A U.K. dental practice could have put thousands of patients at risk for infections such as HIV or hepatitis due to poor hygiene measures, according to a news story by the Daily Mirror.
The dentist, who has not been named, practiced in Bristol from 2003 to July 2007 and moved to Bournemouth in January 2008.
"The warning letter, from the director of South Gloucestershire Primary Care Trust Dr. Chris Payne, offers blood tests for HIV and hepatitis B and C," the paper reported. "He said that concerns had been raised about the dentist's standards of 'infection control' as dental instruments 'may not have been adequately sterilized.' "
But he also stressed that the risk of infection is low, the paper reported.
Patients who could be at risk will be alerted via phone calls and letters, and be offered blood tests and counseling, according to the paper.
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