"Patients Urged to Test for Bloodborne Diseases After Sydney Dentist Suspended"

Patients of a suspended Sydney dentist are advised to test for blood-borne diseases like HIV and hepatitis due to unsafe sterilization practices at his Mortdale clinic.

The Dentist Council of NSW has suspended dentist Safuan Hasic and closed his Mortdale, New South Wales dental surgery after unsafe cleaning practices were discovered.
NSW Health is contacting a small number of patients treated at the practice, warning them of potential exposure to blood-borne diseases, including HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C.
Authorities found that inadequate sterilization (microbiology) procedures at the practice left patients at risk of contracting serious infections, prompting urgent testing recommendations.

Why It Matters

This incident underscores the critical importance of strict sterilization protocols in dentistry to prevent the transmission of blood-borne diseases. The potential exposure of patients to serious infections raises public health concerns and highlights the need for regulatory vigilance.