Just one more reason to NOT go to the dentist!

United States
March 29, 2013 12:27pm CST
I just heard this horrible news story. There is local dentist whose business was just shut down because of unsafe practices. The state is investigating him and sending letters to his 7000 clients informing them they may have been exposed to HIV and Hepatitis C! They said he used unclean utensils and some of them were even rusty and all. It is frightening to me because you trust those whom you visit in healthcare and to thing he did not protect his patients.! One patient already has both conditions... I probably will never go to the dentist again!
2 people like this
11 responses
@AmbiePam (84424)
• United States
29 Mar 13
My sister lives in Owasso, one of the offices that dentist had. She said she and her husband have never been there, although she said she knows where it is, she drives by it all the time. She doesn't know anyone who has been to the guy, and hopefully the people being tested will turn out okay. But I'm always going to go to the dentist. For six years I didn't because I had no dental insurance. I finally went, even though I continued to have no dental insurance. I ended up with a $3,000 bill. So going every six months will save me money in the long run. So now I go every six months. Also, a lot of the bacteria found in dementia patients is directly caused by bacteria from the mouth. One more reason to go to the dentist. My mom has dementia. If I can do anything to lower my odds, I will.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (84424)
• United States
31 Mar 13
The moron doctor also has a mansion in Arizona. He's going to be penniless after he is sued.
1 person likes this
• United States
2 Apr 13
I imagine so!!!
@dagami (1158)
• Rome, Italy
29 Mar 13
this is frightening. i'm sure he's the only one amongst the thousands of dentists practicing in your area so you can still safely go to the other dental clinics. i wonder why it took a long time before he got exposed. 7000 patients? this means years of lucrative practice...
1 person likes this
@dagami (1158)
• Rome, Italy
29 Mar 13
if this is so then i think the government (health department) is not doing their job well. aren't they suppose to conduct regular monitoring of the medical/dental facilities and clinics in your area? someone is just sitting on his desk and receiving salary for doing nothing. there are people who are paid by taxes to do these and they should also be held accountable for their negligence.
1 person likes this
• United States
30 Mar 13
That is what I would think too!
@peavey (16936)
• United States
29 Mar 13
That is scary! It makes me glad that I have dentures. It's been awhile since I've been to a dentist, but it might be quite a few more before I go again.
1 person likes this
@peavey (16936)
• United States
29 Mar 13
I guess I'm not that bad (or good?), but I do hate to go to dentists and doctors both. I never fully trust them.
1 person likes this
• United States
29 Mar 13
I only go when my tooth gets bad and needs to be pulled. The pain has to be beyond tolerating before I even call for an appointment! I also do not go to the doctor unless I suspect something is really broken! I waited (and tried to run unsuccessfully) 10 days with a broken knee cap before I went in a couple of years back!
@MrGhost (550)
3 Apr 13
All I can say is that he must be punished severely. But you must have to visit your doctor if the situation deserves so.
1 person likes this
@ayeeesha (1127)
• Philippines
2 Apr 13
This is really disturbing and I feel bad for those patients. However, not going to the dentist is not a solution. Our teeth needs some care and cleaning too. There are still many decent dentists out there who practice in a professional, safe manner. Just ask around from friends or relatives who can refer a good dentist.
1 person likes this
• United States
2 Apr 13
I just hate going to the dentist or the doctor. As a general rule things have to get pretty bad before I will go. Actually about 2 years ago I fell on a training run and broke my knee and didn't go for almost 2 weeks. the doctor was very upset since I really needed a couple of stitches in my knee cap!
@ayeeesha (1127)
• Philippines
2 Apr 13
That's terrible! I mean you'll never know what's going on inside your body if you don't go to the doctor for a regular check-up. Of course that's your call and I won't persuade you or anything :)
• Philippines
2 Apr 13
Oh that sucks! We go to dentists for some health reasons and in that case it turned out to be a source of health problems. I had an experience that left me worried for 2 months after the appointment. I had my right tooth extracted, I dont know what happened to my hard palate after the dentist injected the anesthesia. That part of my palate where the dentist injected the needle had a bump. I thought it could lead up to a mouth cancer and now I was a bit relieved when it became smaller. Still the bump is here until now and it became hardened. It made me sleepless at night just thinking whats gonna happen to me.
1 person likes this
• United States
2 Apr 13
Those kinds of things can be very scary indeed! I am glad it turned out to be okay. It's making me less likely to ever go to a dentist again! I rarely go as it is. It's sort of like taking a car in for a check up - there's no problems until after you go!
@doroffee (4222)
• Hungary
29 Mar 13
I don't think never going to the dentist is the right solution... if you have a toothache, you should go to the dentist, because otherwise, it's going to be a nightmare of pains. You should just do great research beforehand. This local dentist sounds insane... exposing the clients to Hepatitis and HIV? He should be sent to prison! But with that being said, most dentists are really resourceful and have the expertise.
1 person likes this
• United States
30 Mar 13
I had to go a couple of years ago to have a tooth pulled because I could not afford to have it fixed. I hope that does not happen again for awhile because I'm running out of teeth!
@rubyroy (824)
• India
2 Apr 13
Pray for these unfortunate people.Go only to well reputed clinics insist that you want to check their sterilization process of their equipments.
• United States
2 Apr 13
I tell you for sure that if I ever go to a dentist again one of the things I will ask will be their process for sterilizing their equipment. I will ask to see the things too just to make sure that there is no rust on them or anything too!
@TLilly12 (1229)
• United States
29 Mar 13
This is some scary stuff, I saw online where I can, buy my own Utensils, to clean my own teeth, and that what I will do, and I will keep my utensils clean, and when they get old I will put them, in the trash and buy news ones.
1 person likes this
• United States
30 Mar 13
I guess that is an option I had not considered at all! I'll have to look into purchasing some of my own equipment. I bought the little bent mirror thingy so I can see a wound that's on the inside of my son's hand.
@merylpan (37)
30 Mar 13
oh ,it's terrible, as a dentist he should have the responsible to use clean utensils to protect the patients, it's the basic thing, hope his patients healthy.
1 person likes this
• United States
2 Apr 13
You are correct in saying it is his responsibility to ensure that the utensils are clean and that his staff is using proper procedures in providing care for patients. It's very sad that some may be ill and it could all have been totally prevented!
@scubapro (1051)
• Gifu, Japan
30 Mar 13
frightening news,especially after i saw hiv and hepatit part. it must be nightmare for a person who got any illness from this doctor, i think this kind of things will still be even we will be at 2040.i dont know why but people s life is cheap and meaningless sometimes.and it makes me sad. this news is just so sad,and i cant say anything more.. peace
1 person likes this
• United States
2 Apr 13
Sad indeed. I am sure those being tested are on a super emotional roller coaster waiting to see if they contracted either disease. I really think it is unlikely that they could get HIV - although possible. It is highly likely to have Hep C though and that's no picnic either from my understanding! It's got to be scary for sure~