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There are a number of dental procedures that can, if the dentist doesn’t take adequate care or is not competent enough to carry out the treatment, result in temporary or permanent tooth nerve damage in their patient. This can mean that you can receive dental nerve damage compensation. This, in many cases, means that you can be awarded dental nerve damage compensation by completing a dental nerve damage claim.
The trigeminal nerve is the one usually affected because parts of it are in close proximity to the jaw and mouth and it is the tooth nerve responsible for feeling/sensation in the face, as well as for functions such as chewing and biting. Nerve damage due to dental malpractice can lead to numbness of the face, lips, and tongue, difficulties eating and many other serious issues.
Yes, you can sue a dentist for nerve damage which could have been caused by dental negligence by not carrying out any kind of procedure correctly such as wisdom tooth extractions to fillings. Start Your Claim Today to receive dental nerve damage compensation.
If you have experienced a dental procedure that has caused lasting numbness, loss of taste, loss of sensation or more, start your claim today to receive dental nerve damage compensation. Any instance where there has been an occurrence of malpractice or negligence on your dentist’s part means that there is a possibility your dentist is liable for nerve damage.
If you 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 make a claim. You should get in touch with experts in dental negligence, such as the Dental Law Partnership, to discuss your potential claim and see if you have a strong case, based on the circumstances. You can get free legal advice and discuss your options.
As with any type of dental negligence claim, the amount of compensation that you may receive if your dentist let you down and caused nerve damage, will depend on the circumstances of your specific case. The factors taken into consideration for compensation could include:
At 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; contact us today.
Some of the signs and symptoms of tooth nerve damage after receiving dental treatment include:
Signs of nerve damage in tooth can last for a short time after the procedure, or can be permanent, in some cases, where the damage done during the dental procedure was severe.
Not all tooth nerve damage symptoms after dental treatment are due to the negligence of a dentist, but if your dentist has not taken the care that they should, it may be that the damage caused could have been avoided if not for their mistake(s). Contact Dental Law Partnership today for advice.
Whilst most dental procedures go to plan and no tooth nerve damage is caused, there are some types of treatment that are higher risk than others for this kind of injury.
Can a tooth extraction cause nerve damage? Yes. As parts of the trigeminal nerve are close to the areas affected when a tooth is extracted, damage can sometimes be caused when this type of procedure is 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, this could potentially mean you are eligible to make a compensation claim for your dentist’s failure to obtain consent, especially if the treatment results in tooth nerve damage.
The length of time that you might experience symptoms of nerve damage will vary, depending on the nature and severity of the damage that was caused. Because the damage is usually hidden from sight, it can be difficult for your dentist to give an accurate timescale of when the nerve injury should heal. If the damage is very severe, there is a chance that the injury will not get better and any symptoms experienced may be long-term or permanent. The symptoms can have a big impact on the daily life of patients suffering from a nerve injury as a result of dental treatment, so if your injury came as a result of dental negligence, compensation may be due to you if you make a claim.
Although rare, persistent and sometimes permanent nerve damage can occur after dental injections and anaesthesia. Temporary nerve damage is more common, and it usually improves within a few days or weeks. Permanent nerve damage after a dentist injection of local anaesthetic near to nerves that are close to the affected area during your dental procedure is rare, but not unheard of.Sometimes, the dentist needle can come into contact or “hit a nerve”, causing a sensation of an “electric shock.” This can occasionally be all it takes to produce paraesthesia during dental treatment.
There is a nerve which controls sensation to the chin, lower lip and lower teeth that runs through the lower jaw and is sometimes near the lower wisdom teeth. If, during wisdom tooth extraction, this nerve is bruised or stretched, some patients may experience numbness in the chin, lip or lower teeth on that side. Nerve damage may be temporary and can take up to 6 months to heal, however in severe cases, the nerve damage after extracting a wisdom tooth can be permanent. Many people experience numbness or tingling in the face or jaw after their wisdom teeth are removed. After a few days it should return to normal.
The nerves in your teeth are in the ‘pulp.’ This is the bundle of small nerves that gather at blood vessels at the centre of the tooth. Dental sensitivity can occur for many reasons, and some people experience pain in just one tooth. If you have nerve pain that concentrates on one specific tooth, the problem is more than likely affecting the tooth pulp. This can be caused by a cracked or chipped tooth, an infection, recent fillings or teeth grinding.Your tooth could also hurt due to sensitivity issues. Dental sensitivity arises when the tooth’s enamel is damaged or eroded away. Heat, cold and acid can reach the sensitive nerve endings in the dentin layer of the tooth and cause nerve pain. Teeth whitening products, receding gums, and untreated cavities can also be causes. If you have had recent gum surgery that exposes the tooth roots, this can cause nerve pain in teeth.
When the pulp in a tooth is damaged, it can break down – leaving opportunity for bacteria to multiply within the pulp chamber. This can develop into a tooth infection or abscess that forms at the end of a tooth’s root. This can cause:
All these issues can magnify existing toothache and exacerbate pain caused by tooth nerve damage.
At the Dental Law Partnership, our cases are usually funded by a no win, no fee agreement. This means that even if your claim is unsuccessful, you will not pay any legal costs. If you win your case, a percentage of the compensation awarded is used for legal fees. Call us today on 0808 278 8202 for an initial, no obligation chat about your potential 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 and 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 complex in nature, it’s recommended that those who feel they might have a nerve damage should seek expert dental negligence advice as soon as possible after they experienced negligent care. See more about the full dental negligence claim process here.
If you have suffered 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, because of their mistake or incompetence, you have a right to ask questions and may be able to claim compensation too.