DEER PARK, Wash. — The Spokane Regional Health District and the Washington State Department of Health are recommending patients who received care from Sandy Fletcher Montano, DDS, at the Deer Park Dental Clinic to test for HIV and viral hepatitis.
The health district said patients who visited the dental clinic between November 2021 and June 2022 to be tested for hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV.
The Department of Health was notified of the potential infection control allegations that could impact patients in Spokane County in November 2021.
The Department of Health also said they do not have any record of other complaints related to infection control practices by Montano before 2021.
The Department of Health recommends patients to talk with their own healthcare provider about potential risks and decide whether to seek testing or not.
"The potential infection control breaches were reported as a complaint and include improper cleaning and disinfection of reusable equipment and improper reuse of disposable equipment which could expose patients to blood and other infectious material," the Department of Health said in a press release sent out Wednesday evening. "While no disease transmission has been identified at this time, if these practices occurred at the clinic, it is possible that they may have exposed patients to bloodborne pathogens (hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV). The risk of contracting a disease is believed to be low."
The Department of Health said they suspected Montano's license in June 2022, later having his license indefinitely suspected in April 2024.