Regular visits to the dentist are beneficial to overall health, attitude and well being. Routine checkups are necessary to preserve oral health and to prevent future problems. However, if surgery is required, a tooth has to be removed or an injection is needed to numb parts of the mouth, there is a risk of being seriously injured by negligent dental care.
When a licensed professional is hired to perform a task, he or she is expected to perform to the standards of other industry professionals. Negligent dental care means a dentist unintentionally or intentionally did something no other reasonable dentist would have done under the same circumstances, causing you to be injured.
One of the most common complications in dental procedures is lingual nerve damage. The lingual nerve is located within the tongue’s bulk near the sides. The nerve is crucial to the tongue’s function because it is responsible for both its senses of taste and touch.
The lingual nerve often is injured in wisdom tooth surgery where the third molar is removed. Less commonly, it can be injured by anesthetic dental injections, particularly inferior dental block injections.
Nerve injuries have been reported after instances where a tumor was removed or an implant was placed. In other cases, patients have experienced nerve damage after general dental therapies, such as nerve block, crown preparation and endodontic procedures.
Injury to the lingual nerve can cause pain on the tongue or inside of the cheeks. The pain can vary, causing it to be any combination of burning, dull or achy. A victim’s pain also can include altered sensation, slightly changing the ability to taste and feel.
In most cases, lingual nerve injuries caused by dental procedures can be resolved. Sometimes nerves are resilient and eventually can heal themselves in adequate time. However, if there is persistent pain after a dental surgery, it should be addressed.
Surgery may be necessary to repair damaged nerves. Treating lingual nerve damage can cause medical bills to add up quickly. This could mean a series of examines to determine the best medical option to have a full recovery.
When these costs are acquired as a result of another person’s negligence, it is important the responsible party pays the full cost of damages. If a patient is the victim of negligent dental care in Florida, he or she could file for money damages for further surgery or treatment, under Florida Statutes Annotated § 768.042.
When filing a medical malpractice case, be sure to document the event, seek appropriate dental care, contact an experienced attorney and report the dentist to the licensing board and other agencies.
Source by Lisa S Levine
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