Damage to Lingual Nerve During Tooth Removal – Permanent Numbness and Loss of Taste - $630,000 Verdict

The plaintiff, a man in his mid-twenties, presented to the defendant for removal of his wisdom teeth. During the surgery, the defendant allegedly deviated from the standard of care by penetrating the lingual cortex and transecting the plaintiff’s left lingual nerve.

The plaintiff claims he was left with numbness and loss of taste on the left side of his tongue.

The defense argued that lingual nerve damage was a known risk of wisdom tooth removal and that there was no proof that the nerve was transected by the dental drill as the plaintiff alleged.

The jury awarded over $30,000 for medical expenses; $100,000 for past pain and suffering; and $500,000 for future pain and suffering.

With permission from Medical Malpractice Verdicts, Settlements & Experts; Lewis Laska, Editor, 901 Church St., Nashville, TN 37203-3411, 1-800-298-6288.