Can I Sue My Dentist for Nerve Damage? | Discussion with a Florida Dental Malpractice Lawyer

Time Stamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:41 Dental Procedures Most Likely To Cause Nerve Damage
01:10 Common Symptoms Of Nerve Damage
02:21 Factors That Increase Affect The Value Of The Case

Thank you for joining us for another episode on dental malpractice. In this episode, we will be addressing this question: Can I sue my dentist for nerve damage?

The answer, as it is with many legal questions is, “it depends.”

If the nerve damage you have suffered is permanent and if the dentist fell short of the standard of care, you may very well have a viable dental malpractice claim. If the dentist did not do what he or she should have done and breached the standard of care, and if you suffered permanent nerve damage as a result, you may be able to sue that dentist for dental malpractice.

Dental procedures most likely to cause nerve damage

Some dental procedures are more likely to cause nerve damage than others. Here are some of the more common dental procedures that cause nerve damage:

Root Canals
Wisdom Tooth Removals
Dental Implant Procedures
Extractions
Improper Application of Anesthesia

What are the signs of dental nerve damage?

When someone calls and said they experienced a “shock” during the dental procedure or that they experienced a feeling like being electrocuted in their mouth, that’s a strong indication to me that the dentist damaged the nerve. There are also many symptoms that might manifest after the procedure, including:

Numbness in the tongue, cheeks, gums, chin, or face;
Tingling or pulsing sensations in the mouth or face;
Loss of taste;
Difficulty speaking or pronouncing words;
Difficulty eating food or drinking liquids.

Now, just because you’ve experienced these symptoms, it doesn’t necessarily mean you have a viable dental malpractice claim. In fact, numbness is common after dental procedures. However, if those odd feelings persist for months, you may have suffered severe damage. And if the symptoms last 6 months or more, you have a serious problem on your hands because the nerve damage could be permanent.

What kind of compensation is available for your nerve damage

As with any personal injury case, the amount of compensation depends on a number of factors. Some of the factors we might look at in a dental malpractice claim might include:

The severity of the nerve damage and symptoms;
The permanence of the injury, or the “long-term prognosis”;
The amount of pain and suffering the nerve damage has caused; and
The impact the nerve damage has had on your daily life.

These factors taken together help us determine how much compensation in warranted in your particular situation.