Injured During Dental Treatment in California?
Plain-language help for people who suffered a serious injury during dental care: what may have happened, whether it could be negligence, and California's deadlines for taking action.
Injuries We Explain
Dental Implant Nerve Damage
Numbness, tingling, or pain in the lip, chin, or tongue after an implant.
Wisdom Tooth & Extraction Nerve Damage
Lasting numbness or lost taste after a tooth extraction.
Root Canal Injuries
Perforation, nerve damage, or a worsening infection after a root canal.
Dental Infection Malpractice
An infection that was missed, ignored, or treated too late.
Anesthesia & Sedation Injuries
A serious complication during or after sedation for dental work.
Dental Implant Malpractice
Implant problems beyond nerve injury, including failed planning.
Dental Wrongful Death
A family that lost a loved one during or after dental treatment.
Is It Malpractice, or a Known Complication?
Not every difficult outcome means a dentist did something wrong. Some nerve injuries, infections, and other complications are recognized risks of dental treatment that can occur even with careful, appropriate care.
What matters is whether the care you received met the standard a reasonably careful dentist would have provided — things like proper imaging before an implant, timely referral when a problem developed, or an appropriate response when you reported symptoms.
Read how attorneys and experts typically evaluate that question.
California Deadlines at a Glance
- One year from discovery, or three years from the date of injury, whichever comes first, with limited exceptions.
- A 90-day notice is generally required before filing suit against a health care provider in California.
- Different rules can apply to minors.
Symptoms That Deserve Attention
Numbness that isn't improving, a lost sense of taste, or spreading swelling or fever after dental treatment are worth evaluating promptly — both for your health and because early documentation can matter later.
How a Case Review Works
- Tell us what happened using the case review form.
- Your information is reviewed to see whether it may be a fit.
- If it looks like it may be a fit, you'll be contacted to discuss next steps. Submitting a case review does not obligate you to hire anyone and does not guarantee a case will be accepted.
Where We Help
California Dental Injury covers dental injuries statewide, with a current local focus on:
Frequently Asked Questions
Is every bad outcome at the dentist considered malpractice?
No. Some complications, including some nerve injuries, can happen even when a dentist provides careful, appropriate care. Malpractice means the care fell below the standard a reasonably careful dentist would have provided, and that failure caused the injury. See our page on complications versus negligence for more detail.
How long do I have to bring a dental malpractice claim in California?
California generally requires a claim within one year of discovering the injury, or three years from the date of injury, whichever comes first, with some exceptions. There is also a required 90-day notice before filing suit against a health care provider. See our statute of limitations page for details, and speak with an attorney promptly since deadlines can be shorter than they appear.
What does a case review cost?
Requesting a case review through this site does not obligate you to hire anyone, and it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Fee arrangements are between you and any attorney you choose to work with.
Is California Dental Injury a law firm?
No. California Dental Injury is an informational resource and attorney advertising. It is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. See our About page for details on how this site works.