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A dental extraction should be a routine procedure. When something goes very wrong, you may leave with burning pain, numbness, or an infection that won’t clear. That kind of outcome raises real questions about what happened during the procedure and what you can do next.
You deserve clear answers and a solid plan to protect your health and to hold those responsible for negligent dental care accountable.
What Counts as a Botched Dental Extraction?
Bad outcomes happen in dentistry, but they aren’t always malpractice-related. Questions start to arise when you look back and see missing steps or poor follow-up. A thoughtful provider reviews your history and x-rays, maps out the surgery, and walks you through the risks. During the extraction, they use proper technique and pay close attention to changes in your comfort or safety.
When a dentist rushes, ignores red flags, or works outside their training, the chances of lasting harm increase. That’s when a “routine” extraction can cross into a botched procedure.
Common Surgical Problems After Extractions
Certain complications appear again and again in malpractice cases:
- Nerve damage: Numbness, tingling, burning, or shock-like sensations in your lip, chin, tongue, or jaw, especially after lower wisdom tooth removal
- Infection: Swelling, fever, foul taste, or pus around the socket, combined with poor follow-up or delayed treatment
- Anesthesia errors: Trouble breathing, staying awake, or lingering problems from an anesthetic placed in the wrong spot
- Sinus Issues: Persistent congestion, facial pressure, or fluid leaking through the nose, caused by a small hole in the sinus cavity during an upper tooth extraction that can lead to chronic issues if not treated promptly.
A dentist cannot eliminate every risk. However, they need to act to avoid unnecessary harm and listen to your worries.
When Does a Dental Error Become Malpractice?
Malpractice focuses on two questions regarding conduct and impact. The first question is whether the dentist acted as a similarly trained dentist would reasonably have acted in the same circumstances. The second question is whether their actions resulted in your injury. Some issues are the normal result of dental care, while others stem from decisions that go against the appropriate standard of care.
A dentist might commit malpractice by skipping proper imaging, causing nerve damage through clear mistakes, ignoring infection, or not referring you to a specialist. A dental malpractice lawyer can work with experts to review the care you received and determine whether the dentist crossed the line into negligence.
Your Legal Options After a Botched Extraction
You have options even if it feels like there’s no way forward. A different dentist or oral surgeon could provide their perspective, discuss your condition, and suggest treatments. To address any issues, you could also submit a complaint to the New York State Board of Dentistry to report your experience and begin a formal review of the dentist’s actions.
If the proof supports your case, you could file a malpractice lawsuit to recover costs like medical bills, continuing treatment, lost income, and the impact on your daily life. Deadlines are strict, so reach out to a lawyer as soon as you think malpractice happened.
Why Documentation Matters
Clear records reveal your course of treatment and resulting condition. Your lawyer will gather this information about your case from your caregivers and from you:
- Dental records and imaging: Charts, x-rays, consent forms, referral notes, and prescriptions from every provider involved.
- Photos and symptom notes: Pictures of swelling or visible injury, plus a journal describing pain, numbness, or daily struggles.
- Communication and financial records: Notes about calls, messages, and appointments, along with receipts, pharmacy printouts, and proof of missed work.
Together, your records, photos, and notes paint a fuller picture of what the dentist did and how the injury changed your daily life.
How Lance Ehrenberg, Esq., Can Support You
Attorney Lance Ehrenberg, Esq., listens to his clients. These people are patients who feel ignored after a bad extraction and still deal with numbness, infections, or ongoing pain. He reviews records, consults reliable experts, and explains what filing a claim could mean, helping each person choose what works best for them.
He handles dental malpractice cases just like these and advises his client about their legal rights after an improper tooth extraction. If you are seeking answers about what went wrong and what your next steps should be, call our office today.