Prolonged paresthesia/nerve injury not explained or followed
What it is
When a patient has numbness/altered sensation that lasts longer than expected, the clinician: • dismisses it • fails to document baseline + distribution • doesn't warn/educate the patient • doesn't schedule follow-up or refer if it doesn't improve AAPD definition: Paresthesia is persistent anesthesia beyond the expected duration, and it can be caused by needle trauma (patients may feel an "electric shock" during injection) and is reported more often with 4% solutions (articaine/prilocaine) than lower concentrations.
Why it happens
• Needle trauma to the nerve or intraneural blood vessels (can cause intraneural bleeding/hematoma) • Possible neurotoxicity of the anesthetic solution, especially discussed with 4% formulations (association reported in multiple studies) • Clinician assumes "it will resolve" and avoids follow-up; systematic review notes 85–94% resolve spontaneously, but monitoring and timely referral matter
The full clinical mistake entry includes
- How to avoid it — the prevention protocol
- The clinical tip experienced clinicians use
- The documented reference behind the mistake
More clinical mistakes
Dentalverse is an educational resource for dental students and dentists. This page is a study reference — it is not medical advice and does not replace clinical judgment. Always follow your institution's protocols and your supervisor's guidance.