The town of Tulsa, Oklahoma is shaken after news of Dr. W. Scott Harrington’s dirty dental practices hit the media. The state dental board has found evidence of rusty and re-used needles and equipment in the office. It was also discovered that the doctor poured bleach on patients’ wounds until they “turned white.”
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In late March, over 7,000 patients were sent letters in the mail detailing the horrible findings and urging them to get checked for Hepatitis and HIV. So far, 3,122 patients have gone to get tested. Out of those people, 57 tested positive for hepatitis B and 3 tested positive for hepatitis C. One person tested positive for HIV.
“This is a complex investigation,” state epidemiologist Dr. Kristy Bradley said. “The next phase will include more in-depth interviews of persons who test positive to determine the likelihood that their exposure is associated with their dental surgical procedure at the Harrington practice. We will certainly continue to keep the public informed as we learn more.”
After over 30 years of practicing dentistry, Harrington voluntarily turned in his dental license to the state. He could face criminal charges for his wrongdoings.
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“The basic things that everyone knows — follow CDC guidelines, use clean syringes, don’t reuse multi-dose vials in multiple patients, don’t use rusted equipment — those are things even non-physicians know,” said president of the Oklahoma Board of Dentistry, Susan Rogers. “Those are basic things. That part makes it egregious.”
Like going to the dentist wasn’t scary enough already!
