Category: Legal

Oral cancer: Why early diagnosis is your dentist’s responsibility

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Blog submitted by Dane Levy, Attorney of Dentalmal.com, a provider of legal services for those injured by dental malpractice in California

The Oral Cancer Foundation projects that oral cancer will kill over 9,750 people per year, with one person dying from oral cancer every hour of the day. According to Northeast Delta Dental, oral cancer is one of the deadliest forms of cancer, not because it is the most painful, but because it is often diagnosed too late. Dentists often realize their patient has oral cancer only after it has spread to the surrounding areas.

In light of this, the easiest and most effective way to treat oral cancer is after early detection. And according to the accepted dental standard of care, your dentist should be able to recognize the symptoms of oral cancer. Successful cancer treatment could depend on their expertise and training in the dental field.

Unfortunately, negligent dentists have misdiagnosed oral cancer, betraying their patients’ trust. In past dental malpractice cases, dentists have failed to notice oral cancer by not performing necessary x-rays and not doing biopsies after seeing warning signs. Your dentist is the first line of defense between you and oral cancer. When your life could depend on their services, there is no room for careless, haphazard treatment.

If you are a victim of misdiagnosed oral cancer, you deserve to be compensated for your damages. Attorney Dane Levy is an OC dental malpractice lawyer with years of experience winning high-profile cases. He’ll use his USC Dental School education to make sure you win your case in court. Contact the Levy Law Firm today for more information.

Oral cancer: It’s your dentist’s job to find it

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Blog submitted by Dane Levy, Attorney of Dentalmal.com, a provider of legal services for those injured by dental malpractice in California

When people think of going to the dentist, they might think of having their teeth cleaned, root canal procedures, or getting crowns/dental implants. What some might not know is that it’s also a dentist’s job to identify oral cancer, even in its earliest stages. The consequences of failing to do so can be disastrous for a patient’s health.

As with all forms of cancer, treatment for oral cancer will be easiest and most effective if it is diagnosed at the earliest possible moment. According to The Oral Cancer Foundation, the reason why the death rate for oral cancer is so high is not that it is difficult to identify; it is because many cases of oral cancer have been discovered far too late for the patient to treat it successfully. There is no way to understate this issue’s importance. Dentists who are careless about identifying oral cancer are gambling with their patients’ lives.

Historically, the compensations patients have received for misdiagnosed oral cancer have been appropriately huge. One woman was awarded $15 million for a misdiagnosed lesion that progressed into stage IV oral cancer. If you have suffered from a case of misdiagnosed oral cancer, you may be entitled to sue your dentist for compensation.

Dane Levy is a dental malpractice attorney who has experience winning high-profile oral cancer dental malpractice cases that have resulted in million-dollar settlements. If you need a dental malpractice attorney California, contact the Levy Law Firm today.

How to Pick the Right Medical Malpractice Attorney?

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If you are a victim of a dental injury due to a dental procedure that was incorrectly done, you will want to consult a reputed dental malpractice lawyer. Here are some key areas that you should look into before selecting on an attorney to handle your case.

Experience – Dental malpractice cases will involve proving that the dentist deviated from the accepted standards of medical practice and this act of failure caused the patient’s injury. To ensure that the plaintiff has a strong case, the attorney will have to be familiar with applicable laws and the medical implications they can cause. Most cases will require expert witnesses to provide reliable testimony. The attorney will have to select these expert witnesses and prepare them for the case. All these crucial areas will require an attorney with experience in this specific field. Ask your attorney how many similar cases they have handled and ask them to provide you with references.

Medical knowledge – A medical malpractice attorney needs to understand medical terms, procedures, diagnoses, and theories. Therefore, most reputed attorneys will have nurses, doctors or other medical professionals with whom they can consult to learn more about the case.

Litigation experience – Your attorney should have experience in litigating and settling medical malpractice claims. Look at an attorney that you are comfortable working with as most dental malpractice cases can take years to solve.

