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Oral Cancer Dental Negligence Claims

Your dentist plays an important role in protecting your health – and that doesn’t just mean your teeth. At your dental appointments, your dentist has a responsibility to screen for any potentially serious conditions in the mouth, including cancer, as routine check-ups offer a chance for your dentist to spot early signs and symptoms.

Unfortunately, whilst most dentists are highly skilled and treat their patients with a high level of care, mistakes can sometimes be made. If your dentist failed to recognise the symptoms of oral cancer, incorrectly diagnosed your symptoms as being of a different, less serious condition, or failed to perform the necessary examinations, then you may be eligible to make an oral cancer dental negligence claim.

At the Dental Law Partnership, we specialise in dental injury claims, helping clients get the compensation they deserve for negligent treatment. We operate on a no-win, no-fee basis, which means you won’t pay anything if your claim is unsuccessful.

If you believe that your dentist has failed to take the required action to help prevent or treat oral cancer, start your dental negligence claim online today or give us a call on 0800 152 2038.

 

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What symptoms of oral cancer should my dentist check for?

When your dentist examines your mouth at a dental check-up, they should be able to identify any cavities or symptoms of gum disease, as well as be on the lookout for any worrying symptoms of oral cancer. These will include:

  • Persistent pain in the mouth
  • Pain or difficulty in swallowing
  • Changes in your voice or speech problems
  • Tissue inflammation or redness
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Bleeding or numbness in the mouth
  • Tissue that appears whiter than normal
  • Unexplained lumps
  • Ulcers that refuse to go away
  • A tooth or teeth that becomes loose for no reason
  • Difficulty moving the jaw.

Your dentist should be able to spot these symptoms, investigate, and tell you straight away if they find something out of the ordinary. Anything out of the ordinary should not be left but either treated or referred immediately. Your dentist should see to it that all appropriate tests are carried out at their end and that you are referred to a specialist as appropriate.

Oral cancer is a serious disease, and if left untreated, it can result in death or severe damage. If your dentist failed to identify and treat the signs of oral cancer early on, you may be eligible to make a dental negligence claim.

 

Am I eligible to make an oral cancer dental negligence claim?

You may be eligible to make an oral cancer dental negligence claim if a dental professional failed to meet the expected standard of care and this led to your condition being missed, misdiagnosed, or treated too late.

  • Failure to identify symptoms: A claim may be possible if your dentist failed to identify symptoms of oral cancer that should reasonably have been detected during an examination.
  • Failure to act: You may also have grounds for a claim if your dentist noticed potential warning signs but failed to carry out further tests or refer you to a specialist for further investigation. Early referral is essential when oral cancer is suspected, as prompt diagnosis and treatment significantly improve outcomes.
  • Incorrect diagnosis: In some cases, dentists may incorrectly diagnose symptoms of oral cancer as a less serious condition, such as an infection or mouth ulcer, without conducting the necessary checks or arranging follow-up appointments. If this misdiagnosis caused a delay in diagnosis that allowed the cancer to progress, it may form the basis of a negligence claim.

It’s important to note that, in most cases, any claim must be made within three years of the date you first became aware that dental negligence had occurred. We therefore recommend starting the claims process as soon as possible to avoid missing your window.

Not sure whether you have a valid oral cancer claim? Our team can help. Get in touch for a free, no-obligation consultation.

How much compensation could I get for an oral cancer misdiagnosis?

As with most dental negligence claims, the amount of compensation that you may receive if your dentist has failed to diagnose or treat oral cancer will depend on the circumstances of your specific case.

Factors taken into consideration will include:

  • The severity of your oral cancer diagnosis
  • The delay in accurately diagnosing oral cancer
  • The short and long-term implications of the failure to diagnose, including the financial implications of further treatment and the impact that your dentist’s negligence has had on your day-to-day life. This may include psychological and emotional trauma as well as physical suffering and pain.

Although it’s not possible to say exactly how much you’ll receive for a successful claim, you can use our compensation calculator to get a rough estimate based on the outcome of similar cases.

What should I do if I think I have an oral cancer dental negligence claim?

If you think you have an oral cancer claim, get in touch with the Dental Law Partnership. Our dental negligence experts will assess your case and advise you on your next steps.

If we can accept your case and you choose to proceed, we’ll handle the entire claims process on your behalf, so you can focus on your recovery.

We believe justice should be accessible to all, which is why we operate on a no-win, no-fee basis. In other words, there are no upfront fees, and you won’t pay us anything if your claim is unsuccessful.

We’ve helped thousands of clients like you get the compensation they deserve for negligent dental treatment – explore our client stories for more information.

Start your claim online today or get in touch to discuss your case with a member of our team.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make an oral cancer claim on behalf of a loved one who has passed away?

We know how devastating it is to lose a loved one to oral cancer, and if you believe negligent dental treatment played a part in their death, you can absolutely make a claim on their behalf. Making a claim will not only help you get compensation to support you and your family, but will also help prevent this kind of negligence from happening to others.

If you’d like to find out more about making an oral cancer claim on behalf of a deceased loved one, please get in touch. Our experts are friendly, empathetic, and professional, and will approach your case with the sensitivity it deserves.

 

What is the time limit to make an oral cancer claim?

Usually, if you are starting a claim against your dentist for failing to diagnose or treat oral cancer, you are required to do so within three years of the negligence occurring, or from the date that you became aware of the negligence. For patients who are under the age of 18, the three-year limit begins on their eighteenth birthday and for those suffering from a mental illness, the three year limit begins when they have recovered from the illness.

As claims can often take some time to progress and are often not straightforward, it’s recommended that those who feel they might have a claim should seek expert dental negligence advice as soon as possible after they experienced negligent care.

 

How much does it cost to make an oral cancer dental negligence claim?

At the Dental Law Partnership, our cases are usually funded by a no-win, no-fee agreement. This means that if your claim is unsuccessful, you will not pay any legal costs. Call us today for an initial, no-obligation chat about your claim.

 

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