If a dental procedure in Nashville or Middle Tennessee left you with tongue numbness, burning nerve pain, or loss of taste, you may have a dental malpractice claim against your dentist. Lingual nerve injuries are among the most serious and underrepresented consequences of negligent dental care — and they are exactly the kind of complex, high-stakes cases The Higgins Firm was built to handle. We are Nashville’s highest-rated personal injury law firm, with over 300 five-star Google reviews, offices in Nashville and Chattanooga, and a proven track record of recovering millions for injured clients across Tennessee.
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The lingual nerve is a branch of the trigeminal nerve that runs through your lower jaw and controls sensation throughout the front two-thirds of your tongue — including touch, temperature, pain, and taste. Because this nerve passes in close proximity to the roots of the lower wisdom teeth and the pathways used for dental implants and anesthesia injections, it is highly vulnerable to injury during a number of routine dental procedures.
Damage to the lingual nerve can occur from a poorly placed anesthesia needle, excessive force during a wisdom tooth extraction, a dental implant drilled too close to the nerve pathway, or root canal materials that leak beyond the tooth root. Symptoms include persistent numbness or a dead feeling on one or both sides of the tongue, tingling or burning pain, loss or alteration of taste, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, and repeated biting of the tongue or cheek due to absent sensation. These symptoms may appear immediately after the procedure or develop gradually over the following hours and days.
Lingual nerve injuries occur across all types of Nashville dental practices — from solo family dentists in Brentwood and Franklin to large oral surgery centers downtown. Lower wisdom tooth extractions are the most common cause. The nerve sits directly beside the roots of the lower third molars, and a dentist who uses excessive force, fails to use cone beam CT imaging to locate the nerve beforehand, or applies improper retraction technique can lacerate, stretch, or permanently damage the nerve in seconds.
Dental implant placement in the lower posterior jaw poses a similar risk when performed without comprehensive pre-surgical imaging. Some patients experience an immediate electric-shock sensation during the procedure — a warning sign that is sometimes dismissed by the treating dentist. Inferior alveolar nerve block injections, used to numb the lower jaw before a wide range of procedures, pass near the lingual nerve and can traumatize it directly if the injection angle or force is incorrect. Root canal procedures on lower molars can also cause injury through instrument over-extension or sealant material leakage beyond the root apex.
When a Nashville dentist fails to follow established protocols, use appropriate imaging, or apply proper technique, and that failure causes a lingual nerve injury, the dentist — and in many cases the dental practice or corporate group employing the dentist — may be liable for full compensation.
Dental malpractice claims in Tennessee are governed by a specific and demanding set of procedural rules that do not apply in standard personal injury cases. The statute of limitations is one year from the date you discovered — or in the exercise of reasonable care should have discovered — that your injury was caused by your dentist’s negligence. This is governed by T.C.A. § 29-26-116, and it is a strict deadline that courts enforce without exception.
Before filing a lawsuit, Tennessee requires that your attorney provide formal written pre-suit notice to the defendant dentist at least 60 days in advance, along with a HIPAA-compliant medical records authorization. This is governed by T.C.A. § 29-26-121. Additionally, a certificate of good faith signed by your attorney must be filed confirming that a qualified dental expert has reviewed the case and believes the standard of care was breached. Failure to comply with these requirements can result in dismissal of an otherwise meritorious case. The Higgins Firm is experienced with all of these Tennessee-specific requirements and handles them from day one.
Tennessee caps non-economic damages at $750,000 in most malpractice cases and $1,000,000 for catastrophic injuries. Economic damages — medical bills, lost wages, future treatment costs — are not subject to any cap and can substantially increase the total value of your claim.
Lingual nerve injury cases are medically complex. They require attorneys who understand dental anatomy, can identify when a standard of care violation occurred, and know how to develop and present expert testimony that translates invisible nerve damage into a compelling legal case. General personal injury attorneys frequently underestimate these claims or lack the resources to handle them effectively.
The Higgins Firm is different. We have offices in Nashville, regularly practice in Davidson County courts, and bring the same aggressive advocacy that has made us Nashville’s highest-rated personal injury firm to every dental malpractice case we handle. We work with a network of oral surgeons, neurologists, and dental specialists who evaluate our clients’ injuries and testify on their behalf. And because insurance companies know we are prepared to take cases to trial, we consistently achieve better settlements than firms that settle quickly and quietly.
Every client is represented on a pure contingency basis. You pay nothing upfront, and no attorney fees of any kind unless we win your case. We advance all costs of litigation — expert fees, medical record retrieval, court costs — at no risk to you.
If you suspect a lingual nerve injury following a dental procedure in the Nashville area, act promptly. See a specialist — a neurologist or oral and maxillofacial surgeon — as soon as possible to obtain an independent assessment of the nerve damage. Facilities affiliated with Vanderbilt University Medical Center and other Nashville specialty practices can provide thorough nerve injury evaluations that are independent of your treating dentist. Request your complete dental records in writing immediately, including all imaging, procedure notes, and consent forms.
Keep a detailed daily journal of your symptoms and their impact on your life — what you cannot eat or taste, how your speech has changed, whether you are experiencing pain, and how the injury is affecting your work and relationships. This contemporaneous documentation becomes powerful evidence. Do not allow the same dentist to attempt further procedures to repair the nerve, and do not give recorded statements to the dentist’s malpractice insurance carrier before speaking with an attorney.
Call The Higgins Firm at 615-353-0930 for a completely free and confidential consultation. Tennessee’s one-year statute of limitations — combined with the mandatory 60-day pre-suit notice requirement — means you need to act well before the anniversary of your procedure. We will evaluate your case, advise you on the deadline, and take immediate steps to preserve your rights and evidence.
The Higgins Firm has a Nashville office and represents lingual nerve injury clients throughout Davidson County and all of Middle Tennessee, including Brentwood, Franklin, Murfreesboro, Hendersonville, Smyrna, Mt. Juliet, Gallatin, Antioch, Bellevue, Nolensville, Spring Hill, Columbia, and every surrounding community. Whether your procedure took place in a large Nashville oral surgery center or a small suburban dental practice, we can evaluate your case and represent you.
Your consultation is completely free, and there is no fee unless we win. Contact The Higgins Firm today to take the first step toward protecting your rights after a Nashville lingual nerve injury.
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