Many dental procedures, whether routine dental procedures or surgical dental procedures, involve an injection of anesthetic. This is the part of the dental procedure that many of us fear the most because we have all felt the stinging pain of a needle in our gums and surrounding areas. We see the dentist closing in with a needle, and we wince, anticipating the excruciating injection and the stabbing pain in our gums. One of the worst possible scenarios is to experience severe and permanent nerve damage after a dental injection.
The medical malpractice laws in Florida give doctors a massive advantage and make it very difficult for injured patients to pursue an injury claim. For this reason, you should seek help from a dental malpractice lawyer to make sure your legal rights are protected.
It’s also important to be aware of the statute of limitations to file your case. In Florida, you’re required to begin your lawsuit within two (2) years of discovering the injury or within four years of when the malpractice occurred at the latest, depending on when you knew or should have known you had suffered an actionable injury.
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Symptoms of Nerve Damage after Dental Injection
Nerve damage can show itself in many different ways. Some of the signs of nerve damage after receiving a dental injection may include some of the symptoms below.
- A lack of sensation in the area of the dental injection lasting more than a day
- Numbness in the tongue, gums, cheeks, jaw or on the face
- Tingling sensation in tongue, gums, cheeks, jaw, or face
- Burning or crawling sensation in these areas
- Loss of taste or alteration of taste
- Difficulties speaking
- Difficulties eating
- Consistent biting of the cheeks or tongue
The symptoms above may drastically interfere with a person’s social interactions. Consequently, people suffering from nerve damage after a dental injection often report significant reductions in their quality of life. Moreover, they often have serious psychological problems associated with their nerve damage and the problems it causes in their social lives.
If you have experienced nerve damage after a dental injection, it is very important that you recognize the symptoms of nerve damage so you can get treated as soon as possible. In some instances, nerve damage can be reversed if treated quickly. However, if left untreated for a long enough time, iatrogenic nerve damage (nerve damage caused by the dentist) can become permanent and irreversible.
Trigeminal Nerve Damage After Dental Injection
The trigeminal nerve includes the lingual nerve and the inferior alveolar nerve. Injuries to the inferior alveolar nerve and the lingual nerve can be caused by injections of local anesthetic, and they can be severe and debilitating. Studies show that the estimated occurrence is somewhere between 1 in 26,762 and 1 in 800,000. See T. Renton et al., Trigeminal Nerve Injuries in Relation to the Local Anaesthesia in Mandibular Injections, 209 British Dental Journal, 1 (2010).
Damage to the lingual nerve or inferior alveolar nerve can occur in several ways. Sometimes, the nerve injury will occur because of a physical injury from the needle. Other times, nerve damage may result from chemical damage from the anesthetic solution. Either cause could result in a viable dental malpractice claim in Florida.
Lingual Nerve Injury from Anesthetic Injections
Most nerve injuries that occur as a result of dental injections involve damage to the lingual nerve. The lingual nerve is vulnerable to damage from dental injections because the lingual nerve is situated along the bottom of the mouth near the tongue. In fact, lingual comes from the Latin word, “Lingua,” which means “tongue” or “that which is produced with the tongue.” Thus, when dentists perform procedures on lower teeth, the lingual nerve is often in harm’s ways, especially when the back molars are involved.
Lingual nerve injuries caused by a dental injection may be described as “lingual nerve paresthesia” or “lingual nerve dysesthesia.” Lingual nerve dysesthesia would typically describe an abnormal sensation that becomes intense or painful. In contrast, lingual nerve paresthesia typically corresponds to altered sensations, which may include feelings like tingling, crawling, pins and needles, or numbness. The difference is that lingual nerve paresthesia typically describes sensations that are painless and temporary, whereas lingual nerve dysesthesia typically describes sensations that are painful.
The lingual nerve supplies feeling to the floor of the mouth and to two-thirds of the tongue, and it is involved with taste fibers and salivary glands. The lingual nerve is extremely important to providing sensory feedback in the tongue. Therefore, when a dentist causes permanent injury to a patient’s lingual nerve, the effects can be devastating and life-altering.
Living With Lingual Nerve Damage
Lingual nerve injuries can drastically affect a person’s ability to speak and taste, and thus this type of damage can seriously impact a person’s daily life. For example, if a person’s speaking is altered, then any social interaction is impacted by lingual nerve damage. In the same way, we all appreciate our meals. Therefore, if a person’s taste is permanently altered, this affects that person every time he or she eats a meal.
Dental Injection Sites
The location of a dental injection site is depending on the location of the tooth to be treated and the precise treatment to be administered. Regardless of the specific procedure or location of the tooth, a dentist will typically administer the local anesthetic in proximity to the nerves that belong to the tooth that the dentist plans to operate on.