Blog submitted by Dane Levy Attorney of www.Dentalmal.com, a provider of legal services for those injured by dental malpractice in California

The different types of dental malpractice

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Blog submitted by Dane Levy Attorney of www.Dentalmal.com, a provider of legal services for those injured by dental malpractice in California

Just as you are with doctors, you are also protected when it comes to dental malpractice. Dental malpractice is when a dentist causes harm to a patient. This can be either through direct or indirect means. Here we explain the difference between the two types:

When it comes to direct causes are when it happens during a treatment or procedure. One of the most common examples is when the wrong tooth is pulled out. Another is some form of nerve injury that can result in issues like number tongue or numb lip.  The common theme here is that direct involves negligence by the dentist that causes physical harm to the patient. There are cases when the actual effects of the injury are only detected much later, and are usually not associated with the dental procedure.

Indirect causes are usually when the dentist does not do something he or she should have done. The first example is not consulting your medical history before a procedure. This can result in dental product liability claims as you might be allergic to something that should have been left out. The other is delaying or failing to diagnose a disease.
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If you suspect something due to symptoms like numb lip, contact a malpractice lawyer immediately

Understanding Dental Malpractice

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Blog submitted by Dane Levy Attorney of www.DentalMal.com, a provider of legal services for those injured by dental malpractice in California

Like most people, you probably don’t look forward to seeing the dentist much. In fact, it might even be the type of appointment you try to put off as much as possible. The vast majority of us simply don’t like the experience.

That being said, the good news is that our fears and concerns are usually quite wrong. Most of us will never truly have a bad story to tell about going to the dentist other than how uncomfortable we were.

On the other hand, every year, many people need to contact dental lawyers because they’ve been the victims of malpractice. This means that the dentist or one of their assistants did something that actually caused you harm or injury.

It’s not important that you understand all dental malpractice information right now. All you need to know is that if you were hurt by a medical professional, you need to contact an attorney right away. The pain and suffering you’ve gone through or may continue to go through is something you shouldn’t have to pay for. The right lawyer will be able to walk you through the rest.

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If you’re worried about a dental implant nerve injury you think you received at the dentist, you must call attorney Dane Levy right away. His experience with medical malpractice will be invaluable at this time.

Winning a Dental Malpractice Suit

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By “Blog submitted by Dane Levy Attorney of www.Dentalmal.com, a provider of legal services for those injured by dental malpractice in California”

While most of us don’t like going to the dentist, when we do, we generally expect that our visit will go just fine. If anything, it’s just the anticipation that eats away at us. Unfortunately, every year, a number of patients will have to learn about dental malpractice information the hard way. They’ll go to the dentist and actually leave worse off than when they arrived. That’s when they need to contact a malpractice attorney Los Angeles ASAP.

dentalmal1Unlike a lot of civil lawsuits, suing someone over malpractice isn’t something you can try to do on your own. You can’t expect to go to court with a doctor and their lawyers and leave with anything but disappointment. Medical professionals have insurance and their insurers are usually quite interested in making sure they don’t have to pay out for a malpractice suit. The doctor is also going to be very motivated to make sure they don’t lose their license, which means you have an even longer road ahead of you.

Although hopefully this will never come up, if you do have reason to file a malpractice suit, don’t try doing it alone.

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Don’t take chances with your dental malpractice suit. Instead, make sure you get the help you need from Dana Levy so that you’re in a position to actually win your suit and keep this from happening to someone else.

You Need to Act on Dental Malpractice Right Away

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Blog submitted by Dane Levy Attorney of www.Dentalmal.com, a provider of legal services for those injured by dental malpractice in California

dentalmal1None of us ever wants to imagine what could go wrong when visiting the doctor. Of course, many of us still do. A lot of us can’t help but imagine all the worst case scenarios that could play out, even when we’re just visiting for a simple checkup.

This is especially true when you go to the dentist. For most people, this is one of their greatest fears.

Fortunately, they’re most unfounded. Things like anesthesia deaths and other complications are very rare and the Internet has made it easier than ever to gauge which dentists are the most reliable.

That being said, dental malpractice does happen which is enough reason for you to always be prepared. Whether its dental product liability claims or a dentist actually making a mistake that leaves you injured, you should know that you need to file a claim as fast as you can.

Whatever you do, don’t wait too long, as evidence may be lacking. Don’t try going at this alone, either. Dental professionals have plenty of attorneys to call upon, so you’ll need all the help you can get.

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If you think your dentist or another oral hygiene professional made a mistake that left you injured or otherwise worse off, you need to speak to a dental malpractice lawyer right away. Dane Levy can help you secure the damages you are entitled to.

