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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 healthcare 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.   Contact Name John Silcox, Public Safety Information Officer Contact Information Fairfax County Health Department John.Silcox@fairfaxcounty.gov 703-246-8635, TTY 711 ### Dental Clinics   Name Phone Number Address Routine Care Emergency Care Cost / Eligibility Spanish Language HealthWorks 703-481-8160 1141 3rd floor, Elden St., Herndon, VA 20170 Yes No Sliding Scale fee-must enroll as a HealthWorks member YES Medstar Washington Hospital Center 202-877-6737 110 Irving Street NW Washington, D.C. NO. YES. No sliding scale. DC Medicaid accepted. $125 for consultation & $100-$125 for extraction YES Northern Virginia Community College 703-822-6655 6699 Springfield Dr., Springfield, VA 22150 YES. 7-10 day wait list. NO. Only pain management care. No insurance accepted. First visit $125. All cleanings after first visit $35. Sliding scale fee for all other procedures. YES Northern Virginia Dental Clinic 703-820-7170 8221 Willow Oak Corporate Drive, Fairfax, VA 22031 YES. NO. Referrals through social services. No cost. YES Neighborhood Health 703-535-5568 Four locations: *4480 King Street, Alexandria, VA 22302 *6677 Richmond Hwy, Alexandria, VA 22306 *7501 Little River Turnpike, Annandale, VA 22003 *2120 Washington Blvd., Arlington, VA 22204 YES. Wait list varies, but usually within 2 weeks NO. Provides referrals. Accepts Medicaid and other insurance. Patients meet with staff prior to visit to determine YES Smiles for Children 888-912-3456 Service will link you to care with a provider in your area. Service will link to care. Service will link to care. Medicaid for persons aged 20 years and younger or currently pregnant women with Medicaid. Some necessary oral surgeries for adults. YES Smiles Change Lives 888-900-3554 Service will link you to care with a provider in your area. Service will link to care. Service will link to care.   YES        

Environmental health specialists from Fairfax County are among those being deployed to the U.S. Virgin Islands to assist with the long-term recovery efforts from hurricanes Irma and Maria. Virginia will send two Environmental Health strike teams to the islands this weekend. The teams, deployed through the Virginia Department of Emergency Management and the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC), also include specialists from Virginia Department of Health and Henrico, Roanoke, Three Rivers and Alexandria health districts. The group from Fairfax includes five environmental health specialists, including one who is also a registered nurse. The deployment is in response to an EMAC request from the Virgin Islands for strike teams to assist with identifying, monitoring, assessing and mitigating environmental health hazards. Members of the teams are expected to depart for the islands of St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix on Feb. 11 and return on Feb. 27. Working with local officials, the teams will conduct inspections of food service establishments and other regulated facilities and provide education on environmental health and sanitation issues on the islands. Environmental health specialists have been deployed before to assist with critical public health issues like food and water safety during emergencies, but this is the first time a team from Fairfax has been activated. “We are excited and honored to be able to provide assistance to areas affected by those devastating storms,” said Dr. Gloria Addo-Ayensu, Fairfax Health Director. “I want to thank the members of our team for their compassionate service. I know they will provide to the residents and visitors of the U.S. Virgin Islands the same professionalism and high quality service to which the citizens of the Fairfax have come to expect. “We wish them a safe and successful journey.” More information on this deployment can be found at the Virginia Department of Emergency Management. Team Composition, with Fairfax County members highlighted: Environmental Health Specialists Isaac Robertson, Ron Campbell, John Yetman and Lois Maisel from Fairfax. Not pictured: Ebonie Miller. St. Thomas/St. John District Team John Yetman (Fairfax County Environmental Health Supervisor) Lois Maisel (Fairfax County Environmental Health Specialist) Ebonie Miller (Fairfax County Environmental Health Specialist) David Geeson (Office of Environmental Health Services Environmental Health Manager) Monae Holifield (Chesapeake Health District Environmental Health Specialist Sr.) Kirsten Dobson (Richmond City Health District Environmental Health Specialist Sr.) Todd Grubbs (Office of Environmental Health Services Environmental Heath Coordinator) St. Croix District Team Deborah Hoy (Office of Drinking Water Environmental Health Consultant) Jerene Beyer (Henrico Health District Environmental Health Specialist Sr.) Isaac Robertson (Fairfax County Environmental Heath Specialist) Ron Campbell (Fairfax County Environmental Health Specialist Sr.) Kendra Washington (Alexandria Health District Environmental Health Specialist Sr.) Tiffany Johnson (Alexandria Health District Environmental Health Specialist)