Dental Nerve Damage Compensation Claims

Can You Sue a Dentist for Nerve Damage?

Yes, you can sue a dentist for nerve damage if your nerve injuries have been caused by dental negligence – this includes your dentist failing to carry out a dental procedure correctly.

If you have undergone a dental treatment that has caused lasting numbness, loss of taste, loss of sensation or other prominent symptoms of nerve damage, you have three years to start your claim.

As well as physical injuries, dental negligence also includes cases in which a dentist has failed to diagnose a condition, failed to treat a condition correctly, or has failed to secure informed consent before the treatment.

Contact our team today to find out whether you have a valid case for dental negligence.

What Are the Most Common Dental Nerve Damage Symptoms?

As dental nerve damage can involve several different nerves (the lingual nerve, the inferior alveolar nerve and the trigeminal nerve), there are a number of signs that can indicate a problem. 

Some of the main symptoms of nerve damage after dental work include:

• Numbness or lack of feeling in the tongue, gums, cheeks, jaw or face

• A tingling or pulling sensation in these areas

• Nerve pain after dental work or a burning feeling in these areas

• Loss of the ability to taste

• Difficulties with speech and/or eating due to one or more of the above

Signs of nerve damage can sometimes be temporary, lasting for a short time after the procedure. However, in some cases involving serious damage, they can be permanent. If you’ve recently had a dental treatment and you notice any of the symptoms above, it’s important to speak to your dentist as soon as possible to see whether you can get the issue resolved in a timely manner.

The trigeminal nerve is the one usually affected during dental treatment as parts of this nerve are in close proximity to the jaw and mouth. The trigeminal nerve is also the nerve responsible for feeling/sensation in the face, as well as for functions such as chewing and biting. Nerve damage as a result of dental negligence can lead to numbness of the face, lips, and tongue, difficulties eating and many other serious issues.

What Should I Do if I Think I Have a Nerve Injury Due to Dental Negligence?

If you’ve had dental treatment that resulted in a nerve injury and you feel that your dentist was at fault for this, you might be eligible to open a dental negligence claim. 

You’ll need to hire a solicitor specialising in the area of dental negligence such as the Dental Law Partnership. We work on a strictly no-win, no-fee agreement, ensuring you’ll only pay a small fee for our services if your case is successful. You can get free legal advice and discuss your options by contacting our team for free on 0800 152 2033.

My Dentist Hit a Nerve – How Long to Get Better?

This is a difficult question to answer as every situation is different, depending largely on the extent of the damage and which nerve has been impacted. 

Temporary nerve damage can take up to 6 months to heal, although you may find it takes much less time than that. However, permanent nerve damage cannot be healed completely, although your dentist may be able to recommend treatments to mitigate the damage. 

Pain Relief for Nerve Damage

Many patients choose to opt for over-the-counter pain relief to help alleviate the pain associated with nerve damage and toothache. It’s recommended that you take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDS) such as Ibuprofen, or painkillers (such as paracetamol), for temporary relief of nerve damage pain. 

Nerve inflammation can occur after tooth extraction, so these medications may help you relieve the discomfort. If in doubt, a pharmacist can advise you appropriately.

You can also try rinsing your mouth with a saltwater mouth rinse or apply a pain-relieving gel to the affected area in your mouth. We also recommend that you avoid very hot or cold foods as these items may make the pain even worse. For example, stay clear of hard or crunchy food and opt for something soft, like scrambled eggs instead.

How Much Compensation Could I Get for a Nerve Injury Claim?

As with any type of dental negligence claim, the amount of compensation you may receive if your dentist has caused nerve damage will depend on the circumstances of your specific case. The factors taken into consideration for compensation could include:

• The severity of your nerve damage symptoms
• The long-term prognosis of the nerve injury
• The impact that the symptoms have your daily life and normal activities

At the Dental Law Partnership, our team of expert Dental Negligence solicitors are on hand to help you with your potential nerve damage claim and answer any questions you may have. 

We can discuss your options and potential next steps when required – request a callback today to find out more.

What Types of Dental Treatments Are Most Likely to Result in Nerve Damage?

Whilst most dental procedures go to plan without nerve damage being caused, there are some types of treatment that have a higher risk than others for this kind of injury.

Your dentist has a duty of care to inform you of any potential risks, side effects and alternative treatments before carrying out any treatment. This means that if something goes wrong and your dentist does not inform you of the risks in advance of your procedure, you may be able to follow the dental negligence claims process.

Nerve Damage After Tooth Extraction

Can a tooth extraction cause nerve damage? The simple answer is yes. 

As parts of the trigeminal nerve are close to the areas affected when a tooth is extracted, damage can sometimes occur when these procedures are carried out. From the extraction of normal adult teeth to the extraction of a wisdom tooth, there is the possibility of nerve damage from tooth removal. Trigeminal nerve damage caused by tooth extraction can cause pain, tingling and numbness in your lower lip, chin, tongue, teeth and your gums.

Your dentist should always explain the risk of potential tooth nerve damage to you before you agree to treatment like this. If they fail to inform you of the risks and don’t fully explain the procedure beforehand and your treatment results in tooth nerve damage, you may be able to claim for a lack of informed patient consent.

Nerve Damage After Fillings

If you experience sensitivity after a filling, the small nerves inside your tooth may take a couple of days to heal properly. The way the filling procedure is carried out can sometimes lead to nerve aggravation within your tooth. 

Fillings, no matter how deep they are, can get close to the sensitive nerve endings in your teeth, causing irritation and an array of other unpleasant sensations. For some people, this pain goes away in a couple of days; for some, it can be a few weeks. However, if you have experienced enduring pain for a prolonged period, you may have suffered from dental nerve damage.

Nerve Damage From Dental Implants

Another treatment that can potentially lead to tooth nerve damage is the dental implant procedure. 

As part of the process for fitting dental implants, holes are drilled into the jaw. If your dentist mistakenly drills too far, this can result in nerve damage. Another way that this procedure can cause nerve damage is if the dental implant itself is longer than it should be, making it press on the tooth nerve once in place.

Nerve Damage From Root Canal Treatments

Root canal treatment (also called endodontic treatment) aims to repair and save a tooth that is infected or damaged. To carry out a root canal procedure, the dentist must remove the nerve and pulp from the affected tooth, before cleaning away any bacteria and sealing it to prevent reinfection. 

This type of treatment can sometimes cause tooth nerve damage if the root canal causes trauma to the surrounding area, or if the solution used in the cleaning process is allowed to infiltrate other parts of the mouth or jaw.

Is There a Time Limit for Opening a Dental Negligence Claim?

For people wanting to make a dental negligence claim of any type, the limit is three years from the point when the negligence occurred, or from the point when the patient became aware of the negligence. 

For patients who were under the age of 18 when the negligence occurred, the three-year limit begins on their eighteenth birthday. For those suffering from a mental illness at the time the negligence happened, the three-year limit begins when they have recovered from the illness.

As the claims process can often take some time and can be quite complex in nature, we recommend you start the process as soon as possible. You can find out more about proving dental negligence here.

Can I Sue My NHS Dentist in a Nerve Damage Claim?

If you have suffered from nerve damage as a result of dental negligence, it doesn’t matter whether the dentist was performing NHS or private treatment; you deserve justice regardless. 

If something goes wrong when you are putting your trust in any dentist, and you believe the fault is a result of their negligence, you may be able to open a dental negligence claim. For more information, please see our NHS Dental Negligence Claims Guide.