Rockland County Lawyer Representing People Who Suffered Nerve Injuries Caused by Dental Malpractice

The mouth contains multiple nerves that are integral to the sensory and motor functions of the face and oral cavity. As such, if they are injured, it can cause debilitating symptoms. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for dental procedures to cause nerve injuries, leaving patients with lasting harm. In many cases, such injuries may be attributed to the dentist’s lack of skill or care and may be grounds for pursuing malpractice claims. If you experienced nerve injuries caused by dental malpractice, it is in your best interest to talk to an attorney about your options at your earliest convenience. Valerie Crown of The Law Firm of Valerie J. Crown, Attorney at Law, P.C., is an assertive Rockland County dental malpractice lawyer, and if you suffered nerve injuries due to the carelessness of a dentist, she can help you seek any damages you may be owed. Ms. Crown has helped people pursue dental malpractice claims in Rockland, Westchester, Orange, Dutchess, and Putnam Counties as well as New York City for over 35 years.

The inferior alveolar nerve, which is a branch of the trigeminal nerve, is responsible for sensory innervation to the lower teeth, gums, and lower lip, while the trigeminal nerve provides sensation in the face and motor functions such as chewing. Injuries to these nerves can manifest as numbness, tingling, pain, altered taste sensation, muscle weakness, or even paralysis, impacting both physical comfort and psychological well-being.

Several dental procedures carry a risk of injuring these nerves. Implant placement procedures require careful consideration of nerve location to avoid damage during drilling or implant insertion. Similarly, tooth extractions, especially where the tooth roots are close to the nerve canal, can lead to inadvertent damage if proper technique is not employed or if the proximity of the nerve is not adequately assessed. Administering local anesthesia via nerve blocks also poses a risk of nerve injury if not performed precisely, with injection of anesthetic solutions directly into the nerve potentially causing temporary or permanent damage. Even corrective jaw surgery may carry a risk of nerve injury due to manipulation of the jawbone close to the nerve. Injuries to the inferior alveolar and trigeminal nerves may cause immediate symptoms such as sudden pain or loss of sensation, or symptoms may develop gradually over time.

Patients, who suffer nerve injuries due to dental procedures, may be able to recover damages for their losses via dental malpractice claims. In most instances, to recover damages in a dental malpractice lawsuit, a plaintiff must prove the defendant’s negligence.

To show negligence, the plaintiff must establish a duty and a breach. Dentists, like all healthcare providers in New York, are obligated to treat their patients in accordance with the standard of care. In other words, dentists must offer treatment that aligns with what is considered the good and accepted practice of dentistry in the relevant community. Any departure from this standard arguably constitutes a breach.

Next, the plaintiff has to connect the defendant’s breach to their harm. This means that they must prove that they suffered a significant injury and that such injury was substantially caused by the defendant’s deviation from the standard of care.

Plaintiffs, pursuing dental malpractice claims related to nerve injuries, usually require testimony from experts to establish the extent of their injuries and their causal relationship to the dental procedures. If they establish that the defendant dentist committed dental malpractice, they may be granted compensation for their suffering, pain, mental distress, and emotional anguish (non-economic harm) as well as the cost of any necessary dental/medical care, lost wages, and out-of-pocket expenses (economic harm).

If you suffered nerve injuries caused by dental malpractice, you have the right to seek compensation, and you should confer with an attorney about your possible claims. Valerie Crown of The Law Firm of Valerie J. Crown, Attorney at Law, P.C., is an experienced Rockland County attorney who possesses the skills and resources needed to hold negligent dentists accountable for the losses they cause. Ms. Crown’s office is located in New City, New York, and she has regularly represented people in dental malpractice cases in Rockland, Westchester, Orange, Dutchess, and Putnam Counties as well as New York City. You can reach Ms. Crown 24/7 through the form online or by calling 845-708-5900 to arrange a conference.