Philadelphia Warns Hundreds of Dental Patients of HIV Risk as Dentist's License Is Suspended
Updated
Updated · abcnews.com · May 22
Philadelphia Warns Hundreds of Dental Patients of HIV Risk as Dentist's License Is Suspended
9 articles · Updated · abcnews.com · May 22
Philadelphia health officials urged patients treated at Smiles at Rittenhouse Square from April 2025 to May 2026 to get tested for HIV and hepatitis after identifying possible bloodborne exposure.
A May 15 state order temporarily suspended Dr. Kirti Chopra's license, citing an immediate danger to public safety after an unannounced inspection found unsanitary practices.
Investigators said the clinic reused single-use injectable medication vials and IV saline bags, and found improperly sterilized instruments, contaminated packaging and blood- or saliva-exposed handpieces left unsterilized.
No linked HIV or hepatitis cases have been identified so far, and officials said the risk appears low, but exposure in such settings can cause chronic infection and may require multiple follow-up blood tests.
The clinic has closed, the city is compiling a patient list that could reach into the hundreds, and it opened a hotline while stressing that nearby Rittenhouse Smiles is not under investigation.
This Philly dental clinic was caught, but how many others are currently gambling with their patients' lives?
How did a dental clinic's dangerous safety violations go unnoticed for over a year, endangering hundreds of patients?
What recourse do hundreds of potentially infected patients have after their dentist's license was suspended for unsafe practices?