Medical Malpractice and Dental Nerve Injury
Sometimes dental nerve injuries are a normal side effect of dental treatment and often resolve as the body heals. Other times, these injuries are the result of negligence during dental treatment. When negligence has led to long term or permanent nerve damage, a dental malpractice lawsuit may be an option to recover compensation for damages.
At Younker Hyde Macfarlane, PLLC, our medical malpractice attorneys help dental nerve injury victims in Salt Lake City and other areas of Utah get the compensation they deserve. If you have suffered a dental nerve injury and believe it was caused by dental negligence, we encourage you to schedule a consultation.
When Might a Dental Nerve Injury Occur?
Dental nerve injuries can happen as a known possible complication during certain dental procedures. Other times a dental professional may act negligently and cause a dental nerve injury and permanent damage.
Whether a normal complication or negligence, a dental nerve injury can occur during dental procedures such as:
- Root canal therapy
- Dental implant surgery
- Tooth extractions
- Dental filling treatment
What Are Some Signs of Dental Nerve Damage?
When dental injuries cause nerve damage, the effects are usually felt in the face, gums, cheeks, jaw, lips, or tongue. For some, nerve damage is temporary and resolves as the nerve heals over a few days to several weeks. In other circumstances, nerve damage can be permanent and impact daily life.
Some signs of dental nerve damage include:
- Numbness in the gums, jaw, tongue, cheeks, or face
- Lost or altered sense of taste
- Tingling sensation in the gums, jaw, tongue, cheeks, or face
- Complete loss of sensation in the gums, jaw, tongue, cheeks, or face
- Difficulty eating or speaking due to facial numbness or tingling sensation
- Extreme sensitivity or pain around the dental nerve
Dental Nerve Injury and Dental Malpractice
Dental nerve injuries can happen as a normal side effect of certain dental procedures. Accordingly, not all dental nerve injuries are considered dental malpractice.
Typically, injuries must be long lasting or permanent and significantly impact daily life. For example, the injury has caused a complete loss of sensation in areas of the face and mouth, making eating and speaking difficult.
In addition to negatively impacting quality of life, there must be some way to demonstrate that the dentist or other medical professional was negligent in their standard of care. A medical malpractice attorney can help gather evidence, such as medical records and expert accounts, to support a dental malpractice claim.
Seeking Compensation for Damages
When a dental nerve injury impacts quality of life and is the result of a dentist or other medical professional’s negligence, it may be possible to recover compensation through a medical malpractice lawsuit.
Some damages that may be recovered include:
- Dental costs
- Medical costs associated with dental nerve injury
- Lost wages
- Loss of future income
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Contact the Attorneys of Younker Hyde Macfarlane
If you have suffered a dental nerve injury that you believe was caused by the negligence of a dentist or other medical professional, you may be entitled to financial compensation for your injuries and other damages. To discuss your claim and to learn more about your legal options, please call our medical malpractice attorneys in Utah at Younker Hyde Macfarlane at (801) 335-6467 or contact us online.
