Dental Nerve Injuries

People who fail to act in a reasonably prudent manner may be held liable for any injuries or deaths that result. This basic principle may be used to hold health care professionals liable when they fail to properly treat a patient, and harm results. Malpractice claims may be brought against not only doctors but also dentists and oral surgeons. If you or a loved one has suffered a dental nerve injury, knowledgeable Rockland County dental malpractice lawyer Valerie J. Crown can help. As a small group of dedicated professionals, we can make sure that your case will get the appropriate time and attention. We know that each client is unique, and each case is different. Our team takes great satisfaction from asserting the rights of victims. Valerie can be reached at any time of day or night by calling her cell phone at 845.598.8253. She represents people throughout Greater New York with the diligence and vigor that they deserve.

While each dental malpractice case requires proof of the core elements of negligence (duty, breach of duty, causation, and damages), the pain and suffering, dental/medical expenses, and loss of income that each patient suffers due to a dentist’s negligent treatment may be vastly different. For instance, one patient may experience a permanent loss of taste or numbness of the tongue, while another may suffer a high level of discomfort in the gums or the floor of the mouth. While dental nerve injuries may happen in several different ways, one of the most common scenarios occurs when a dentist or oral surgeon makes a mistake during the placement of an implant or removal of a patient’s wisdom teeth. The inferior alveolar or the lingual nerve may be damaged during such procedures, leaving the patient with permanent injuries or a need for additional, corrective surgery. Trauma to the nerve bundle may also occur during other extractions, affecting the chorda tympani nerves or other sensitive parts of the mouth or gum. Proving dental malpractice following a nerve injury may be complicated. Dental negligence cases, including claims against dentists, usually require expert testimony. This means that another dentist must be willing to testify in court as to the standard of care that the defendant should have followed and give an opinion as to how this standard of care was breached. The plaintiff must also prove the reasonableness and necessity of any medical or dental expenses for which they are seeking reimbursement. The New York Statute of Limitations places an outer time limit on the filing of a dental malpractice claim against a negligent dentist. A Notice of Claim may also apply, further affecting the time during which a viable claim may be filed. Because of the need to thoroughly review a file and obtain expert testimony, an attorney who represents an injured patient must have an adequate amount of time to prepare a case.

It is important that a person who believes that they have suffered a dental nerve injury, due to an act of dental negligence, contact an attorney as soon as possible. To schedule a consultation with Rockland County dental malpractice attorney Valerie J. Crown, call us at 845.708.5900, call Valerie’s cell phone at 845.598.8253, or contact us online. There is no charge for the first appointment, and most cases are accepted on a contingency fee contract, in which we are paid a percentage of your settlement or judgment rather than up-front legal fees. Injury attorney Valerie J. Crown helps people throughout the metropolitan New York area as well as Rockland, Westchester, and Orange Counties, and someone is always available 24/7 to take your call. Se habla Español. Nous parlons Francais. We speak Creole.