Dental Nerve Damage Claims – How Much Compensation Can You Claim?

For many people, a visit to the dentist is never going to be fun. While the fear of dental treatment is often unfounded, there are occasions when mistakes are made that can cause all sorts of problems. Importantly, if a negligent dentist causes nerve damage, you may be eligible to make a dental nerve damage claim for compensation.

If a claim for dental negligence is something you want to pursue, our team can help. Initially, we provide a free claims review service. We’ll discuss what happened, how your treatment went wrong, and how you’ve suffered. Then you’ll be given free advice about making a claim.

If we believe that your claim has the chance of being won, we could refer you to a medical negligence solicitor. They are proud to offer a No Win No Fee service which means you won’t need to pay anything unless you are awarded compensation.

We’re here to help right away if you’d like to start a dental nerve damage compensation claim now. Please get in touch when you’re ready to begin by calling us on 0800 6524 881. Alternatively, carry on reading to learn more about claiming compensation for nerve damage caused by a negligent dentist.

Am I Eligible To Claim Dental Nerve Damage Compensation?

While a medical negligence solicitor on our team would like to help as many dental nerve damage claimants as possible, not all cases can be accepted. This is because they provide a No Win No Fee service which means they only get paid if the claim is successful. Therefore, before accepting a claim, they will assess whether:

• Your dentist failed to provide an acceptable standard of care; and
• As a direct result of this failure, you suffered nerve damage.

If both of these conditions are met and can be proven, it’s likely you’d be eligible to proceed with a compensation claim.

Common Causes Of Dental Nerve Damage Claims

Dental nerve damage can result from various forms of negligence by dentists. Below, we outline four common types of negligence that can lead to nerve injury. However, it’s important to remember that you can only claim dental negligence if it has caused you to suffer in some way.

• Dental misdiagnosis. Failure to properly assess symptoms can lead to untreated infections, resulting in nerve damage.
• Careless dental treatment. Incorrect procedures, such as drilling too deep during a root canal, may damage the nerves.
• Surgical errors. Dental surgeries, like wisdom tooth extractions, can cause nerve damage if proper care isn’t taken.
• Inadequate aftercare. Failure to provide proper post-treatment care can lead to infections or complications that may cause nerve damage.

If you believe you’ve suffered nerve damage because of dental negligence, please call our team for free claims advice.

Common Symptoms Of Dental Nerve Damage

Dental nerve damage can lead to various symptoms that affect different areas of your face and mouth. Some of the common symptoms include:

• Loss of feeling (numbness) in areas like the face, jaw, tongue, gums, or cheeks. This is known as anaesthesia.
• A pulling sensation or tingling sensation which is referred to as paraesthesia.
• Loss of taste, which can affect your enjoyment of food and drink.
• Burning sensations or pain, medically known as dysesthesia.
• Difficulty chewing or swallowing.
• Difficulty speaking which can your ability to communicate clearly.

The duration of these symptoms can vary depending on the severity of the dental nerve damage. In mild cases, they might disappear within a few hours after the procedure. However, in more severe cases, the damage could be permanent, resulting in life-altering consequences.

Regardless of how long your symptoms last, if they were avoidable and the result of negligent dental treatment, you could be entitled to claim compensation.

What Types Of Dental Procedures Could Result In Nerve Damage?

It’s important to point out that nerve damage can sometimes be an inherent risk of certain dental procedures. Therefore, if it’s unavoidable, a compensation claim is unlikely. However, our team of solicitors will work with medical experts to determine whether dental nerve damage was preventable if they take on your case.

Some common dental treatments that could result in nerve damage include:

• Tooth extractions. While some extractions, like those involving wisdom teeth, will have an inherent risk of nerve damage, it is vital that those risks are discussed prior to treatment. Furthermore, your dentist should have used a scan to assess how close any nerves were to the tooth so that the risks could be better assessed.
• Root canal procedures. This is an invasive procedure designed to save badly decayed teeth. It involves the removal of some of the tooth and then sealing it after it has been cleaned. Nerve damage can sometimes occur when the irrigant used to clean the tooth is injected (negligently) into the jaw and damages other nerves such as the inferior alveolar nerve and lingual nerve.
• Implant procedures. There are a couple of ways that an implant could result in dental nerve damage. In the first instance, the practitioner could drill too deeply into the jaw and damage nerves. In the second, where the implant is too long, it can apply pressure to the nerves.