What you need to know about Root Canal Surgeries

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“Blog submitted by Dane Levy Attorney of www.Dentalmal.com, a provider of legal services for those injured by dental malpractise in California”

Root canal surgeries are quite delicate procedures that would be requiring tremendous care and concentration on the part of the dental surgeon. During a root canal treatment, the pulp-filled cavity located at the root of teeth is removed from the jaw of the patient. This particular zone of the mouth tends to be prone to infections and inflammations. This procedures allows the surgeon to disinfect and clean up this area. The cavity that is left after the root canal is removed is then filled using a special mixture and the tooth is put back in place. One of the most common mistakes taking place during this procedure is a root canal overfill. This can have various adverse effects on the health of the patient.

An overfill implies that too much of the chemical component used in the filling is in contact with the nerve of the jaw. These chemicals are quite powerful and overexposure to them might lead to chemical burns. Patients with overfilled tooth cavities will tend to experience constant pain in the jaw and a feeling of numbness. In some cases, the filling paste used by the surgeon might contain paraformaldehyde which is not FDA approved. These types of chemicals can lead to a mummification of the sensory system found in the jaw.

A prompt decompression is generally needed within 48 hours of exposure to overfilled cavities in order to prevent any irreversible effects.

Dentalmal.com consists of a team of legal professionals who provide advice and guidance to dental malpractice cases such as dental implant nerve injury.

Dental Implant Injury and How to Deal with it

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“Blog submitted by Dane Levy Attorney of www.Dentalmal.com, a provider of legal services for those injured by dental malpractice in California”

As per a survey by the King’s College Dental Institute in 2012, about 1% of the overall dental implant procedures have given rise to an injury case. Dental implants are done in cases when a patient has been injured to the mouth or lost a tooth from a disease. The procedure is completed through the insertion of an artificial denture, partial or complete, to the jaw.

As per this same survey, it was furthermore found that some patients claimed that they did not receive adequate care and information prior to and after the procedure. In some cases, follow-ups after the implant were not adequately carried out. These types of follow-ups allow dentists to check for nerve damages. In some instances, patients were not given information regarding the risks involved in the procedure.

Sustaining a dental injury can have various adverse effects on the life of patients. Apart from the excruciating pain and numbness caused by such injuries, patients have also experience psychological issues relating from these discomforts.

Patients who are in such cases could seek the advice of dental lawyers. A malpractice attorney has experience in dealing with negligence and damages cases. Attorneys dental will listen to the issues and queries of patients in order to determine which actions to undertake, whether to file a case or ask for a settlement. The lawyer would also be able to file a lawsuit if the settlement does not cover all the damages incurred or are being refused by the dental cabinet.

Dentalmal.com consists of a group of law professionals and legal providers specialized in malpractice cases like dental implant nerve injury.

Should you hire a dental lawyer?

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Blog submitted by Dane Levy Attorney of www.Dentalmal.com, a provider of legal services for those injured by dental malpractice in California

Dentists are bound by the duty of care. This implies that they have the legal obligation to keep the best interest of their patients in mind and need to provide them with a treatment that is of a good standard. However, even if you feel that your dentist did abide by the duty of care, this does not automatically constitute of a dental malpractice case. To engage into a dental malpractice claim, you would have to prove that you have suffered some form of injury or harm as a direct result of your dentist’s negligence or lack of care.

Generally, you could seek the advice of a malpractice attorney if you think that you have been the victim of the following situations:

  • Failure to diagnose an issue or a wrong diagnosis might be the cause of future harms. If for example your dentist did not diagnose a gum disease on time, this issue might aggravate over time degenerating into loose teeth.
  • Not obtaining an informed consent from you. An informed consent is required for dental treatments and it is important that the dentist explains the procedure in simple terms so that you may understand all the risks involved.
  • Any injuries to your tongue, lips or mouth resulting from the procedure might be due to negligence on behalf of the dentist.
  • Any numbness that you were not warned about prior to the procedure.

If you are in the LA area, you might opt to seek the help of a malpractice attorney in Los Angeles. The dental malpractice lawyer will provide you with guidance on how to build a solid claim and how to get a fair hearing.