File photo (ROBYN BECK / AFP/Getty Images)

More than 1,000 patients who went to one of Nova Southeastern University’s dental clinics in South Florida for orthodontic procedures may have been exposed to certain viruses because the surgical equipment wasn’t properly sterilized by some of the dental residents.

“Instead of the called-for complete heat sterilization process, equipment received a surface disinfectant wipe,” university spokesman Brandon Hensler said in an email to the Orlando Sentinel on Tuesday.

The university notified the affected patients with letters sent on Nov. 23, offering them physician consultations and blood test forms.

The breach of protocol occurred in Post-Graduate Orthodontic Clinic at 3200 South University Dr. in Davie, the dental school’s main clinic in Broward County.

University officials said the breach of protocol created “a minimal risk for possible exposure to certain viruses” and that the majority of orthodontic patients were not exposed.

The situation has been corrected, according to the university.

“The University continues its internal review of this regrettable breach of established health and safety protocols at this one clinic, and will take disciplinary actions, as appropriate, against all those responsible for this breach when our internal review is completed,” Hensler wrote.

A spokesman for the Florida Department of Health said that he couldn’t say “whether or not the Department receives a complaint or plans to take action against any practitioner until 10 days after probable cause is found.”

If there’s probable cause, the responsible dentists can end up in front of the Florida Board of Dentistry.

Officials at Nova Southeastern University’s College of Dental Medicine sent letters to 1,152 patients who may have been exposed when they were getting their brackets fixed or were getting or removing their braces. The letter was signed by dental school dean, Linda Niessen.

Citing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, university officials said that the breach of protocol created a minimal risk for possible exposure to hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV viruses for some of the orthodontics patients.

“The CDC and an independent infection control expert retained by NSU said the risk is extremely low. Still, decisive steps have been taken to eliminate the variance and to ensure that all protocols are strictly followed,” Hensler wrote.

The university wouldn’t say in what time period the exposures may have happened and how the breach came to light.

“Once the College found out about this isolated breach of protocol in this one clinic, NSU conducted an extensive review to ensure that this clinic is following the same protocols, as prescribed by the CDC, as the other 11 dental clinics,” wrote Hensler.

The College of Dental Medicine operates 12 dental clinics across Broward County.

National guidelines recommend some level of heat sterilization for medical and dental instruments.

The CDC released a statement in April, stressing that dental handpieces and other intra-oral instruments need to be heat sterilized between patients and that if a dental handpiece can’t be heat sterilized and does not have FDA clearance with instructions for reprocessing, it should not be used.

“While the use of inadequately sterilized critical items represents a high risk of transmitting pathogens, documented transmission of pathogens associated with an inadequately sterilized critical item is exceedingly rare,” according to the CDC.

Dr. Jolene Paramore, president of the Florida Dental Association, also said that the risk of disease transmission is “extremely low” in this situation because it’s unusual for orthodontic patients to bleed. The transmission of viruses like hepatitis and HIV requires blood to blood contact, she said.

She said that regardless, patients should follow the university’s recommendation and get the appropriate testing to have peace of mind.

The college is scheduling visits with Nova Southeastern University physicians and is providing blood test forms that patients can take to a lab. The university is covering the cost of physician consultations and blood tests.

You can reach an NSU physician Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at (954) 262-1868 for the next 60 days.

nmiller@orlandosentinel.com, 321-436-9205, Twitter; Instagram; Facebook; LinkedIn.

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