In a small living room, Andrew Dukeshire sits with a letter that names dr chan dentist as the clinic where his wife and two children once went for care. He describes feeling “mad, sad and scared” as his family prepares to get blood-tested for hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV after a public health inspection found lapses in infection prevention and control.
Dr Chan Dentist: What did the inspection find?
Grand Erie Public Health carried out an extensive investigation after a complaint was received on Oct. 29, 2025, and inspected the St. Paul Avenue office on Nov. 3. The inspection report lists multiple problems with sterilization and clinic practice: clean and sterile instruments were observed stored loose and unpackaged in operatories; sterilized packages were stored tightly together with punctures; improper use of protective gloves; items not disinfected; deficiencies in documentation; and failures in ultrasonic efficacy testing.
The health unit advised former patients who had treatment at the clinic in the last four years to arrange blood tests for hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV through their own doctors or a walk-in clinic. Patients who had dental work since Aug. 26, 2025 were asked to take an additional blood test after a specified six-month window. The health unit provided pre-filled requisition forms and urged interim safety measures such as avoiding tattoos and piercings, using condoms during sex, and not sharing personal items like razors, nail clippers, toothbrushes, needles or glucose monitoring devices.
Who is speaking for patients and public health, and what are they saying?
Andrew Dukeshire voiced the alarm in simple terms: “I’m so angry. ” He added, “We’re supposed to feel safe with our doctors and dentists and now this has put us all at risk. ” His wife, Pam Dukeshire, a long-time patient from near the clinic’s opening, called the dentist “old school” and said the announcement of retirement felt abrupt: “He sent a letter to patients in January saying he was retiring. It was very abrupt. ”
Medical Officer of Health Dr. Jason Malenfant sent letters to an unspecified number of former patients to advise testing. Shawn Falcao, health unit spokesperson, framed the unit’s approach: “GEPH investigates complaint-based concerns related to infection prevention and control. ” He added, “When an IPAC lapse is confirmed, GEPH ensures that appropriate corrective actions are implemented. ”
The investigation has been referred to the Royal College of Dental Surgeons. A spokesperson for the Royal College of Dental Surgeons said it can investigate even if a dentist is no longer active, but it does not make investigations public until decisions have been made. The Dukeshires and other former patients say they do not know whether the dentist retired voluntarily or if the office was closed by the health unit; the clinic phone number is no longer in service.
What is being done now and what should patients expect?
The immediate response has been letters to former patients and an explicit urging to get blood-tested. The health unit provided practical steps: pre-filled requisitions for the three viruses and guidance on interim precautions while awaiting final results. The referral of the matter to the Royal College of Dental Surgeons signals the start of a regulatory review, though that body will only make outcomes public after its process is complete.
For many former patients, the practical burden is sharp. Andrew Dukeshire warned others to follow the advice and get tested: “This is serious. Go get tested. It’s a slim chance but the last thing you want to do is hurt someone else. ” He also noted the strain multiple blood tests will place on local healthcare, stressing the ripple effects beyond the clinic itself.
Back in the living room where the story began, the Dukeshire family folds up the letter and schedules appointments. The notice that named dr chan dentist has transformed a routine trust into an unresolved worry: why sterilization steps failed, how many were notified, and what will happen next with the regulatory review. For now, the response is clear and procedural—testing, precautions, and an investigation—and the human question remains: will those steps be enough to restore confidence?
