Open wide doesn t begin to describe one Which Wich customer s unforgettable experience with the chain s popular Wicked Wich. For customer Chad Ettmueller, an attempted bite into his favorite sandwich resulted in 14 hours with his jaw locked open, treatment at three different hospitals, and one sandwich he never got to eat.
It all began on an average Saturday night for the Ettmueller family of Cumming, Ga. Wanting to celebrate his son s second-place win at the school talent show, Ettmueller and his family went out for sandwiches at their neighborhood Which Wich restaurant, and ended up with more than they bargained for.
It was literally a jaw dropping experience, Ettmueller laughs. And he can laugh now. A week ago he couldn t.
That night when Ettmueller casually opened his mouth to take his first bite into his Double Meat Wicked Wich his jaw suddenly locked, his mouth stuck wide open!
Everyone thought I was kiddin around, explains Ettmueller. I get that sandwich every time. Even my kids said, ha ha, funny dad. Imagine trying to defend yourself when you can t talk! It s not easy, Ettmueller jokes.
Befuddled, Ettmueller stepped outside while his family continued eating and tried punching himself in the jaw to pop it back into place. But, it wouldn t budge. When he returned inside the restaurant his family realized it wasn t a joke after all.
His wife ushered the kids to the car and they sped off to the nearest urgent care where they were met with stifled laughter and ultimately told that the office was ill-equipped to handle his unique problem.
Ettmueller was ultimately transported by ambulance to Emory Hospital where he and his family heard the official diagnosis: double dislocation of the mandible, which was corrected by an oral surgeon through jaw manipulation.
Late that night, Ettmueller's best friend met him at the hospital. Around 4:30 a.m. his friend got hungry and went searching for the meaty culprit. After eating the entire Wicke