The health authorities of Sydney had shown their concern for the thousands of dental patients who had invasive procedures and were prone to HIV and hepatitis over a ten year period.
A New South Wales (NSW) Health spokesman said at least 11,000 patients of two dental operators were at “low risk” due to unhygienic cleaning and sterilization practices. The clinics that are under lens were operated by Gentle Dental clinics at Campsie in Sydney’s south-west and in the central business district, and by Dr Robert Starkenburg at Surry Hills and Bondi Junction. The Dental Council of NSW found significant safety breaches at these clinics.
The 75-year-old Dr Starkenburg, had admitted to lax in his hygiene practices and was stood down by the Australian Dental Council on December 2, 2014 as confirmed by local media reports. At the same time, Dr Samson Chan from the Gentle Dentist centres had his registration suspended in March this year, along with four other dentists who worked at the practice.
NSW Health Authorities are recommending people who had invasive procedures at four practices in the Sydney region to be tested for blood-borne diseases. But at the same time they are suggesting that there is no evidence of transmission and chances of infection are low.
