How Much are Tongues Worth?

chewedtoothpick asks: "How many of you have had dental work where they had to numb your tongue and everything? I did about six months ago and my tongue never became UN-numb. Aparently they hit a nerve, which seldom occurs and shouldn't happen according to a few dentists and a family member who is an oral surgeon. The dentist told me that it can take as long as six months to heal, but I have also heard from a few people which this has happened to; that if it's not normal within a couple of months that it will never come back. I know one lady who is a regular client at my shop who has had a numb tongue for almost 10 years! Luckily; in my case, this is only half of my tongue, so I am not completely impaired in speech or taste. What I do want to know is what would all or any of you do? Would you sue, and how much for? Would you demand a full refund for the dental work?"

Comments

Were you warned?

[A55M0NKEY]

My wife was referred to an oral surgeon to have her wisdom teeth which had never grown in, but were crooked taken out. The dentist referred her because wisdom teeth like that increase the risk of gum disease.

However, the oral surgeon reccomended against having the wisdom teeth removed unless they were causing pain because the x-rays showed that a nerve that runs along the jaw was atypically close to where the wisdom teeth were in her jaw so there was a risk that he could damage it in the tooth extraction leaving her face numb for the rest of her life.

Since the wisdom teeth were not painful, she decided not to have the wisdom teeth removed.

I would say that as long as you were informed of the possible risks, then you can't expect SH*T never to happen, it does. But you should have at least been told of a risk if there was one. Of course some things that happen are completely unforseeable. Maybe the tongue thing is completely freaky and could not be expected. Anyhow, I would sue anyway because the guy has malpractice insurance and even if he did nothing wrong you should still claim your free money. I mean, if you don't have it his insurance company will. Wouldn't you rather have the dough than let his Ins company keep it? Get one of those TV lawyers that get paid when they win.

Of course that would drive up malpractice insurance rates slightly and that cost in turn would be passed on to patients through higher health insurance rates, but come on - If I can get ten grand for a numb tongue I don't give a tinker's damn about the 1/100 of a cent extra everyone else has to pay for health insurance, I'm getting my free Kia. I wouldn't expect anybody else to give up $10000 bucks for the 'cause of lower health insurance rates' and I certainly wouldn't give up $10000 easy bucks either.