Patients may have been exposed to improperly cleaned tools at Burlington dental clinic

Patients of a Burlington dental clinic are being advised to get tested for infections diseases after it was discovered they may have been exposed to improperly cleaned equipment.

Upper Middle Dental on Walkers Line was shut down on June 9 after the Halton Region Health Department conducted an infection prevention and control inspection.

Officials say the inspection found that “proper infection prevention and control practices were not being followed to clean, disinfect, sterilize and store equipment and devices” at the clinic that is operated by Dr. Vick Handa.

“Improperly cleaned dental instruments carry a low risk of transmitting infectious diseases, such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) to clients,” said Dr. Daniela Kempkens, Acting Medical Officer of Health for Halton Region. “As a precaution, the Halton Region Health Department recommends that all clients who have ever received dental services at Upper Middle Dental contact their physician (or go to a walk-in clinic if they do not have a physician) to discuss testing for hepatitis B, hepatitis C and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).”

The Halton Region Health Department sent letters to past and current clients of the dental office to notify them and recommend they contact their physician. The practice has been in operation for 10 years.

The Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario suspended Dr. Handa’s license to practice on June 12. The suspension was lifted on June 16 after a re-inspection by the health department confirmed that the dental office met the required infection prevention and control standards.

The health department says inspections are completed on a complaint basis or as part of a reportable disease investigation.