A recent report by the Oral Health Foundation has revealed that new cases of oral cancer in the UK have increased by 49% in the last decade. In 2017, over 2,700 people lost their life to oral cancer in the UK and only 8% of people responding in the study said that they were confident in their knowledge of the disease. The study shows that early diagnosis is one of the key challenges in confronting mouth cancer, so raising awareness of the risk factors, as well as of the early signs and symptoms, is vital.
You can do some simple checks yourself for signs of mouth cancer, and you should always consult your dentist or a medical professional if you think that there is something wrong. Your dentist should also perform many of the below when you visit for a check-up.
Sometimes, dentists can unfortunately fail to pick up on clear signs of oral cancer, and as a result, they can misdiagnose or fail to diagnose the condition at all, which can lead to significant issues. If not spotted and treated early, oral cancer can progress, and even lead to death in some cases, so it’s really important that it is spotted as early as possible.
If your dentist has failed to diagnose or has misdiagnosed your oral cancer, this may be considered dental negligence, depending on the circumstances, and it might be possible for you claim compensation. You can contact us to discuss your options and to find out if you have a valid claim, on 0808 163 4521.
Sources:
https://www.dentistry.co.uk/2018/11/01/new-report-reveals-sharp-increase-mouth-cancer/
https://www.dentalhealth.org/mouthaware