Florida Lingual Nerve Injury Lawyer
Over 35 Years Experience

Florida Lingual & Inferior Alveolar Nerve Damage Lawyer

Holding Negligent Dentists Accountable for Nerve Injuries Causing Numbness, Pain, and Altered Sensation.

  • Specializing in Dental Malpractice
  • Millions Recovered for Accident Victims
  • No Fee Unless We Win
Schedule Your Free Nerve Injury Consultation

Over 35 Years of Experience Fighting for Victims of Dental Malpractice

Experiencing numbness, pain, or altered sensation in your tongue, lip, or chin after a dental procedure? You may be suffering from damage to the lingual nerve or the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) – serious complications that can arise from dental negligence. These injuries can profoundly impact your ability to speak, eat, taste, and enjoy daily life.

At Lisa S. Levine P.A., we understand the physical, emotional, and financial toll these injuries take. With over 35 years of dedicated experience representing victims of medical and dental malpractice across Florida, Lisa Levine possesses the specific expertise required to navigate these complex cases. We believe negligent dental professionals must be held accountable, and we fight tirelessly to secure the maximum compensation our clients deserve.

On This Page

Understanding Lingual & Inferior Alveolar Nerves

Your mouth and jaw contain a complex network of nerves. Two nerves frequently injured during dental procedures are:

  • The Lingual Nerve: Provides sensation (touch, temperature, pain) and taste to the front two-thirds of your tongue. It runs along the inside of the jawbone, close to wisdom teeth and the floor of the mouth. Essential for speaking, tasting, and detecting textures.
  • The Inferior Alveolar Nerve (IAN): Runs through a canal within the lower jawbone, providing sensation to lower teeth, lower lip, and chin. Vital for feeling stimuli in these areas and contributes to lip control for speech and eating.

Damage to either nerve during dental treatment can lead to significant, sometimes permanent, complications.

How Dental Procedures Cause Nerve Damage

While dentists strive for precision, certain procedures risk damaging the lingual or inferior alveolar nerves due to their proximity. Negligence or errors significantly increase this risk. Common causes include:

  • Wisdom Tooth Extraction (Third Molars): High risk for lower impacted teeth near the LNI (tongue-side) or IAN (below roots). Damage can result from instruments, drilling, improper sectioning, or failure to assess nerve proximity via imaging.
  • Local Anesthetic Injections: Improper technique during mandibular blocks (injecting into the nerve, using wrong solutions, causing hematomas) can damage the LNI or IAN.
  • Dental Implant Placement: Drilling too deep, misjudging location without proper imaging (X-rays/CT scans), or placing the implant directly onto the IAN can cause injury.
  • Jaw Surgeries & Other Procedures: Corrective jaw surgery, cyst removal, or fracture repairs require meticulous care to avoid nerve impact.
  • Infection/Inflammation: Failure to treat dental infections can allow inflammation to compress or damage nerves.
  • Root Canal Procedures (Lower Molars): Instruments extending beyond the root tip or overfilling canals with material can damage the nearby IAN.

Demonstrating that nerve damage resulted from a deviation from the accepted standard of dental care is key to a successful malpractice claim.

Signs & Symptoms of Lingual and IAN Injuries

Symptoms vary based on the nerve damaged and injury severity. Watch for these signs after a dental procedure:

Common Lingual Nerve Injury (LNI) Symptoms:

  • Numbness, tingling (paresthesia), or altered sensation on the tongue (affected side).
  • Loss or altered taste (dysgeusia) – metallic, bitter, etc.
  • Difficulty speaking clearly (dysarthria).
  • Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia) or controlling food.
  • Pain, burning, or electric shocks in the tongue (neuropathic pain).
  • Accidentally biting the tongue.

Common Inferior Alveolar Nerve (IAN) Injury Symptoms:

  • Numbness, tingling, or altered sensation in the lower lip, chin, or gums (affected side).
  • Loss of feeling in lower teeth (affected side).
  • Pain, burning, or discomfort in the lower jaw, lip, or chin.
  • Difficulty speaking or eating due to lack of lip sensation/control.
  • Drooling or difficulty containing food/liquid.

Symptoms might appear immediately or develop later. Persistent symptoms beyond a few weeks often indicate significant damage requiring investigation.

Consequences of Dental Nerve Damage

Beyond the direct physical symptoms, lingual and IAN damage can have profound effects:

  • Physical Impact: Chronic pain, permanent numbness, altered taste, difficulty eating certain foods, challenges with speech clarity and swallowing.
  • Emotional & Psychological Impact: Frustration, sadness, anxiety, depression related to chronic symptoms and lifestyle changes. Loss of self-confidence in social interactions.
  • Daily Life Adjustments: Simple tasks like eating, speaking, smiling, or kissing can become difficult or distressing.
Inferior Alveolar Nerve Injury Lawyer FL

Diagnosing Nerve Injuries

Diagnosis involves a thorough evaluation:

  • Review of medical/dental history and symptoms discussion.
  • Physical examination of mouth, tongue, lip, chin for numbness, tingling, weakness.
  • Imaging (X-rays, MRI, CT scans) may be used to assess surrounding structures or rule out other causes.
  • Specialized tests (e.g., electrical nerve stimulation, thermal testing) may evaluate nerve function.

