A Sydney dentist accused of going into nursing homes and filing down the teeth of a dozen elderly residents without their consent has been found guilty of assault.
Dr Andrew Istephan, 34, had pleaded not guilty to 12 counts of assault occasioning actual harm on nursing home residents between September and November 2011.
A jury at Downing Centre District Court on Wednesday found him guilty of five counts.
They couldn't agree on the other seven counts, which may go to another trial.
Istephan had been contracted by the organisation Elderlink, which provides health services to nursing homes, outsources procedures and then takes fees from the money provided under government schemes.
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The court heard that many of the patients were not capable of consenting because of dementia or other health issues and their families were not consulted about the dental work either.
Istephan said that when a patient was not capable of giving consent, he gained permission from staff at the facilities, which included homes run by Uniting Care.
The jury deliberated for just over a week.
Istephan showed little emotion during court proceedings.
His wife shook her head after the verdict was handed down.
Judge David Frearson called it an "unusual" case and told the father of three to surrender his passport.
He will be sentenced on October 25.
