Couple Alleges Dentist Overlooked Cancerous Lesion

A couple is suing their Arlington Heights dentist alleging that he overlooked a lesion in the wife’s mouth that turned out to be cancerous.

Sheryl and Kevin Lunde filed a malpractice in Cook County Circuit Court against their dentist, Stanely Treitler, and his practice, Advanced Periodontics, Anesthesia and Dental Implants, P.C., at 1420 N. Arlington Heights Road, in Arlington Heights.

Sheryle Lunde started seeing Treitler in August 2013 and continued to seek care from him until Oct. 1, 2013, the lawsuit says.

During that period, Treitler allegedly failed to perform a biopsy of a lesion in Sheryl Lunde’s mouth, assuming it was a soft tissue graft. The lawsuit also maintains that he failed to recognize the significance of Lunde’s complaints of numbness in her jaw.

After Lunde stopped seeing the Arlington Heights dentist, she claims that the lesion in her mouth was diagnosed as cancerous in February 2014.

According to the complaint, by failing to perform adequate tests on the lesion, Treitler missed the cancer diagnosis, which resulted in delayed treatment options and a worsening of Lunde’s prognosis.

As a result of the dentist’s inadequate care and treatment during the course of his care for her, Sheryl Lunde suffered an increased severity of the cancer, causing her significant pain and suffering, the complaint said.

Kevin Lunde is also suing the dentist over claims that his wife’s cancer has impaired his ability to enjoy her love, companionship and society.

An affidavit provided by another dentist states purports that Treitler failed to appreciate the potential severity of Sheryl Lunde’s symptoms, nor did he explore and neurologically map the patient’s numbness.

Treitler does not have a disciplinary record with the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation and Finance.

The Lundes are asking for a judgement in excess of $100,000.

Chicago attorney Thomas J. Nathan is representing the case.

The details in this report come from an original complaint filed by a private individual in Cook County County Circuit Court. It is not an indication of guilt and represents only one side of the story.

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