Root canals are a common and routine medical procedure. You visit the dentist, they clear the infection, and you return home on the mend. But when a root canal is performed carelessly, the procedure can leave you with lifelong pain. Our office recently resolved a dental malpractice case for a Louisville woman who learned this reality the hard way. Her experience shows exactly what can go wrong when a dentist fails to follow basic safety standards.
The Reality of a Root Canal Overfill
Our client went to her dentist for a standard root canal on a lower tooth. During the procedure, the dentist pushed the filing material past the tip of the root. This material then entered the canal where a major nerve runs through the lower jaw.
This specific nerve controls the physical feeling in your lower lip, chin, and gums. Despite the error, the dentist did not tell our client that anything had gone wrong. Weeks later, the client developed severe facial pain and profound numbness. Because of the delay, she required emergency surgery to remove the tooth, decompress the nerve, and clean out the stray material. Unfortunately, the nerve damage was permanent.
The Two-Month Delay: A Critical Mistake
When a dentist causes a bad root canal overfill, the window to fix the mistake is incredibly short. Urgent treatment is required to prevent permanent nerve damage.
In this case, the defense argued that an infection caused the injuries rather than an overfill. Even if that were true, the dentist failed to schedule our client for a follow-up appointment for two full months. Two months is simply too long to wait for the corrective care she desperately needed. Therefore, whether the issue was an infection or an overfill, the delay in treatment directly caused the lasting damage.
We Hold Careless Dentists Accountable
Dental malpractice cases are highly complex. They require deep medical knowledge, thorough record reviews, and qualified experts who can explain the mistakes to a jury. After an aggressive investigation we were able to take the dentist’s deposition and push the matter into mediation. In the end, we secured a confidential settlement that compensated our client for her permanent injuries and medical bills.
If you or a loved one suffered nerve damage, permanent numbness, or severe infection after a dental procedure, you need an experienced attorney. Visit our dental malpractice page to learn how we protect patients. Contact Louisville Law Help today for a free consultation. You owe us nothing unless we recover money for you.
Feel free to call us at 502-771-0588 or email aaronkemper@lawhelplouisville.com.