Dental Anesthesia Injection Injuries
Most people have had dental work that requires local anesthesia through injection. These injections numb the area to prevent pain during procedures, lasting a few hours. While most dentists are extremely careful and precise when performing anesthesia injections, there are those that become distracted or careless. When this occurs, it is possible for the patient to sustain an injury from the injection with long-term damage to the nerves and tissues in the mouth.
The most common injury caused by anesthesia injection is nerve damage. There are two main types of anesthesia injections: mandibular block (lower jaw) and maxillary block (upper jaw). While injury can occur with either injection type, there have been many more reported injuries from mandibular blocks for numbing the lower jaw. This is primarily due to the location of the large lingual nerve that sends nerve signals to the tongue. It is close to the surface and near where the injections are usually placed. Another obstacle on the lower jaw is the inferior alveolar nerve, which supplies the lip and chin.
Symptoms of Dental Injection Injury
When an anesthetic injection is performed incorrectly, it can cause pain, discomfort and even lasting damage to the nerves and tissues in the mouth. Some of the possible symptoms related to dental injection injuries can include:
- Intermittent pain in the tongue or tissues in the mouth
- Numbness and tingling in the tongue, lip or chin
- Loss of all feeling in tissues in the mouth
- Change or loss of taste
Some nerve and tissue damage can heal in a few weeks. Other times the nerve damage can last much longer or never heal at all.
If you are concerned that you or a family member has an injury caused by an anesthetic injection, contact our team at Moriarty Injury Lawyer today. We can discuss your case and look at the options available to pursue compensation for your injury.