DT News - UK - Dental patients offered HIV tests over fears of contaminated equipment use

Dental Tribune UK

Mon. 3 June 2019

save

HODDESDON, UK: More than 500 patients at a Hoddesdon dental practice have been advised to take blood tests over concerns that the possible use of improperly cleaned dental equipment could have exposed them to HIV or hepatitis B or C.

The Dentality@Hoddesdon practice sent letters to 563 patients who had undergone ultrasonic dental scaling by a dental hygienist who reportedly failed to sterilise the scaler after each and every use. The independently contracted hygienist, Ekta Parikh, was dismissed after an investigation, according to the dental practice.

In a letter to the clinic’s patients, Public Health England (PHE) said that concerns had been raised about “an individual hygienist who no longer works at the practice” and about the fact that dental instruments used by this individual may have been unsterile when used in treating patients. PHE has subsequently set up a dedicated phone line to help patients who wish to seek further information and book a blood test.

“As soon as we became aware of behaviour from a hygienist that did not meet the rigorous standards we expect from our entire team, we immediately launched a full investigation, and escalated the matter to all key authorities,” said Dr Vishaal Shah, principal dentist at Dentality@Hoddesdon, in a statement.

“We understand anyone receiving these letters will have concerns and while there is an extremely low risk of exposure, all these patients are being offered detailed information, and a dedicated number to call to book an appointment for blood testing as a precaution and get further advice,” he added.

Dr Jorg Hoffmann, Deputy Director for Health Protection at PHE East of England, backed Shah’s assertion that the risk of exposure to any of these blood-borne viruses was slight. “Testing is being offered as a precautionary measure,” he said. “We know patients will be anxious about this situation and they will be supported by the NHS and PHE throughout.”

“Effective treatments are available for all blood-borne viruses, which is why it was important to identify anyone who may have been put at risk of infection so testing and treatment can be offered,” Hoffmann continued.

Tags:

To post a reply please login or register

Scottish dental patients receive HIV warning

GLASGOW/DUMFRIES, UK: Only a few days after the UK Department of Health announced that it will ease the ban on HIV-positive medical personnel, health ...

Study supports use of preventative antibiotic use in high-risk patients

SHEFFIELD, UK: Currently, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines recommend that dentists should generally not use ...

HIV-positive dentist loses licence over dishonesty

PAISLEY, UK: The General Dental Council has removed a Scottish dentist from the register because he failed to disclose his HIV status to authorities. Along ...

General Dental Council publishes assessment on use of AI in dentistry

LONDON, England: The UK’s General Dental Council has emphasised its commitment to understanding and monitoring the evolving impact of artificial ...

Dentists in Scotland voice concerns over expired personal protective equipment

LONDON, UK: Dentists in Scotland have recently voiced their concerns over receiving stocks of free expired personal protective equipment (PPE). Since the ...

Number of dental patients continues to increase

LEEDS – Last week, the National Health Service (NHS) released the latest statistics regarding the number of patients seen by NHS dentists in England ...

NHS overhaul sparks fears for dental public health

LONDON, England: UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced plans to abolish National Health Service (NHS) England, aiming to integrate its functions ...

Jersey patients waiting years for orthodontic treatment

ST HELIER, Jersey: Patients on the island of Jersey are having to wait up to five years for orthodontic treatment, according to local newspaper the Jersey ...

Use of dental materials: Are we all deviants?

When I was training at university, every stage of a procedure was supervised, step by tedious step. The “idiot sheets” (as our restorative ...

Framework for commissioning of diabetic dental patients released

LONDON, UK: Though the mutually influential relationship between diabetes and periodontal disease has been well established, there has been limited guidance...

Education

Live webinar
Wed. 22 October 2025
6:00 pm UTC (London)