Center City Philadelphia dental office reopens after license suspension - 6abc Philadelphia

What the report says

WPVI-TV reports that a Center City Philadelphia dental practice is preparing to reopen after its owner’s dental license was temporarily suspended during an investigation into infection-control procedures. The office, previously called Smiles at Rittenhouse Square and now operating as Smiles at The Square, is owned by Dr. Kirti Chopra and is located on the 25th floor of a Center City building. According to WPVI, the practice had been closed since May and was scheduled to resume operations on Thursday.

The Philadelphia Department of Public Health began looking into the office after receiving complaints and conducting an unannounced inspection. Health officials said they identified concerns with sterilization of instruments and practices they believed could have created risk of exposure to HIV and hepatitis C. WPVI reported that Chopra acknowledged saline bags were kept while tubing was changed between patients, but she denied that anesthetic vials were reused.

The health department told WPVI it was not aware of any HIV or hepatitis C cases connected to the practice. In a statement cited by the station, the department said its patient-safety recommendations had been satisfactorily implemented and that it did not oppose reopening, provided the practice remains in compliance with its state agreement.

WPVI reported that Chopra said the office has changed sterilization and storage procedures, retrained staff and added equipment. Her license has been reinstated with conditions, including four years of probation, training, inspections, and $15,000 in fines and fees. The case matters because infection-control lapses in health care settings can prompt patient notification, regulatory scrutiny and public concern even when no related infections have been identified.