RED LAKE — The Northwestern Health Unit says patients who underwent dental care at the Red Lake Dental Clinic in the last few years may have been exposed to improperly sterilized, reusable dental equipment.
The risk of having been infected is considered low, but officials are advising individuals who underwent a procedure at the clinic between Sept. 2, 2022 and May 16, 2025 to consult with their family doctor about testing for hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV.
Patients who don't have a doctor or nurse practitioner, or access to a local nursing station, are advised to reach out to the Northwestern Health Unit.
"I understand that this information may cause concern, and want to emphasize that we are currently not aware of any cases of infection linked with this lapse event," Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kit Young Hoon said in a statement Tuesday.
She said doctors and nurse practitioners can help determine the level of individual risk and testing needs based on a person's medical history.
"This is not urgent," Young Hoon told Newswatch. "We're encouraging people not to use the emergency room, and instead reach out for an appointment that they can schedule in the next few weeks."
NWHU was first notified about the infection prevention and control concerns on April 10, 2025 by the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario.
The resulting investigation required multiple in-person visits to the clinic, and a detailed research review by Public Health Ontario to assess the risk to patients.
During the process, NWHU issued an order for the Red Lake Dental Clinic to stop reprocessing (cleaning and sterilizing) dental tools and equipment until procedures met required standards, which effectively meant dental services had to stop.
Dr. Young Hoon said the clinic has not reopened yet.
The health unit investigates clinics on a complaint basis, and does not routinely inspect dental clinics' infection prevention and control practices.
"Dentists are a self-regulated profession and are responsible for upholding infection prevention and control standards in their own practice," NWHU stated in a press release. "The RCDSO and the College of Dental Hygienists of Ontario were notified of NWHU's investigation."
More information about the investigation and about hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV is available online.
