This is not just about my father. It’s about every MA or state-insured patient who experiences complications and is treated like they don’t matter. When the system prioritizes convenience over safety, it puts lives at risk.

We need the Minnesota Department of Human Services, the Board of Dentistry, and our lawmakers to act now:

• ✅ Allow patients to refuse care from specific providers

• ✅ Create clear pathways for urgent referral cases, especially nerve damage

• ✅ Ensure access to impartial providers outside of default clinic loops

• ✅ Enforce racial equity and emergency protocol standards in oral care

Please sign and share this petition to demand reform. No one should suffer in pain or face delays just because they’re on state insurance.