Question about numbness after dental work
October 27, 2018 3:44 PM Subscribe
I went to the free dental clinic on October 4th to have a cracked molar extracted. I'm still numb. Is that bad?
The extraction went bad. The tooth fell apart but the roots didn't want to let go of my jaw. They ended up using a bone file and ripped up enough mouth tissue there was nothing to suture, and I was sent home with exposed jaw bone and an antibiotic.
They numbed the area and I was on pain meds after. I was pretty sure the numbness in my jaw and lower cheek would lift.
It's now October 27th and I shined a flashlight in, and while there's still a wound, there is complete mouth tissue covering the area and there's no longer any pain. I've completed the course of antibiotics and I'm no longer on pain meds.
The the numbness in my lower jaw and cheek and creeping down the side of my neck is probably permanent nerve damage from the bone file or hitting it with a needle.
And I don't know what to do about that. Or what it means. Or if I should be more worried than I am. It was a free one day clinic at a nearby dental office. Do I call and tell them? What do I even say? Is this something bad or I'll be okay.
I know you're not my doctors or lawyers. But I'm a single mom of a disabled kid depending on me, without a lot of money to throw at solving problems. Should I be worried right now?
The extraction went bad. The tooth fell apart but the roots didn't want to let go of my jaw. They ended up using a bone file and ripped up enough mouth tissue there was nothing to suture, and I was sent home with exposed jaw bone and an antibiotic.
They numbed the area and I was on pain meds after. I was pretty sure the numbness in my jaw and lower cheek would lift.
It's now October 27th and I shined a flashlight in, and while there's still a wound, there is complete mouth tissue covering the area and there's no longer any pain. I've completed the course of antibiotics and I'm no longer on pain meds.
The the numbness in my lower jaw and cheek and creeping down the side of my neck is probably permanent nerve damage from the bone file or hitting it with a needle.
And I don't know what to do about that. Or what it means. Or if I should be more worried than I am. It was a free one day clinic at a nearby dental office. Do I call and tell them? What do I even say? Is this something bad or I'll be okay.
I know you're not my doctors or lawyers. But I'm a single mom of a disabled kid depending on me, without a lot of money to throw at solving problems. Should I be worried right now?
Seconding. Numbness should last hours, not weeks. Get seen.
posted by greermahoney at 5:10 PM on October 27, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by greermahoney at 5:10 PM on October 27, 2018 [4 favorites]
Best answer: I agree with the above that it's not normal and should be checked out, but here's some hope that it's not necessarily permanent just because it's lasted for several weeks:
"In most cases, a patient's paresthesia will resolve on it's own over time, with the amount of time ranging from just a few days, to several months, to over a year. In some cases a person's sensory loss, complete or partial, is permanent... In 85 to 94% of cases, spontaneous complete recovery typically occurs within 8 weeks."
https://www.animated-teeth.com/wisdom_teeth/t7-wisdom-tooth-paresthesia.htm#paresthesia.outcomes
I hope you recover soon!
posted by space snail at 6:44 PM on October 27, 2018 [6 favorites]
"In most cases, a patient's paresthesia will resolve on it's own over time, with the amount of time ranging from just a few days, to several months, to over a year. In some cases a person's sensory loss, complete or partial, is permanent... In 85 to 94% of cases, spontaneous complete recovery typically occurs within 8 weeks."
https://www.animated-teeth.com/wisdom_teeth/t7-wisdom-tooth-paresthesia.htm#paresthesia.outcomes
I hope you recover soon!
posted by space snail at 6:44 PM on October 27, 2018 [6 favorites]
Best answer: Ah, yes this happened to me. So my bet is that you got lingual nerve damage. When they extracted the deep roots it probably nicked or severed a nerve. Most people's lingual nerve is pretty low, but for some of us it is higher up and if you have deep roots on molars it can get damaged when teeth are pulled. There is absolutely nothing to be done about it either which totally sucks, (although definitely follow up with the Dr just in case.) It probably will get better over time (think months and years), but your brain will start not noticing it within a few more weeks. Also in terms of malpractice, there isn't much to be done since it wasn't technically negligence, just unfortunate anatomy.
