Ontario dental clinic patients speak out after hepatitis, sterilization flaws demand HIV testing

Former patients and receptionists at a Brantford, Ont., dental clinic that closed last year due to instrument sterilization lapses are speaking out after the public health unit issued a letter in recent weeks urging people to get tested for hepatitis and HIV.

The Grand Erie Department of Public Health (GEPH) ordered the closure of Dr. George Chan Dentistry, located at 353 St. Paul Ave., on Nov. 3.

Lynn Portelli, who worked as a receptionist at the time, told CBC News she was the one who filed the complaint with GEPH on October 29, 2025. He said this led to the GEPH investigation, which was conducted by Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC).

According to GEPH, the investigation found 15 lapses in disinfection and sterilization of reusable equipment at Chan’s clinic.

Dr. Aviv Ounounou, an associate professor at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Dentistry, said the number of omissions would generally be considered significant.

“Temporary shutdowns are unusual, but actual and permanent shutdowns… are extremely rare.”

The full report for March 18 is on the GEPH website.

CBC contacted Chan for an interview about the investigation, but did not hear back by deadline.

The patient says, ‘I am very worried about this.’

In mid-March, patients who received care at the clinic over the past four years began receiving letters from GEPH, dated February 26, 2026. According to the IPAC report, patient recall was initiated in March.

Chan’s former patient Heather Harrington was on vacation when her husband sent her a photo of the letter.

“I’m very concerned about it, especially knowing the potential that’s out there,” he told CBC News.

Harrington and his sons, Reed and Case, were patients until last year.

“It’s something that I think no 12-year-old and 14-year-old should ever have to deal with,” he said.

According to a letter signed by Jason Malenfant, GEPH’s medical officer of health, patients “may have been exposed to dental instruments that were improperly sterilized. Instruments that have not been properly sterilized and used during dental care can potentially spread infections including hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and, less frequently, HIV.”

Although the letter says the overall risk of infection is low, it recommends that patients talk to their health care providers or visit a walk-in clinic to discuss testing to rule out possible infection.

Another letter, which was attached to the patient letter, is addressed to health care providers outlining the recommended testing.

Ounounu said it is not routine for health units to send such letters asking patients to be tested for hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV. They are only issued when there is an IPAC lapse with potential exposure to bloodborne pathogens, he told CBC News in an email.

When CBC News reached out to GEPH to find out how many patients have been affected, the health unit responded: “GEPH has no additional information beyond what is publicly available.” on our website In the IPAC lapse report.

But according to Portelli, hundreds of patients may have been affected.

Receptionist says she contacted public health

Portelli began working for Chan in November 2024 but said he did not notice anything wrong.

“They seem to have had a good practice for a long time. They had good reviews. I hadn’t heard anything negative about them in the dental practice world.”

She said Chan and her assistant did not allow her access to the clinical area.

On the afternoon of October 28, after Chan’s assistant left the clinic to go to the grocery store, Portelli decided to check a patient’s room. That’s when he said he found loose instruments in a drawer that were not stored in sterilized packages.

According to the IPAC report, one of the flaws was improper storage of sterilized items, for example, impression trays were cleaned and sterilized, but not stored in sterilized packages.

The report also said clean and sterilized equipment was found stored open and unpacked in operating rooms.

When you go to these people you trust them… you’re in good hands.– Lynn Portelli, former receptionist and former patient

Portelli said they also found composites used for fillings that expired in 2014, and a topical anesthetic — a gel rubbed on the gums before using a needle to freeze the patient’s mouth — that expired in 2007.

Portelli said that the next morning, October 29, he called GEPH and reported his findings.

Following an investigation by IPAC on 3 November, the health unit closed the clinic.

Portelli said that after the health officials left, Chan asked him to cancel the remaining patient admissions for that day. She was not officially allowed to leave, but the clinic closed the same day. Portelli is currently looking for a new job.

Although the clinic closed in early November, patients did not receive a letter from public health until mid-March. When CBC asked GEPH why patients did not receive letters until more than four months later, the health unit said it had no additional information to provide on the investigation.

Portelli said he and his elderly father were also Chan patients, so they would undergo testing.

