Fairfax County health officials are warning residents about the serious health risks, including injury and infection, associated with dental procedures performed by unlicensed providers.

Recently the Health Department identified a person with a life-threatening blood-borne infection who received dental care by an unlicensed provider in the basement of a house in West Falls Church. Although the investigation is ongoing and it is not certain that the individual’s infection was the result of the unlicensed dental procedure, the Health Department would like to warn the public about the health risks associated with unlicensed dental procedures.

In an unsanitary basement with unsterile tools, even the best-trained dentist can cause more harm than good, says Dr. Benjamin Schwartz, Director of Epidemiology and Population Health. People who undergo these unlicensed procedures are risking their health and safety.

Out of an abundance of caution, the Health Department is recommending anyone who received dental care in this manner see a health care provider to be tested for hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV, which are all spread through blood exposure.

These are serious infections that may not have outwards symptoms for many years so even those who feel well now should be tested as a precaution, Dr. Schwartz said.

The Health Department is working with law enforcement to investigate and stop the unlicensed dentist from practicing. At the same time, the department understands that many people do not have dental insurance and that affordable dental care is not readily available to everyone in the community. Therefore, some people may seek other avenues of care out of necessity.

For all persons in Fairfax County and the cities of Fairfax and Falls Church, it is important to be aware of the risks associated with unlicensed dental practices and how to recognize unsafe practices. These signs include:

• If the dental provider operates out of their home instead of an office;
• If the dental provider does not wash his/her hands before putting on gloves and touching your mouth;
• If the dental provider uses a needle and syringe that was not taken from a new sealed, single use package;
• If the dental provider uses damaged, dirty, or rusting equipment during your dental procedure; and
• If the dental provider does not give you information on how to take care of your wound after the dental procedure, the signs and symptoms of an infection, and what to do if an infection occurs.

By law, all dentists must be licensed to practice in the state of Virginia. You can look up your dentist to make sure he or she has a current Virginia dental license at the Department of Health Professions website.

Fairfax County Health Department provides dental services to children whose families are income eligible and/or to whom treatment is not available in the private sector. A list of other clinics in northern Virginia that offer low-cost, preventative and emergency dental care can be found below.

The Health Department also provides a list of confidential HIV testing locations on its website.