Legal Question in Personal Injury in Louisiana

Damage resulting from dental procedure

In February of this year I went to the dentist and had to have root canal done. The dentist gave me an injection of septocaine which he said was better. When he injected me I felt my tongue jump and burn. The numbness did not wear off the next day and I called. He said it would go away in a couple of days and that he hit my lingual nerve in giving the shot. He said he had no way of knowing where it is and has to guess. I am still without feeling and taste three months later and have recieved a bill for what my insurance has not paid. Am I legally bound to pay this bill consiering he left my tongue paralyzed?


Asked on 5/18/08, 5:05 pm

2 Answers from Attorneys
Nick Pizzolatto, Jr. Pizzolatto Law Office

Re: Damage resulting from dental procedure

You owe the money for the work he did. If his injection of the medication was negligently done, then you have a right to seek damages. Hopefully, your numbness will go away. Seek advice from another dentist, or if you wish, contact an attorney who will do the research for you. That is what personal injury attorneys do. It will not cost you anything for the research. If you wish I can help you.

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Answered on 5/19/08, 8:33 am
laurence cohen laurence cohen, attorney-at-law, aplc

Re: Damage resulting from dental procedure

Strange that you would present this problem and I would receive it through law guru. I had this exact situation happened to me several years ago. The dentist injected me and my tongue was numb for nearly 6 months. I went to him and asked him to reduce his bill based on the fact that he damage me as a result of his work. He gave me no relief on the bill and I was so aggravated, I sued him for malpractice. The medical malpractice panel ruled in the dentist favor saying that hitting a nerve was a foreseeable consequence of the injection. I cannot recall if I ever pay the balance of his bill but I can tell you that everyone I met after that and explained the experience to would never use that dentist. He probably cost himself $10,000 and referrals from me. The good news is that the numbness eventually wore off.

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Answered on 5/19/08, 10:27 am


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