New York Inferior Alveolar Nerve Damage Attorneys
Winning compensation for injured victims in NYC and Long Island
The harmful effects of dental malpractice can extend beyond the teeth and gums. Negligence by a dentist or oral surgeon can cause damage to the inferior alveolar nerve that serves the chin, gums and lower lips. If you suffer such an injury after a dental procedure, the experienced attorneys of Rich & Rich, P.C. can help you obtain fair compensation for their injuries. We serve clients throughout Greater New York and Long Island.
What is the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN)?
The inferior alveolar nerve provides sensation — including touch, heat, cold and pain — to the chin and lower lip as well as to the buccal gingiva (the gums facing one’s cheeks) of the lower front and premolar teeth. An injury to the IAN usually causes chronic pain and numbness to the lower lip, chin and gingiva on the affected side. If you suffer injuries affecting those or neighboring parts of your mouth after a procedure, you should consult a knowledgeable dental malpractice attorney.
Common causes of IAN damage
IAN injuries can be caused by dental negligence during:
- Dental implant placement
- Oral surgery
- Extraction of wisdom teeth
- Root canal overfill
If your inferior alveolar nerve is injured after these or other dental procedures, a dental malpractice attorney from our New York City or Long Island office can analyze your case and pursue legal remedies.
Effects of IAN injuries
IAN injuries from badly performed oral surgeries and other causes may result in problems affecting your chin, lower lip and the gums surrounding the lower teeth, such as:
- Painful numbness
- Numbness
- Tingling
- Feelings akin to electric shocks
- Drooling
- Difficulty speaking
- Difficulty opening your mouth
- Biting of the lower lip
IAN injuries may be temporary or permanent. For victims of negligence who suffer long-lasting nerve injury, it is common to experience loss of quality of life and other emotional effects due the chronic painful symptoms of IAN damage.
Legal considerations
If your IAN injury is caused by dental malpractice, you may have grounds for a lawsuit. Winning your case will require proving that your dentist or oral surgeon violated the standard of care expected of them and that their negligence caused your injuries. Our attorneys have the experience, knowledge and skill needed to prove the causal connection to your injuries and vigorously pursue your right to fair compensation for your medical bills, rehabilitation and other costs, loss of income, pain and suffering, emotional trauma or other harm you suffer as a result. However, you should not delay in seeking legal counsel. In most cases, you must file a lawsuit within two and a half years after you are first injured or you may lose your right to recover damages.
Contact a New York inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) damage attorney
Rich & Rich, PC. represents victims of avoidable IAN damage 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.
