NSW Health authorities have assured the public it's safe to go to the dentist after six Sydney practitioners were suspended for potentially exposing thousands of patients to HIV and hepatitis.
Dr Robert Starkenburg and The Gentle Dentist operator Dr Samson Chan and four of his staff have been suspended over poor hygiene standards that may have exposed up to 12,000 people to blood-borne diseases.
NSW Health says there has been no evidence of transmission and the risk of infection is low.
But it recommends that patients of Dr Starkenburg's Surry Hills and Bondi Junction practices, and those who have had invasive procedures at The Gentle Dentist surgeries in Campsie and at Sussex St in the CBD, get tested for blood-borne diseases.
Dr Shane Fryer from the Dental Council of NSW says most dentists do the right thing, although the cases show more can be done to educate practitioners.
"I want to assure the public that there are stringent guidelines in place in relation to infection control, that dental practitioners must adhere to," he told reporters on Thursday.
Dr Starkenburg, 75, who has been a dentist for 40 years, has admitted he fell behind safety standards but says there is no way he would have infected patients with a blood-borne disease.
"I could have infected them with measles maybe, if someone came in with measles and sneezed," he told reporters.
"But not HIV, not Hep C, not Hep B."
He said he had taken courses since his suspension in December and wished to return to the profession.
Authorities started investigating all four practices after customer complaints late last year.
They have defended their decision not to inform the public of possible exposure until seven months after Dr Starkenburg's suspension.
Extensive investigations included expert meetings and trawling through the records of 40,000 patients," Dr Jeremy McAnulty, director of health protection at NSW Health, said.
"It required a number of visits to all the clinics, to reassess issues around infection and control, what the procedures were, what the risks might present," he said.
Dr Chan was suspended in March after significant breaches were discovered in February.
Six other staff at The Gentle Dentist also had restrictions placed on their licences.
The surgeries remain open but will be subject to continuing investigations and monitoring, Dr Fryer said.
Dental Council of NSW said it would not release the names of the other four suspended dentists or provide details on whether they were trained overseas.
NSW Health Minister Jillian Skinner did not comment on the extent of potential exposures but said she was certain authorities have given the public the advice it needs.
SYDNEY DENTISTS HYGIENE SAGA
The Gentle Dentist
- Two practices - Campsie and Sussex St
- More than 11,000 patients who had invasive procedures at risk
- Customer complaints made in December 2014 and practice advised on standards
- Significant breaches found in February
- Operator Dr Samson Chan suspended in March
- Four staff dentists also suspended
- Restrictions placed on licences of six other dentists
- Surgeries remain open
Dr Robert Starkenburg
- Two practices - Surry Hills and Bondi Junction
- Customer complaint in November 2014
- Suspended in December 2014
- Surgeries closed
- Up to 800 patients at risk but records don't show how many had invasive procedures
Share
