Virginia dental practice used unsterile equipment, class-action suit alleges

Roanoke, Va.-based Spencer Dental has been accused of using unsterile dental instruments on pediatric patients, according to a class-action lawsuit filed May 9 and cited by virginiafirst.com.

The lawsuit, which was filed on behalf of a 9-year-old patient, claims dentists and dental staff used unsterile instruments on at least 50 patients between March and April. Spencer Dental also allegedly hired inexperienced, untrained and unlicensed students, dental assistants and other employees who were in charge of sterilizing equipment.

Spencer Dental, which was formerly branded as a Kool Smiles practice, is controlled by dental service organization Benevis.

Benevis has been in the hot seat recently. In January 2018, the DSO agreed to pay $23.9 million to settle allegations of fraudulent practices at some of its Kool Smiles locations.

Kool Smiles practices across the country have also quietly been undergoing name changes. In Mississippi, a Kool Smiles dental clinic rebranded as SunnyBrook Dentistry in April.

To read the full indictment, click here.

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