Atlanta Dental Malpractice Lawyer Discusses Nerve Damage

Articaine is a local anesthetic that is used widely around the United States. Worldwide, more than 100 million dental patients are believed to be treated with Articaine every year. However, since the drug was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2000 under the brand-name Septocaine, there has been concern about its links to lingual nerve damage.

There has been substantial research into the lingual nerve injury risks of using Septocaine. In 2005, the Danish Medicines Agency published a report, which studied the risks from the use of this nerve block in dental treatment. The study was done to deal with concerns that Septocaine was linked to a high number of cases of lingual nerve damage reported to the Danish Dental Association, and reports of side effects reported to the Danish Medicines Agency. Danish authorities were particularly concerned about the development of paresthesia from the use of Septocaine. The study concluded that there needed to be more research into this issue. However, in an apparent acknowledgment of the link between Septocaine nerve blocks and lingual nerve damage, the Septocaine package insert was changed to reflect the high incidence of Septocaine nerve blocks resulting in lingual nerve damage.

paresthesia is most widely associated with numbness. It can also involved a condition in which the individual feels an altered sensation in the hands, feet, legs and arms. The feeling is similar to the crawling sensation you get when you suffer leg cramps. However, a person who suffers from paresthesia suffers these symptoms constantly and chronically. The prickling sensation may most often be felt in the extremities, but could also be seen in other parts of the body.

Atlanta dental malpractice lawyers began to notice and increase in the number of reported cases of paresthesia after Articaine was introduced into the U.S. market in 2000. In fact, paresthesia seems to be a common complication arising out of the use of local anesthetic injections. However, paresthesia seems to be a more frequent complication in patients on whom Articaine was the preferred local anesthetic.

Attorney Robert J. Fleming has been handling dental malpractice nerve injury cases, dog attacks, car accident cases and construction site injury cases for individuals and families who have been harmed, injured or died as a result of the carelessness or negligence of another for more than 20 years in and around Atlanta, Georgia and its surrounding areas, including Alpharetta, Austell, Avondale Estates, Chamblee, College Park, Conyers, Duluth, Decatur, Doraville, Hapeville, Johns Creek, Jonesboro, Lawrenceville, Norcross, Peachtree City, Riverdale, Roswell, Sandy Springs, Stone Mountain, and Smyrna. If you have suffered a nerve injury while a dental patient and would like to discuss your injury and evaluate your case, contact Robert J. Fleming directly on (404) 525-5150 or contact us online.