There are stories of people who find out that they have oral cancer too late, even if they have regular dental appointments. Some of these stories have resulted in dental malpractice cases, and many of these cases have ended with 6-figure settlements being paid to oral cancer victims and their families. This is because checking for signs of oral cancer during routine dental appointments is part of the accepted dental standard of care.
Dentists are trained to identify warning signs of oral cancer and to closely observe patients who are at increased risk of oral cancer. They should be able to recognize irregular swelling or lumps, white and red spots, changes in voice or hoarseness, chronic sore throat and mouth pain, and other identifiers of oral cancer. Dentists must also notify patients about warning signs and communicate them about possible future steps. If cancerous tissues are not identified early, dental patients may be at risk of death.
If your dentist fails to identify oral cancer when they are explicitly trained to do so, you may be able to sue them for dental malpractice. To win a dental malpractice lawsuit, you must prove that your dentist failed to meet the accepted standard of care in the dental community. If they were negligent or lax in identifying your cancer, there’s a good chance the law is on your side.
Dane Levy is an OC dental malpractice lawyer who has won several high-profile dental malpractice lawsuits related to oral cancer, including one that ended in a settlement of $1.2 million. Contact the Levy Law Firm at DentalMal.com to get your lawsuit started.