“When you go to these guys you trust them that … you’re in good hands,” Portelli said.

Justin Curry, Chan’s patient for nearly 22 years, said he is worried about himself and his girlfriend. Although she was not Chan’s patient, Curry fears that if tests show she has an infection, she may have passed it on to him.

Andrew Dukeshire said he had never used Chan as a dentist but his wife and children were longtime patients, so they all went for testing.

“My kids are in danger, my wife is in danger, I’m in danger,” Dukeshire said.

Dukeshire is still awaiting its test results.

Harrington says she feels concerned about the risk to both herself and her sons. “My 14-year-old was asking questions and Googling, ‘Can you die from HIV? What does hepatitis do to you?’ These are things that children should never be afraid of.

What the Dental College says about CHAN

Chan is still listed as entitled to practice, according to the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario (RCDSO), the regulatory body for dentists in the province. He is registered since 1986.

On July 7, 2005, Dr. George Chan Dentistry Professional Corporation was granted a certificate of authorization which is listed as being active.

The RCDSO confirmed in a statement to CBC News that it is looking into the GEPH report on Chan’s clinic.

All reported infection prevention and control (IPAC)-related complaints are investigated, and where violations are identified, information is shared publicly and affected parties are notified.– Grand Erie Public Health

“The college reserves the right to investigate and take appropriate action based on concerns raised while a dentist has an active certificate of registration,” it says. “This does not depend on the dentist’s current licensing status or working circumstances. In other words, a dentist may not be practicing and still be registered, but if there were any concerns they were practicing, the College may investigate.”

Public health units have a duty to refer complaints related to infection prevention and control practices to regulatory bodies such as the RCDSO.

GEPH also responded to CBC News’ request for comment, but did not comment specifically on Chan’s clinic.

“All Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC)-related complaints are investigated, and where violations are identified, information is shared publicly and affected parties are notified. GEPH is committed to ensuring compliance with Ontario public health standards,” the health unit said in a statement.

Dr. Jaya Nadarajah, chief physician at Public Health Ontario, said IPAC investigations are reactive and mostly complaint-based.

“Public health guidance, really, it only works if ownership is taken to get behind it and make sure we’re all practicing that way. So I think that’s the best way to prevent events like this. And we have evidence that the IPAC-informed environment does very well in terms of reducing transmission of infection,” Nadarajah said.

‘Can I trust the dentist?’

Ounounu said closing the clinic for more than 15 lapses in IPAC protocols is “devastating” for patients.

“I’m quite shocked that in 2026 we’re dealing with such situations… treating patients with poor levels of infection control,” he said in an interview.

Speaking in general terms, he said a dentist may not follow proper IPAC protocols for a number of reasons, including lack of updated training, time pressure, workflow issues, and cost.

“None of this, of course, justifies non-compliance,” Ounounu said.

“We’re dealing with blood, with saliva, we’re dealing with cross-contamination… If you leave blood out there and we haven’t cleaned it, we haven’t wiped it down, the potential virus can survive for about 24 to 48 hours.”

Another concern is the potential loss of patient confidence.

Dukeshire said he won’t avoid dentists in the future, but the thought running through his mind is: “Can I trust the dentist? Can I trust my medical professionals? Can I trust the blood laboratory where I was?”

Ounounou said patients can check to see if their dentist is following proper protocols when it comes to hygiene, including:

• Overview of the dental office including reception area and patient rooms. “The treatment room should look neat and clean and its surfaces should be wiped down between patients. You should watch your dentist to see what he or she is doing.”
• Observe whether the dentist washes their hands after entering the room, whether they are wearing gloves, and are using hand sanitizer and appropriate protective equipment, such as mask, gloves, and eye protection.
• Check dental instruments to make sure they are in sealed sterilized packages. If the appliances are open, ask the dentist.

If the dentist or clinic is unwilling to answer patients’ questions, that’s another red flag to watch for, Ounounou said.

Nadarajah suggests that if a patient notices a concerning practice, first talk to a dentist or hygienist to understand it. “If you are further concerned, consider reporting to your regulatory college or your local public health unit.”