Regulators take aim at bad practitioners

The NSW Dental Council has restricted the registration of 12 registered dentists in NSW, all of whom have been involved in dental practices in inner western Sydney at the centre of a public health alert.

The Dental Council suspended six practitioners and imposed conditions on another six to manage risk to patients, after identifying serious breaches of infection control procedures and sub-standard hygiene. NSW Health has announced a look-back of patients who have attended the clinics. In addition, AHPRA has executed search warrants in Melbourne's northern suburbs and removed equipment to stop unregistered individuals allegedly providing dental treatment to patients. AHPRA has charged one unregistered practitioner, Muhammet Velipasaoglu, with a series of statutory offences and is investigating issues raised at the other three premises in Meadow Heights and Roxburgh Park. The Dental Board of Australia sets the standards for infection control and the professional conduct of all registered dental practitioners, including those practising in NSW. This includes Guidelines in infection control and the Code of Conduct. Regulation is focused on managing risk to the public, by making sure only people who are qualified and skilled to provide safe care, are registered to practice.