There are some stats available at the American Dental Association and or Maxillofacial Oral Surgeons Assoc. Ross, the moderator of this page will get the names right for you.They tally the number of reported injuries. You may contact Ross directly at the bottom of the conference page. If you are who you say you are, I know that Ross will be more than willing to share his research and experience in this area which is considerable. He is in the medical profession (undisclosed) and has suffered this same injury (lingual). There are interesting links on the home page which may guide you to other sites.

A point of interest and possible precedent is the opinion of the Board of Health in Great Britain has now or will in near future recommend the removal of wisdom teeth (that are not considered to be causing 'real' problems), that it is against public health. Poorly worded but I am in a hurry. This study is and will hopefully be a precedent for other countries. Their data is a good source I guess.
Talk to Ross. He would be more than willing to assist you, I'm sure.

My apology is sincere. Best of luck to you and any of your family who happens to think wisdom teeth are no big deal. That's what everybody thinks isn't it? Wisdom teeth. No big deal. Well, they are a big deal and this is a big story for whomever tackles it. Uncover this professional cover-up and you have a spot on 60 minutes or Dateline or wherever. Wouldn't you be shocked to find out how serious these injuries are especially if you have a teenage son or daughter and you're herding them off to the oral surgeon without a care except that dentist said so, only to come home PERMANENTLY DISABLED and in pain for the REST OF THEIR LIFE with little or no recourse AND NO COMPENSATION.
Please do your best. Get published. Good Luck.

CT

He numbed me up and as he was prying up the tooth I felt a "shock-like" sensation in my jaw that was extremely painful and he could see it on my face, but I signaled for him to continue and the tooth came out easily. Then subsequently I had to go back because of a dry socket, which he packed, but it was about one day later all my horrible symptoms started.

I had severe twitching in my face and excruciating pain, my paresthesias in all my extremities started, blurred vision, difficulty with speaking, slurred speech, panic attacks, facial numbness, and fatigue. I thought I had a stroke and was off work for 6 weeks.

Now after a year of ruling out multiple sclerosis, stroke, and other medical conditions, I have no diagnoses and currently my neurologist placed me on Neurontin 300 mg a day. All MRI's, CT scans, MRA's, and numerous neurological tests have all been negative but (nonetheless all my symptoms started after having this tooth pulled) which in retrospect I wish I had gone to an oral surgeon instead of my dentist. I am now left with paresthesias, extreme facial pain, headaches, neck pain, tremors, and visual problems because of this. I might have to find a new position in the medical field now because it is affecting my medical transcription position at this time.

i was just reading your message. I live in NY. In june had my lower wizdom pulled. I had a extraction done with that. I been all over to oral surgeons and oral maxxilfacial and all get is different answer. I feel all they are tryin to do is covering there ass up to advoided the consequences. They told me i have paresthesias. When i went to the maxxifacial he told me it sounds like i had a stroke or my brain is not fuctioning. They will tell u anything. Now i have no sensation on my whole jaw line or cheek. It is something that we have to stay with forever.

I too have nerve damage to my tongue. It has been this way for a year now. I was given the anesthetic septocaine. My dentist told me first the numbness would last a couple of weeks, then up to 3 months, then 6 months, then a year. Today he told me it could last up to 3 years. In the meantime there is nothing that can be done. Keep in touch with me and let me know if you get any answers on a law suit.

If you are interested in helping me with this issue, please call me (910) 892-8177.

My dentist had the courtesy of showing me at least several
text books which show that there is a risk each and every time
we receive an injection....most of the time the "parasthesia" will
resolve itself, but takes usually several months, sometimes years.

It is not negligent on the part of your Dentist if you received
numbness as a result of an injection.....the Dentist cannot see your
nerve and has not done anything negligent. It is however, considered
negligent if the Dentist or Surgeon failed to inform you of the
risk involved prior to extraction of teeth which can also cause
numbness......it is not, however, negligent on the part of the Dentist
is numbness results from a procedure.....it is an unfortunate
risk of many procedures, and is equivalent to the many risks
involved during medical surgical procedures etc.

My dentist had patients who suffered nerve damage before; one for as long as 15 months, but he did not say a word about any risk to me. If I had been informed, and free to decide, I do not think I would have chosen an injection. And I mean, not him having me laid back in the chair, and as he has the needle in his hand, telling me that there can be risks and numbness lasting longer than usual, .... I mean explaining the risks to me before it is decided by me that there will be an appointment.

I had searched for medications yesterday and found this, fwiw
http://tinyurl.com/3bnu

Jon

Eleine

The problem with this statement is that most Dentist never explain the risk beforhand. I am 47 years old and not one dentist I have been to has ever mentioned the possiblilty of hitting the nerve so how the hell would the patient know the nerve has been hit if the doctor didn't take the time to explain. I had no idea what the eclectrical jolt I felt in my tongue was. I told my doctor after he withdrew the needle. He still didn't say anything. I want to be informed about my care, medical, dental, vision. When I went in for surgery over a year ago, my surgeon went over the procedure in detail and explained all the risks and what to expect during recovery. It wasn't pleasant but at least I had the knowledge ahead of time of what to expect. Dentists need to start being more open with patients. I posted what happened to me on a dental BB a week ago. They all found it so amusing. One Dentist posted back the remark "Bullseye". Sorry, but my regard for the dental profession has taken a sharp turn for the worse.

