An article in Medscape titled High Oral Lesion Misdiagnosis Rate Among Dentists is based on a recent study performed in Virginia.  The study showed that general dentists correctly diagnosed only 54.1% of all oral lesions missing 45.9% of the time.  Think you are in better hands with specialized practitioners - think again - oral and maxillofacial surgeons misdiagnosed 42.8%, endodontists misdiagnosed 42.2%, and periodontists misdiagnosed 41.2%.

Dentists do not diagnose oral lesions correctly because it is difficult to simply look at an oral lesion and tell whether it is precancerous or cancerous.  "Many lesions appear very similar clinically — they are red or white, raised or flat, ulcerated or not, but those criteria fit thousands of oral disease entities," Dr. Henkel told Medscape Medical News. "Microscopic diagnosis is often the only way to differentiate lesions of varying origin. That's why in the operating room, all removed tissue is sent for microscopic evaluation."

If you suspect there is a sore in your mouth and you hear from your dentist "It's OK - it is just a ...." make sure you insist that the dentist take a biopsy and send it for competent analysis.  You might even insist that the dentist show you the pathology report that says it is benign.

The abstract of the article can be purchased at Quintessence Publishing but the last line of the abstract appears to say it all: The high rates of clinical misdiagnosis by dental practitioners indicate that all excised lesions should to be submitted for histologic diagnosis.  Make sure your dentist is on his game and not simply making the call on his own.

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The first reason is the expense of experts and the typical circling of the wagons. What I mean by this is that it is virtually impossible to find another Utah dentist that is willing to criticize the care provided by another Utah dentist. Unlike New York or California, Utah is a relatively small state, dentist population wise. Utah dentists see each other at yearly functions and perhaps more importantly refer patients back and forth. The dentist that renders a dental malpractice opinion that a colleague committed dental malpractice may soon find out exactly how small the dental community is in Utah.

The second reason dental malpractice cases are tough is that the damages in the typical dental malpractice case are simply too small to justify hiring an out-of-state expert to prove your case. When you include attorney fees, costs and the expense of an expert you often need a case valued at least $50,000 to justify taking the case.

Another reason dental malpractice cases are tough is because a lawyer needs to be fairly well educated in the nuances of dental treatment and take the time to understand the dental treatment and medicine. Because I am a once-upon-a-time registered nurse I understand the anatomy and the disease processes. Because I have represented many people in dental malpractice cases I have taken the time to understand the dental treatment and disease processes involved with dental malpractice cases.