Treatment Options for Dental Nerve Injuries

Treatment depends on severity:

  • Conservative Management (Mild Cases): Observation (nerve may heal), pain/inflammation medications, potentially physical therapy.
  • Lifestyle Modifications: Avoiding irritants (hot/spicy food, smoking), good oral hygiene.
  • Surgical Intervention (Severe Cases): Microsurgical nerve repair or grafting may be attempted to restore function, especially if the nerve is severed. Success varies and is often time-sensitive.

Healing & Recovery Time for Dental Nerve Damage

Healing time is highly variable:

  • Minor Bruising/Irritation: May resolve in days to weeks.
  • Moderate Damage (Crushed/Stretched): Can take months to a year, potentially with incomplete sensory recovery.
  • Severe Damage (Severed): May not regenerate properly without surgery. Even with surgery, permanent deficits (numbness, pain, altered sensation) are possible.

Improving Recovery: Follow specialist advice, manage pain, maintain oral hygiene, and seek emotional support. Unfortunately, some injuries result in permanent damage.

Proving Dental Malpractice for Nerve Injuries in Florida

Suffering nerve damage doesn’t automatically mean malpractice. We must prove the dentist deviated from the accepted standard of care, and this negligence directly caused your LNI or IAN injury and damages. As your dental malpractice attorney, Lisa Levine builds a compelling case by:

  • Thorough Investigation: Gathering all dental records, imaging, treatment plans.
  • Establishing Causation: Linking the negligent act (e.g., improper technique, failure to use imaging) directly to the nerve damage.
  • Aggressive Negotiation & Litigation Preparedness: Fighting for a fair settlement but ready to take your case to trial if necessary.
  • Expert Consultation: Collaborating with qualified dental specialists, neurologists, and oral surgeons to establish the standard of care and how it was breached.
  • Documenting Damages: Calculating all losses: medical/dental expenses, lost wages, pain/suffering, loss of enjoyment of life.

Proven Results in Dental & Medical Malpractice

$350,000

jean hanna
v. justin a. martone, D.M.D. & apple tree dental care

After receiving a 3-tooth bridge from Dr. Martone/Apple Tree Dental, Jean Hanna lost two foundation teeth and needed 3 implants. This resulted from alleged negligent preparation and placement, including failure to remove decay before cementing the bridge.

$225,000

john doe
v. dentist

John Doe went into doctor’s office for a root canal. The dentist failed to use a dam near the effected root so the liquid used to kill the root (hydrochloric acid) leaked out and destroyed gum and bone.

See More Case Results

Disclaimer: Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Every case is unique.

Why Choose Lisa Levine for Your Nerve Damage Case?

  • Focused Experience: Over 35 years concentrated on complex medical and dental malpractice litigation in Florida, including nerve injury cases.
  • Proven Track Record: Successfully recovered millions for injured clients. (See Results)
  • Expert Network: Access to leading dental and medical experts crucial for proving negligence.
  • Client-Centered Approach: Personal attention, clear communication, compassionate guidance from Lisa Levine directly. (Testimonials)
  • Contingency Fee Basis: No upfront fees. We invest our resources because we believe in your case. (Learn More)
  • Tenacious Advocacy: Prepared to fight large insurance companies for the maximum compensation you deserve.
Dental Malpractice Nerve Injury Attorney

Frequently Asked Questions About Dental Nerve Damage Claims

It requires proving a deviation from the standard of care caused your injury. Persistent numbness, pain, or loss of function after a procedure warrants investigation by an experienced attorney and dental experts.

Generally, Florida’s statute of limitations for dental malpractice is two years from discovery, but no more than four years from the incident (with limited exceptions). Consult an attorney ASAP as deadlines are strict.

Case value depends on injury severity/permanence, treatment costs, lost income, impact on quality of life, pain/suffering, and strength of negligence evidence. We evaluate all damages.

We work on a contingency fee basis. No fees unless we recover compensation. The initial consultation is free.

Timelines vary significantly (months to years) based on case complexity, negotiation, and if litigation is needed.

Get Help Fighting Your Dental Nerve Damage Lawsuit

If you or a loved one suffered lingual nerve or inferior alveolar nerve damage due to a dentist’s mistake in Fort Lauderdale, Weston, or anywhere in South Florida, don’t wait. Protect your rights and explore your legal options. Lisa S. Levine P.A. offers the experience, dedication, and resources needed to pursue justice and fair compensation.

Schedule Your Free Nerve Injury Consultation