Nerve Damage from Dental Treatment
When a dental nerve is bruised, stretched or severed, the effects can be permanent. Numbness of the lip, chin or tongue is life-changing — and, in many cases, avoidable.
The two nerves most often injured
The inferior alveolar nerve runs through the lower jaw and supplies sensation to the lip and chin. The lingual nerve sits close to the lower wisdom teeth and supplies sensation and taste to the tongue. Both are injured most commonly during wisdom-tooth removal, implant placement and root canal treatment on lower molars.
What to look out for
- Persistent numbness or tingling of the lip, chin or tongue beyond 24 hours.
- Burning pain, electric-shock sensations or altered taste.
- Difficulty speaking, eating, kissing or shaving.
What should have happened
CBCT imaging before high-risk procedures, careful surgical planning, an honest conversation about risks, and prompt referral when symptoms appear. The failure to take any of these steps is often what makes a case.
Typical range
Permanent nerve injuries generally settle between £15,000 and £75,000+, depending on the extent of numbness, chronic pain and the effect on the patient's daily life.
