Tacoma Dental Malpractice Attorneys Litigate Nerve Damage Cases
Seeking compensation for various injuries, including facial paralysis
When complications from dental procedures affect the nerves in the mouth, the results can be permanent and severely debilitating. Sensation, mobility, communication and even the ability to understand language can suffer irreparably. The injury attorneys at Rush, Hannula, Harkins & Kyler, LLP can help you recover monetary compensation for your dental injuries. Since 1959, our firm has provided skilled litigation services for parties throughout Washington injured by medical and dental malpractice.
How can negligence during dental procedures cause nerve damage?
Nerve damage can occur when a dentist injects anesthesia directly into a nerve or in such close proximity that it puts undue pressure on the nerve. Dentists can carelessly inflict trauma on the nerve during tooth extractions, especially of the wisdom teeth, and during dental implant surgery. Also, a prolonged instrumental opening of the patient’s mouth can stretch the facial nerve, causing facial palsy.
When a patient presents symptoms of nerve damage, the treating dentist should immediately refer the patient to a specialist, since timely treatment of the injury yields the most positive outcomes. The failure to diagnose the damage and refer the patient to a specialist could be dental malpractice.
What symptoms of nerve damage are associated with dental malpractice?
Dental procedures most often affect these nerves:
- Lingual nerve — The lingual nerve controls several functions of the tongue. Damage to the nerve can result in a loss of sensation, diminished sense of taste, and the loss of motor skills necessary for speech. In some cases, the patient not only suffers from slurred speech, but also develops aphasia, the inability to comprehend language, which is often associated with brain damage.
- Inferior alveolar nerve — Damage to this nerve can cause facial paralysis, revealed by a visible drooping of one side of the face, loss of sensation in the affected area, and fasciculation (twitching).
Rush, Hannula, Harkins & Kyler, LLP attorneys work closely with qualified neurological experts to rule out alternative causes, such as Bell’s palsy, Ramsay-Hunt syndrome, Lyme disease, Guillain-Barré syndrome, and sarcoidosis. We do everything possible to establish the true cause of your injury to build your best case for recovery.
Let Tacoma dental malpractice lawyers help you with your injuries in Washington
Nerve damage from dental malpractice can permanently alter your appearance. It can also deprive you of vital functions, diminishing your quality of life. To schedule a free consultation with a seasoned dental malpractice attorney, call Rush, Hannula, Harkins & Kyler, LLP today at 253-383-5388 or contact our firm online.