Each person will have unique teeth and unique nerves, each with their own unique anatomy. Thus, there is no set injection site. Accordingly, a dentist should take special care to know where he or she is injecting anesthetic in order to avoid unnecessary nerve damage, just as a surgeon should be certain of what he or she is cutting before he or she makes a cut.
Mistakes can often be avoided by slowing down. Being in a hurry to get to the next patient is no excuse for causing a patient permanent nerve damage by blindly stabbing a patient’s nerve or damaging a patient’s nerve with an injection of anesthetic. Unfortunately, restrictions on a dentist’s time and schedule can cause the dentist to make unacceptable mistakes.
Dentist Responsibilities After Causing Dental Injection Damage
There are many examples of Administrative Complaints involving nerve damage. These Administrative Complaints are issued when a patient complains to the State Board of Dentistry of dental malpractice after being injured as a result of dental malpractice. In Florida, aggrieved or injured patients file the Complaint with the Florida Department of Health. Past disciplinary actions can be found at the Florida Department of Heath's website, and these discplinary actions provide valuable insight into how and why a dentist may be disciplined for breaching the standard of care.
Relevant language from Administrative Complaints in Florida regarding nerve damage after dental injections is below:
“Upon a report of paresthesia, the minimum standards of diagnosis and treatment in [the] practice of dentistry requires that dentists perform an examination which includes mapping and identification of specific areas of decreased sensation.”
“The minimum standards of diagnosis and treatment in practice of dentistry requires that dentists be aware of the current standard protocols with regard to paresthesia secondary to injections which may require a referral to the proper dental or medical specialist for additional evaluation and management.”
“The minimum standards of performance require a practitioner to ensure a timely, thorough neurologic evaluation is conducted and to document baseline data post injury, either by the practitioner themselves or by referring to another practitioner.”
“The minimum standards of diagnosis and treatment in the practice of dentistry requires a dentist to adequately diagnose and manage surgical complication(s).”
“Management of post-operative complication(s) such as nerve injury includes providing the patient with a timely referral to a specialist or otherwise providing appropriate treatment for the complication.”
“To adequately diagnose and facilitate treatment for a postoperative nerve injury, a dentist must properly evaluate and document the type and extent of the injury. To perform a proper evaluation of the injury, a dentist must test the differences in various types of sensations (e.g., light touch, pressure, sharp sensation, temperature, two-point discrimination test). If paresthesia is indicated, the dentist should reevaluate the patient’s progress approximately every two to three weeks. If a patient with lingual nerve paresthesia does not show signs of progress within approximately four to six weeks following the onset of the injury, then the dentist should refer the patient to a specialist such as a neurosurgeon for possible surgical intervention.”
To summarize some of the language above, there are several ways a dentist may breach the standard of care in the field of dentistry regarding nerve damage after dental injections. The breach of the standard of care may include the following.
- Failure to examine or identify specific areas of decreased sensation;
- Failure to refer patient to a dental or medical specialist;
- Failure to timely perform an appropriate neurologic evaluation of patient;
- Failure to timely evaluate and/or diagnose patient’s post-operative complication(s); and
- Failure to timely refer patient to a specialist or otherwise provide adequate treatment for the post-operative complication.
The language above regarding past Administrative Complaints for dental malpractice in Florida is by no means comprehensive, and there are many ways a dentist can breach the standard of care. These breaches of the standard of care are from the most recent Complaints, and they are specific to nerve damage after a dental injection. Therefore, these Administrative Complaints and the language therein are relevant to only a small fraction of the total number of dental malpractice occurrences in Florida each year.
Other Types of Injuries After Dental Injection
Although we have discussed mostly nerve damage in this article, studies have shown that there are many other possible injuries associated with dental injections, including but not limited to the injuries listed below.
- Ocular and neurological adverse effects
- Allergic reactions
- Hematomas
- Needle breakage
- Tissue necrosis
- Blanching
- Jaw ankylosis
- Osteomyelitis
- Isolated atrial fibrillation
Some of the above injuries could cause permanent disability or death. Thus, nerve damage after a dental injection is not the only reason for filing a dental malpractice claim after a dental injection. Depending on what type of damage you suffered after a dental injection and whether the dentist breached the standard of care, you may have a viable dental malpractice claim, regardless of whether you suffered nerve damage.
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Nerve Damage After Dental Injection FAQs
How long does nerve damage from an injection last?
Nerve damage from a dental injection can last a few weeks to several months, depending on the severity. Minor dental nerve injuries involving temporary irritation usually resolve within 4–8 weeks. However, more serious trigeminal nerve injuries—especially those affecting the inferior alveolar nerve or lingual nerve—may take 6–12 months to heal.