I am really sorry this happened to you. In the future when you get dental work done definitely mention it to the dentist. My (new) dentist said sometimes having the nerve higher in your jaw causes dental work to be generally more painful, so something to also consider.
posted by KMoney at 7:27 PM on October 27, 2018 [3 favorites]
I am really sorry this happened to you. In the future when you get dental work done definitely mention it to the dentist. My (new) dentist said sometimes having the nerve higher in your jaw causes dental work to be generally more painful, so something to also consider.
posted by KMoney at 7:27 PM on October 27, 2018 [3 favorites]
Best answer: Most cases of paresthesia (numbness due to trauma to the nerve) resolve themselves over time, but some are permanent. Time will tell. It depends on whether the nerve was nicked or bumped or actually severed. You should contact the clinic, or the dentist, and have them re-evaluate the extraction site.
Your main question is whether you should worry. The affected nerve is a sensory nerve, not a motor nerve, which means that even though you have a numb feeling, you haven't lost the function of any muscle. Try not to bite your lip, or burn your mouth if you can't feel hot liquids, those are the most common things that occur in this type of injury.
I'm sorry this has happened, I am a dentist and I have seen this occasionally, it rarely leads to serious consequences, but it can be annoying, especially at first. I won't give you any advice about whether to take legal steps, but paresthesia is the number one reason dentists get sued.
posted by OHenryPacey at 8:07 PM on October 27, 2018 [3 favorites]
Your main question is whether you should worry. The affected nerve is a sensory nerve, not a motor nerve, which means that even though you have a numb feeling, you haven't lost the function of any muscle. Try not to bite your lip, or burn your mouth if you can't feel hot liquids, those are the most common things that occur in this type of injury.
I'm sorry this has happened, I am a dentist and I have seen this occasionally, it rarely leads to serious consequences, but it can be annoying, especially at first. I won't give you any advice about whether to take legal steps, but paresthesia is the number one reason dentists get sued.
posted by OHenryPacey at 8:07 PM on October 27, 2018 [3 favorites]
I have paresthesia in my chin from wisdom teeth extraction. It definitely got dramatically better over time, but we are talking a span of almost ten years. I actually just poked at it because of this question and yes, still numb, but my body has compensated and it doesn’t feel numb unless I specifically touch it/stroke it. The only thing to do is wait.
I had a couple folllowups with my oral surgeon because of it (mostly to confirm that yep, it’s paresthesia we’re so sorry) and you should call them too.
posted by lydhre at 8:16 PM on October 27, 2018
I had a couple folllowups with my oral surgeon because of it (mostly to confirm that yep, it’s paresthesia we’re so sorry) and you should call them too.
posted by lydhre at 8:16 PM on October 27, 2018
Call them, but if it's any reassurance nerve damage can take weeks to heal. In many cases, the nerve still regenerates. You are still well within the window for this to resolve itself.
posted by Amy93 at 8:29 PM on October 27, 2018
posted by Amy93 at 8:29 PM on October 27, 2018
Response by poster: Thanks guys. If it's just numbness that's livable. I just wanted someone to say, no you aren't going to slowly stop breathing or something.
posted by 80 Cats in a Dog Suit at 10:38 PM on October 27, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by 80 Cats in a Dog Suit at 10:38 PM on October 27, 2018 [2 favorites]
I had a wisdom tooth extracted at a late age, 50, and my lower jaw was numb for two years. I attribute that to my age and healing slower. IDK. I'm just saying don't think this could be permanent. Yet.
And you should definitely let them know. But case it with "I know this is common and it will probably go away but I thought I should let you know". I'm saying this because when I brought it up my dentist got cranky and I think maybe he thought I would sue but that was the farthest thing from my mind. I have a difficult very small jaw to work on.
posted by cda at 11:20 PM on October 28, 2018 [1 favorite]
And you should definitely let them know. But case it with "I know this is common and it will probably go away but I thought I should let you know". I'm saying this because when I brought it up my dentist got cranky and I think maybe he thought I would sue but that was the farthest thing from my mind. I have a difficult very small jaw to work on.
posted by cda at 11:20 PM on October 28, 2018 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by peppercorn at 3:50 PM on October 27, 2018 [13 favorites]