22,000 dental patients recalled in Britain

Nearly 22,000 dental patients in Britain have been called upon to report for a re-check to ensure that they have not contracted a blood-borne disease such as HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C, following multiple failures in infection control by their dentist.

Public Health England(PHE), an executive agency of the Department of Health in Britain, is trying to trace those treated by D'Mello, who worked at the former Daybrook dental practice in Gedling, Nottinghamshire, for over 32 years.

The alarm was raised by a whistleblower in June, with evidence including covertly filmed footage of D'Mello, who is under interim suspension, the Guardian reported Wednesday.

According to PHE, tests on D'Mello found him clear of blood-borne virus so there was no risk of infection from the dentist.

Further investigation, however, has identified that patients seen by him "appear to have been placed at a possible low risk in infection due to apparent multiple failures in cross-infection control standards while undergoing dental treatment".

PHE added that "no findings have been made at this time in respect of D'Mello".