If the nerve was severely traumatized during an anesthetic injection, the numbness, tingling, burning, or electric-shock sensations may become permanent.
Nerve injuries from injections are more common during procedures such as:
- root canal treatment
- wisdom teeth removal
- dental implant placement
- complex fillings or cosmetic work
- procedures performed by an oral surgeon or in oral and maxillofacial surgery settings
If symptoms like numbness, nerve pain, or altered sensation persist beyond a few weeks, an evaluation from an oral surgeon or nerve injury specialist is recommended. Persistent symptoms may indicate a compensable injury in a dental malpractice case.
What Evidence Is Needed to Prove Nerve Damage From a Dental Injection?
To prove nerve damage from a dental injection in a dental malpractice case, you’ll need strong documentation showing both the injury and the dentist’s negligence. Useful evidence includes:
1. Dental Records and Procedure Notes
Show what type of injection was used, where it was administered, and whether complications were documented.
2. Imaging (X-rays or CBCT scans)
Helps identify anatomical concerns that should have been considered—especially in patients at higher risk for inferior alveolar nerve injuries or other trigeminal nerve injuries.
3. Medical and Specialist Evaluations
Reports from an oral surgeon or oral and maxillofacial surgery specialist can confirm the extent of the injury and whether the injection was improperly placed.
4. Symptom Documentation
Detailed records of numbness, nerve pain, burning, tingling, or altered sensation help demonstrate functional impairment.
5. Expert Testimony
Florida law typically requires an expert to establish that the dentist breached the standard of care.
6. Financial Records
Show damages such as follow-up appointments, medications, nerve rehabilitation, or lost income.
Together, this evidence helps prove the connection between the injection and the resulting dental nerve injury.
How Long Do I Have to File a Dental Malpractice Claim for Injection-Related Nerve Damage in Florida?
In Florida, dental malpractice cases—including nerve injuries caused by injections—must be filed within strict deadlines.
Under Florida Statutes §95.11(4)(b), you generally have:
- 2 years from the date of the malpractice, or
- 2 years from when you discovered (or should have discovered) the nerve injury
This discovery rule is important because the numbness or nerve pain may not appear immediately after the injection.
What Compensation Can I Recover for Dental Injection Nerve Injury?
You may be entitled to compensation if a dental injection caused long-term dental nerve injuries, including inferior alveolar nerve damage or other trigeminal nerve injuries. Recoverable damages may include:
Economic Damages
- Medical and corrective care
- Specialist evaluations by an oral surgeon
- Imaging (CBCT, MRI)
- Physical therapy or nerve rehabilitation
- Medications for nerve pain
- Future medical care
- Lost wages or reduced earning ability
Non-Economic Damages
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of taste or altered sensation
- Permanent numbness or tingling
- Emotional distress
- Reduced quality of life
- Difficulty speaking or chewing
Severe, permanent injuries—such as those arising from dental implant complications, root canal missteps, or wisdom teeth procedures—often lead to greater compensation.
Does a Signed Consent Form Protect the Dentist if I Wasn’t Warned About Nerve Damage Risk?
No. A signed consent form does not automatically protect the dentist if you were not fully informed of the risk of dental nerve injuries.
Florida’s informed consent laws require the dentist to explain:
- Material risks of the injection
- Alternatives to the treatment
- Known risks of trigeminal nerve injuries
- Whether your anatomy increases the danger of nerve trauma
If the dentist failed to warn you that injections could cause nerve pain, permanent numbness, or sensory loss, you may still have a claim—even if you signed the form.
A consent form cannot shield a dentist from:
- Negligent technique
- Improper needle placement
- Failing to review imaging before oral and maxillofacial surgery
- Causing avoidable nerve trauma during a root canal, dental implant procedure, or wisdom teeth treatment
Informed consent must be meaningful—not just paperwork.
Can I Pursue a Claim if My Injury Appeared Weeks After the Dental Injection?
Yes. You can still pursue a claim if your nerve injury symptoms—such as numbness, burning, nerve pain, or loss of sensation—appeared weeks after the dental injection.
Many trigeminal nerve injuries, especially inferior alveolar nerve injuries, don’t produce immediate symptoms. Delayed onset can occur due to:
- Swelling or inflammation around the nerve
- Gradual development of neuropathy
- Chemical irritation from anesthetic agents
- Progressive damage after dental implant, wisdom teeth, or root canal procedures involving injections
Under Florida’s discovery rule, the statute of limitations may begin when you first noticed the symptoms, not necessarily on the date of the injection.
If your symptoms arose later—but within the statutory deadlines—you may still have a valid dental malpractice claim.