Knoxville, Tenn.-based Clarence "Buzz" Nabers, DDS, mailed letters to patients informing them that they should get tested for HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C, according to Knox News.
A spokesperson for the Tennessee Department of Health told Knox News the state required Dr. Nabers to send the notices after determining that he did not properly sterilize equipment. Dr. Nabers was fined $11,000 and his license has been put on probation.
An investigation found that between Sept. 15, 2016 and Sept. 15, 2019, Dr. Nabers' practice would reuse disposable drill pieces by placing them in a cold sterile solution. Other dental tools and syringes were only cleaned with a sanitizing cloth, and sanitation machines at the practice were not tested.
No patients have reported illnesses, according to the letter mailed. Dr. Nabers told Knox News that he notified patients voluntarily.
"Although my attorneys did not believe the facts, or the law, required individual notices, I chose to do so to eliminate any risk to each and every one of my patients. I mean it when I say patient safety is our priority," Dr. Nabers told Knox News.