New York Dental Nerve Injury Attorneys

Dedicated law firm recovers compensation for victims in NYC & Long Island

Dental malpractice can cause serious injuries to the nerves in the jaw that affect the tongue, gums, teeth, lips and chin. For more than 30 years, Rich & Rich, P.C. has provided aggressive representation for New Yorkers who have suffered such injuries. We have established an extensive track record of winning them significant compensation. This includes what is thought to be the highest jury verdict on record nationally for a young woman who suffered a severed lingual nerve at the hands of her oral surgeon during a lower wisdom tooth extraction, as well as seven-figure and high six-figure settlements.

Understanding dental nerve injuries

The jaw is full of nerves necessary for transmitting sensory information to the brain from the teeth, tongue, palate, lips, gums and chin and other parts of the mouth. Dental procedures that are negligently performed can cause injury to one or more of these nerves. The chances of nerve injury from dental malpractice varies with the nature of the procedure involved and the nerves affected. Most procedures have low risks of injury, but dental implant surgery and some types of oral surgery have higher risks. However, not all nerve damage is the result of malpractice. You should consult with an experienced lawyer to determine whether it is.

How do dental nerve injuries occur?

Nerve damage during a dental or oral surgery procedure can occur for a number of reasons, such as:

• Lower wisdom tooth extractions performed negligently
• Dental implants negligently placed
• Root canal overfills
• Negligent, improper extraction of the third molars (the “wisdom teeth”)
• Trauma from improperly placed implants
• Trauma or tearing during tooth extractions
• Requiring the patient to hyperextend their jaw for too long
• Failure to refer an injured patient to a specialist

Rich & Rich, P.C. can help you to obtain compensation you may be entitled to for dental nerve injuries.

Common types of dental nerve injuries

Injuries from dental or oral surgical procedures can affect the lingual nerve, the inferior alveolar nerve, the pulpal nerve and the periapical nerve, as described below:

• Lingual nerve damage can cause permanent complete anesthesia, permanent loss of taste and profound neuropathic pain resembling electric shock and burning when the area is touched on the affected side of the tongue and mouth. It can result in painful numbness, drooling and impaired speech, and sleep impairment due to pain.
• The inferior alveolar nerve provides sensation (such as touch, heat, cold and pain) to the chin and lower lip as well as the buccal gingiva (gums on the cheek side) of the lower front teeth and the premolars. Inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) damage often results in chronic pain and persistent numbness to the lower lip, chin and gingiva on the affected side.
• Pulpal nerves run throughout the soft tissue inside the teeth. They are the ones most likely to cause lingering, chronic toothache when they are exposed or stimulated by cavities, root canals, installation of dental implants or penetration of tooth enamel during other dental operations.
• Periapical nerves are at the tip of the teeth’s roots. Negligently performed root canals, tooth extractions or dental implant placements can seriously injure the periapical nerve, causing chronic pain, numbness or tingling.

Our attorneys are skilled in determining how dental malpractice may have contributed to the injuries in question.

How dental nerve injuries can have a severe impact on you

Dental nerve injuries can have a variety of effects, such as pain, loss of sensation, tingling, neuropathy and difficulty with speech or other functions. These effects may be temporary or in some cases chronic. If they result from dental malpractice, you may be able to recover damages for the following:

• Pain and suffering
• Medical expenses for treatment of your condition
• Costs of rehabilitation and long-term care
• Lost wages, for the time you are unable to work as a result of your injuries
• Emotional distress
• Loss of enjoyment and diminished quality of life

Our attorneys are experienced in getting victims of dental nerve damage the fair compensation they deserve.

Contact a New York dental nerve injury attorney for a free consultation today

Rich & Rich, PC. represents dental nerve injury victims throughout Greater New York and Long Island. We have offices in midtown Manhattan and in Roslyn Heights. Call 917-746-3358 or contact us online.