Ariz. dental clinic may have exposed patients to hepatitis, HIV

The Pima County Health Department in Arizona is contacting 174 dental patients who were seen at the T Dental Clinic between January and July 2010, because they may have been exposed to blood-borne diseases such as hepatitis or HIV.

While no cases of transmission have been identified, this is a precautionary measure, the health department stated in a press release. The potential exposure may have been the result of improperly installed dental equipment, but at this time there is no evidence that patients were exposed to hepatitis B, hepatitis C, or HIV, the health department noted.

However, the department is strongly recommending that the people who have been contacted make an appointment with their primary care physician to test for these diseases.

Medical and dental offices in Arizona are not regulated by county health departments. However, the Pima County Health Department has partnered with the Arizona Department of Health Services to look into the incident and contact patients of the dental office. The T Dental Clinic is no longer in practice, closing operations in 2010.