No matter the type of negligence, we can help with a dental nerve damage compensation claim. Call us today, and we’ll review your options for free.

How Much Compensation For Dental Nerve Damage Could I Claim?

Unfortunately, it’s simply not possible to advise how much compensation you could claim for dental nerve damage without knowing what you’ve actually gone through and how you’ve suffered. When starting a dental nerve damage compensation claim, your solicitor will need to understand how you have suffered so they can then begin to compile your claim based on two different elements:

• General damages. Here you can claim for any pain or suffering caused by physical or psychological injuries. Additionally, loss of amenity compensation might be claimed if your injuries prevent you from doing something you previously enjoyed (even temporarily).
• Special damages. If your injuries have led to expenses, losses or costs, they might be claimed back. For example, you could request that the defendant pays for private remedial treatment. You may also be able to claim back any lost income or travel costs.

To help evaluate the extent of your injuries, you will need a medical assessment as part of any dental negligence claim. Our solicitors are usually able to book these locally so you won’t need to travel too far.

Evidence To Support A Dental Nerve Damage Claim

To strengthen your dental nerve damage compensation claim, it is important to provide solid evidence that shows both the injury itself and that it resulted from dental negligence. Below are some various types of evidence that can help support your claim:

• Dental records. Your dental records will provide a detailed account of the treatments you received and any symptoms or complaints you had during the procedure. These records can help show whether the dentist followed appropriate procedures or missed important steps.
• Medical reports. If you’ve seen a doctor or specialist such as a neurologist following the dental nerve damage, their medical reports will also be important. They’ll typically describe the extent of your injury, the prognosis for recovery, and how it has affected your life.
• Witness statements. If any staff or family members witnessed the procedure, their statements may help corroborate your account of events. Witnesses can provide a neutral perspective on what happened during your dental treatment.
• Photographs and visual evidence. In some cases, photos or x-rays of your dental work before and after the procedure can demonstrate the extent of damage or show improper treatment.
• Communication records. Any correspondence between you and your dental practice, such as emails or letters, can be useful as evidence. This includes discussions of symptoms, complaints after the treatment, or any written advice your dentist provided.
• Pain and symptom diary. Keeping a detailed record of your symptoms, pain levels, and how the nerve damage has affected your daily life can support your claim for general damages (pain and suffering). This diary can help provide insight into the ongoing impact of the dental nerve injury.
• Invoices and financial documents. For claiming special damages (financial losses), you should gather invoices, receipts, or proof of any costs you’ve incurred due to the dental nerve damage. This can include additional dental treatment, prescription costs, travel expenses, or any lost income from being unable to work.

If you’d like a solicitor to look through your evidence of dental nerve damage and advise you on your options, please contact us today.

Time Limits For Claiming Dental Nerve Damage Compensation

You’ll usually need to start a dental nerve damage claim within 3-years from:

• The date you sustained your injury following dental negligence; or
• A later date of knowledge if you did not immediately know that your nerve damage was serious and related to the negligence.

One exception to the 3-year rule is injury claims for children. Therefore, if your child has suffered dental nerve damage and you’d like to claim on their behalf, you can start the claims process at any point before their 18^th birthday. If you don’t, and they wish to claim themselves, the 3-year limitation period begins on their 18^th birthday.

If you have any questions or would like to find out how long you have to make your claim, please call today.

Do I Need A Solicitor To File A Dental Nerve Damage Compensation Claim?

As we have mentioned, to win a compensation claim based on dental negligence, you’ll need to prove that the dentist caused avoidable injuries. That’s not the easiest thing in the world to do. If you’re unable to clearly show that their actions led to your suffering, you could lose out on any settlement you might be entitled to.

In our opinion, the chances of being compensated improve if you use a specialist solicitor who understands how the claims process works. Our team of No Win No Fee solicitors have been supporting clients for many years. They know what evidence is needed, and what’s not, to make a successful claim.

If your case is taken on, you can rest assured that your solicitor will do all they can to achieve the highest compensation payout possible to cover your suffering.

Starting The Dental Nerve Damage Claims Process

If you’d like to enquire about the dental nerve damage claims process and your chances of being paid compensation, please call us today on 0800 6524 881. If you haven’t got time to call us now, you can request a callback by filling in one of our forms on this page. Alternatively, you can contact our claims advisors via our live chat.

Remember, you’ll only have to pay for your solicitor’s work if they win your dental nerve damage compensation claim for you because of our No Win No Fee service.