I focus my law practice on representing clients in medical and dental malpractice cases. In Texas, both medical and dental negligence lawsuits are regulated by the same restrictive tort reform statutes. That is why it is important to hire an attorney who is competent and has specific experience in handling these types of healthcare liability claims.
Recently, a dental patient contacted our office about a serious nerve problem she has been experiencing ever since she had her wisdom teeth extracted.
Any time that a potential client speaks with us about the nerve injury from a dental case, I immediately research the type of dental provider that they used.
General dentists are primary care providers with training to handle oral exams, cleanings, general oral health, filling cavities, and straightforward pulling of teeth.
Endodontists are dentists with additional training to perform root canals safely.
Oral surgeons, also called oral and maxillofacial surgeons, are dentists with training to handle the most complicated of dental issues, including impacted teeth, loss of teeth, wisdom teeth extraction, jaw problems, and even sleep apnea.
Based on my experience, I always recommend that patients who need their wisdom teeth removed go to an oral surgeon because of their higher level of training.
When researching our new client’s case, I was surprised to find that she had, in fact, gone to an oral surgeon to remove her wisdom teeth. Her first sign of trouble was the next day, when half of her mouth was still numb. She called the oral surgeon’s office and was told to give it a few more days.
She became frightened when the numbness never wore off and then she started getting severe migraine headaches and sharp pain in half of her face. The oral surgeon referred her to a microsurgery specialist who ordered a specialized MRI that would study the nerves of her mouth.
Unfortunately, the news from the nerve specialist was terrible. He informed her that the MRI showed that her nerves had been butchered when her wisdom tooth was extracted on one side and there was nothing he could do for her. Her nerve was dead and, as a result, she would eventually start losing her teeth.
What lies ahead for our client is frightening. Her nerve injury has impacted her ability to taste most foods and she also has a hard time eating. When she smiles or talks, some people think she had a stroke because only half of her mouth moves. Then, of course, there is the pain in her face and headaches that interfere with her ability to work.
We are here to help
If you or a loved one has been seriously injured by the care provided by a dentist, endodontist, or oral surgeon, then the experienced medical and dental malpractice attorneys at Painter Law Firm, in Houston, Texas, are here to help. Click here to send us a confidential email via our “Contact Us” form or call us at 281-580-8800.
All consultations are free and, because we only represent clients on a contingency fee, you will owe us nothing unless we win your case. We handle cases in the Houston area and all over Texas. We are currently working on medical malpractice lawsuits in Houston, The Woodlands, Sugar Land, Conroe, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, Corpus Christi, Bryan/College Station, and Waco.
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Robert Painter is a medical malpractice attorney at Painter Law Firm PLLC, in Houston, Texas. He is a former hospital administrator who represents patients and family members in medical negligence and wrongful death lawsuits against hospitals, physicians, surgeons, anesthesiologists, and other healthcare providers. A member of the board of directors of the Houston Bar Association, he was honored, in 2017, by H Texas as one of Houston’s top lawyers. In May 2018, the Better Business Bureau recognized Painter Law Firm PLLC with its Award of Distinction.
