Parner
Checking for possible oral cancer is an essential part of proper dental care. Suppose your dentist failed to perform a thorough examination of your gums, mouth, tongue, palate, lips, and neck glands or failed to notice recognizable symptoms, and you were subsequently diagnosed with oral cancer. In that case, you may be a victim of dental malpractice.
If you reside in New York and find yourself in this troubling situation, contact Lance Ehrenberg, Esq. for a free consultation. With 30 years of successful experience as a dental malpractice attorney behind him, Lance will evaluate the viability of your case and discuss your legal options. Not only is Lance skilled in handling cases in which negligent dentists have failed to diagnose oral cancer, but he is also a compassionate person and will charge you no attorneys’ fees until he brings you the meaningful compensation you deserve.
The Dangers of Delayed Diagnosis of Oral Cancer
Some cancers metastasize much more rapidly than others which is why it is vital to determine the type of cancer you may have as soon as possible. It is important to note that oral cancer has a higher mortality rate than a great many other types of malignancies, such as cancer of the brain, liver, kidney, ovaries, or melanoma (the most deadly form of skin cancer).
There is also the very real possibility that a delay in your cancer diagnosis may result in your having to endure more risky or uncomfortable treatments or disfigurement that could have been avoided if your cancer had been treated earlier on.
Symptoms of Oral Cancer Your Dentist May Have Missed
Mouth cancers can appear anywhere in the mouth region: gums, lips, tongue, upper or lower palate, or inside of the cheeks. Since you may not be aware of a problem, it is your dentist’s responsibility to diagnose a potential symptom like:
- Loosening teeth
- Mouth pain
- Ear ache
- Difficulty chewing, swallowing or speaking
- Sore in your mouth or on your lip (often mistaken for a canker sore)that does not heal and may bleed
- White or red patch inside your mouth
- Bump or lump in your mouth or neck
- Thickening of skin inside the mouth
- Wart-like lesions on oral or facial tissue
- Persistent hoarseness
While some of these symptoms may be easy for patients to ignore or miss entirely, dentists are trained to be alert to their possible gravity. If dentists let oral cancer symptoms slip under their radar, their conduct may meet the definition of malpractice, i.e. any act…that deviates from accepted norms of practice in the medical community and causes an injury to the patient.
What Can Be Done to Preserve Health If Oral Cancer Is Diagnosed Promptly?
The earlier any cancer is discovered, the greater likelihood there is of survival since early detection through biopsy allows for swift treatment, typically through surgical excision, radiation, and/or chemotherapy. The standard of care in New York City is 2 weeks, meaning that any symptom of oral cancer that does not disappear within that time period should be biopsied. A dentist who doesn’t adhere to this accepted standard of care may be considered negligent and held legally accountable.
Damages Lance Ehrenberg Will Fight Aggressively to Recover
Because the clock cannot be turned back, your dentist’s failure to diagnose your oral cancer may be life-changing or even result in premature death. Therefore, Lance will work tirelessly, both in and out of the courtroom, to obtain the damages you are entitled to for:
- Uncovered medical costs
- Lost income, present and future
- Pain and suffering
- Permanent disability or disfigurement
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of enjoyment of life
In the awful event that you have lost a loved one to wrongful death because of their dentist’s failure to diagnose oral cancer, Lance will fight vigorously to recover damages for final medical costs, funeral/burial/cremation expenses, and loss of financial and emotional support.
Contact Our Experienced Failure to Diagnose Cancer Dental Malpractice Attorney Now
Lance Ehrenberg has an impressive track record of handling cases involving the failure of dentists to diagnose oral cancer. Contact him today so that he can lift your legal burdens and do everything possible to secure your future.