Dental Malpractice Attorneys Fighting for Victims of Inferior Alveolar Nerve Injuries

Inferior Alveolar Nerve – What is it?

Inferior Alveolar Nerve Injury represents one of the categories of dental injuries that often result in a dental malpractice claim. The Inferior Alveolar nerve, also called the IAN, is the branch of the trigeminal nerve most commonly injured in the course of dental work. It is a branch of the fifth cranial nerve and provides sensation to the face and mouth. This includes sensation in the chin, lips, gum tissue and lower teeth.

Symptoms of Inferior Alveolar Nerve Injury

When the Inferior Alveolar Nerve is injured by the actions of dental professionals, symptoms commonly include pain, numbness and abnormal sensations in the chin, lower teeth, lower jaw, lower lips, and sometimes other areas. Numbness and other symptoms after dental procedures can resolve on their own, but sometimes the symptoms do not resolve with time and the injury is permanent.

Damage to the branches of the IAN can disturb the sensation of touch as well as temperature. Common symptoms are often described as tingling, tightness, pricking, shooting, dullness, numbness, burning, or even itching. This kind of injury can interfere with normal speech and eating, causing difficulties with chewing, a sensation of drooling or actual drooling (that may be difficult to recognize due to numbness), and difficulty in movement of the jaw.

Because of these kinds of symptoms, IAN injuries can greatly impact activities of daily living.

What Causes IAN Injuries?

The inferior alveolar nerve runs through a channel within the lower jaw (the inferior alveolar canal), which is sometimes quite close to the roots of the lower teeth. Because of the position of the IAN, it is at increased risk for injury during or after invasive dental procedures and dentists must take care to avoid injuring it. Injuries to the IAN during dental procedures may occur by stretching or crushing of the nerve during the procedure, or by post-operative swelling or pressure exerted by a hematoma or other soft-tissue changes.

Inferior alveolar nerve injuries which might be the basis for a malpractice lawsuit can occur during these procedures:

• Tooth extraction,
• dental implant placements,
• orthognathic surgery,
• injections, and
• endodontic therapy.

Why Do I Need an Attorney Experienced in Nerve Injury Cases?

Our legal team regularly handles dental malpractice cases and brings extensive experience with both the particularities of Inferior Alveolar nerve and other dental injuries and the unique laws and requirements that relate to malpractice cases. We are well versed in both researching and presenting the evidence of dental malpractice and the legal aspects of proving it.

Wallace Wason, PLLC represents patients who have suffered permanent injuries to their Inferior Alveolar nerve as a result of negligence by a dentist, periodontist, oral surgeon or other dental professional. We have a history of bringing negligent professionals to account for their wrongful actions.

Contact us right away to schedule a free legal consultation and get the assistance you need to protect your rights and receive the maximum compensation and justice that you deserve.