Patients in the Spokane, WA, area are being asked to undergo testing for hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV after it was revealed a dental practice reportedly did not properly clean or disinfect dental equipment and also reused disposable products.
According to reports, Dr. Sandy Montano had his license revoked earlier this year for lacking proper infection control protocols. Those same reports indicate that "patients who received treatment from Montano at the Deer Park Dental Clinic may have been exposed to bloodborne disease between November 2021 and June 2022."
The Deer Park Dental Clinic is located in Deer Park., WA, a town of just under 5,000 residents situated roughly 35 minutes north of Spokane and 40 minutes west of the Idaho state line.
The Washington State Department of Health and Spokane Regional Health District issued an advisory. The advisory comes during Dental Infection Control Awareness Month (DICAM) and serves as a stark reminder of the need for dental practices to follow proper protocols.
In the notice, the Washington State Department of Health and Spokane Regional Health District are "recommending testing for patients" who visited the clinic during the time frame listed above. Additionally, the notice says, "The risk of contracting disease is believed to be low based on similar incidents in other states."
Dr. Montano's license was indefinitely suspended in April of this year.
This is a developing story, and we will have more on it here on DrBicuspid.com.