You should file a MedWatch report with the FDA. If they get enough of them, they will investigate.

http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/report/consumer/consumer.htm

Ross

Often times unfortunately FDA despite incidence levels showing in Medwatch reports do not act in a timely fashion with many drug issues. Therefore aside from filing Medwatch initial reports and updated reports, it is also important that patients who sustain such injury write and call FDA to ask for further investigation. Often times it is through both patient and Physician calls and letters that prompts further review of the database of a particular medication.
Also you can obtain through an FOIA request * Freedom of Information Request at FDA a summarized copy of the post marketing reports that have come into their Medwatch database on the drug you received. This will enable you to see the number of cases reported and types of adverse events or injuries patients and their physicians have reported.

When a dental anesthetic is shown to have a higher incidence rate of nerve injury then others in its class, then FDA needs to insure full disclosure on product information, to issue letters to practioners, and patients should receive mandatory informed consent so that they can chose whether they are willing to take such a risk based on informed consent. Without the efforts of victims taking the time to make these efforts, many preventable injuries will continue to occur.

I just went to the dentist yesterday and recieved septicane and the lower left quadrant of my jaw has been numb for over 24 hours. I am 31 and was terrified when i went in today and my dentist said it could be 2 weeks, 2months, or indefinate numbness!!!!

That is the one big complaint that I have with some dentists, they seem to insist on local anesthetics without giving it a try without them.

If you have too much pain and/or make it difficult for the the dentist to do their work, they can always inject you then and continue. Why the rush??

You expressed your preference and were ignored. This should not happen.

Ross

Regarding informed consent, there is NO informed consent for malpractice, so a good attorney can beat this regardless. I have several such cases right now. It is easier to prove negligence if a lingual nerve is injured due to surgery, but I have even got some settlements with injectional injuries. Also, failure to refer properly and timely is malpractice.

It really ticks me off when people get injured and then the DDS or MD won't give them pain meds cause they "might get addicted".

If you have any information that can help me to find an experienced attorney please contact me ASAP! You can view my comments in the Lingual nerve damage from injection section. I am in San Jose, CA

Vincent
vdmays@yahoo.com

Regarding informed consent, there is NO informed consent for malpractice, so a good attorney can beat this regardless. I have several such cases right now. It is easier to prove negligence if a lingual nerve is injured due to surgery, but I have even got some settlements with injectional injuries. Also, failure to refer properly and timely is malpractice.

I sustained this injury during the start of a root canal.....

When you are saying "I have several such cases" are these your cases as an attorney? Would you be willing to speak to my attorney? I can be reached at objtpepe@swbell.net... HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you,

Nina

I sustained what I believe to be lingual nerve damage during an oral surgery procedure (performed by an oral/maxiofacial surgeon) on Thursday, 1-16-03. The right side (especially tip) of my tongue is still numb, fells 'hairy', burns when I brush it, can't sense hot or cold temps...etc.

I remember feeling that 'jolt' of pain when being injected the second time. When I jerked on the table, he said just relax Hun, you'll be ok. Continued to inject. I had no idea that he (I can only assume) hit the lingual nerve- or the effects!

He also performed a very forceful extraction. He drilled so hard and leaned into the drill that particles flew into my eyes. I had to shut them to keep the debris out. The assistant (standing on the other side) had to hold my jaw because he was pushing so hard that tensing my muscles to keep it in place wasn't enough to keep it from moving to the side as he pushed, pried, dirlled...etc. After the procedure, the assistant wiped blood from my face- eyebrows, forehead, cheeks, chin. The surgeon was spattered with blood on his mask and coat. I saw him changing it (coat) before he saw the next patient. Quite traumatic, but didn't realize it until a day or so after procedure.

Anyway, I see you are in Chicago. Wondering if you know of someone that you could refer me to? I don't even know where to go from here. I go back to him on 1-23 to have stitches removed. He said he would examine the tongue at that time. I'm afraid to even go back to have stitches taken out. When I talked to him on the phone post-op about the tongue being numb, he said the stitches are going to be tough to remove because it was a 'real hard twist'. Any idea what that means???? I'm in the Chicago area also. Please- any advice, recommendation, referral GREATLY appreciated!

Thanks!

J

I am also from the UK - I live in Northern Ireland - I had micro surgery in January 2002 in Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield.

How are you getting on with your compensation claim?

Have you been permanently damaged or have you had a successful operation to try and repair.

E-mail me please @ marinaconnor@hotmail.com

I look forward to hearing from you.

B Pepe

Did you consider suing after the back injury you suffered? I noticed you started supporting informed consent after that, and that you went to a pain clinic for treatment. Did any lawyers confront you at the pain clinic, asking into your reason for being there and offering to "represent" you?

I've just been a spectator but I had to say--I know what you mean....it makes me so hoppin' mad--people who narcisstically use and try to take advantage of people in their moments of vulnerability, under the guise of helping. Try to use them for their own financial and/or emotional reasons, very narcissistic, under the guise of helping. These so-called helpers really hate empowerment and true healing and wellness in others, and feed off misery, because it maintains their positions of false power. I'm not saying all lawyers are like this, but there's a lot of this element. Very maddening.

Part two: Besides being "young and dumb", what other reasons can you give for a person not taking the litigation route? I know for myself, I'm more interested in getting better than getting even. And even the amount of money I would get IF I won a lawsuit (which rarely seems to happen) would be a short-lived victory and wouldn't come close to the liberation I would feel at restoring the nerve. I just wish a doctor would join us here who was working in the field of nerve regeneration and working to help restore us in the fuller sense.