Up to 7,000 people begin tests for hepatitis and HIV after being treated at dental clinics accused of re-using needles. Hundreds of patients of a dentist accused of poor hygiene at his clinics have been queuing for tests to see if they have been exposed to hepatitis or the virus that causes Aids.
On Friday, patients were sent letters warning them of problems at the clinics of Dr W Scott Harrington in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Hundreds of people arrived early and stood through torrential downpours outside a health centre to be among the first tested for hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV.
Health officials began looking into Mr Harrington’s two clinics after a patient with no other known risk factors tested positive for hepatitis and for HIV.
I – Word Understanding
Hepatitis – disease of the liver
Poor hygiene – dirty and unhealthy
Look into – to investigate / to observe or study by close examination
II – Have your say
1.Dentophobia is the fear of dentist. Millions of people don’t get necessary dental care because they are afraid to go to the dentist.
2.A dental implant is an artificial tooth root, which is screw or cylinder-shaped, that is placed into the jaw to hold a replacement tooth or bridge. Researchers warn that dental implants can cause nerve damage.
3.Excessive alcohol consumption can lead to cancer of the mouth, larynx and oesophagus and dentists may be the first to notice these conditions.
