Tasteless, Tingling Tongue? You Could Have a Lingual Nerve Injury

If you go to the dentist for minor dental work, you may expect to feel a little numb or tingly after a procedure. If that numbness or tingling continues, however, you may have sustained an injury to the lingual nerve (LN) – which is the nerve that allows your tongue to taste and feel sensations.

What is the lingual nerve?

The lingual nerve is located in the lower part of the jaw along approximately two-thirds of your tongue. It allows you to enjoy the taste of a mouthwatering piece of pizza, juicy apple, and all of your favorite foods.

Your LN also allows you to respond to hot and cold temperatures. From sipping hot coffee to sampling a spoonful of your favorite ice cream flavor, the nerve lets you experience a wide range of sensations.

What problems are associated with lingual nerve damage?

Because lingual nerve damage can cause you to lose feeling in your tongue, you may not feel certain sensations when you eat food. As a result, you could take a bite of something that’s far too hot and burn your tongue without immediately feeling the pain. Although you might not feel it, your tongue could have suffered serious damage. If left untreated, your LN damage could affect you long into the future.

What causes lingual nerve damage?

Mistakes made during oral procedures are among the leading causes of lingual nerve damage. In one study, researchers noted that any of the following oral procedures could lead to LN injuries:

• Removal of wisdom teeth
• Surgery to the lower jaw
• Removal of a tumor
• Salivary gland operations
• Larynx (voice box) procedures

If you suffer a lingual nerve injury for these or other reasons, get medical help immediately. Having a doctor diagnose and treat your injury quickly may help reduce the long-term harm. They may recommend pain medication, anti-inflammatory therapy, or other treatment options.

If your doctor caused your injuries, you should also consult with a Mississippi medical malpractice lawyer. Give the attorney information about your injury, how it happened, and how long you have been dealing with it. Your attorney can determine if a malpractice claim is warranted and who might be liable.

What are the side effects of a lingual nerve injury?

You could be dealing with lingual nerve damage without realizing it. Here are the symptoms commonly associated with LN injuries:

• Discomfort and/or pain in the lower portion of the mouth, gums, or tongue
• Loss of sensation/numbness in the tongue
• Loss of taste
• Tingling in the tongue
• Drooling
• Impairments to speech

You may experience one or more of these LN injury symptoms and many others. If left untreated, your nerve injury could affect you for the rest of your life.

Am I eligible to file a medical malpractice claim?

If you are considering filing a claim relating to your lingual nerve injury, you should meet with a Mississippi medical malpractice attorney. You could be eligible to submit a claim against a dentist or other medical providers who harmed you. For a successful claim, you will need to prove that the following are true:

• You had a relationship with a medical provider.
• This provider did not administer care to a designated standard.
• Because the provider did not provide you with the level of care you expected, you suffered an LN injury.
• Your nerve injury has caused substantial harm.

Proving these things can be incredibly difficult. Fortunately, your lawyer can help you face the legal challenges associated with malpractice claims. If you have plenty of proof to support your argument, they could help you compel a judge or jury to award compensation.

Remember to account for the statute of limitations, which limits the amount of time you have to file your claim. Per Mississippi Code § 15-1-36, you have two years to request compensation for malpractice. After this window closes, you cannot seek compensation, even if your doctor was at fault.

What to expect if you file a lingual nerve damage malpractice claim

Medical professionals are expected to provide patients with a standard level of care. If a dentist or other provider fails to do so and you suffer a lingual nerve injury as a result, you may be able to hold that individual accountable for their actions. In your case, your attorney can argue that the dentist violated their duty of care to you, which caused you to get hurt and incur losses. If they succeed, you could receive compensation for your pain and suffering, medical bills, and other damages.

During your litigation, you must prove that a liable party acted negligently. Not every undesirable outcome is negligence – the results of a surgery might fall short of your expectations, but it might be a reasonable outcome given the condition and the procedure. However, if you suffer an LN injury because this dentist was careless or reckless, your attorney may be able to prove they are liable for your injuries.

There are many things you could prove happened that led to your LN injury and show that a dentist or another medical professional was negligent. Actions that could be considered malpractice include:

• Failure to diagnose and/or treat your injury
• Failure to obtain your consent for the procedure in which you suffered your injury
• Failure to inform you about the potential risks of treatment, including the possibility that you could get injured
• Unnecessary extractions that contributed to your injury
• Extraction of the wrong tooth that led to LN damage

With your personal injury claim, you can ask for economic and non-economic damages to cover your:

• Medical costs
• Loss of income
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Loss of enjoyment of life

Your injury’s extent will likely influence how much money you receive. If your injury has long-term consequences, your attorney can account for these as they calculate your losses.

Keep in mind that filing a claim for compensation for your LN injury does not mean you will have to bring your case to trial. A medical provider or their insurance company could propose a settlement. If this occurs, you can evaluate the proposal with your attorney. In a situation where the proposal is less than what you and your attorney believe your case is worth, you may choose to continue with your litigation and prepare to present your case to a judge or jury.

Request compensation for your lingual nerve injury

If you are dealing with a lingual nerve injury caused by a negligent dentist, the team at Merkel & Cocke, P.A. is here for you. For more than four decades, we have helped injury victims and their families obtain compensation from negligent parties. We can aggressively advocate for compensation for you from liable parties and their insurance companies. Contact us today for a free consultation.