Hundreds of patients of a Cairns dental clinic are being urged to get tested after improper practices potentially exposed them to blood infections such as Hepatitis C and HIV.
The Tropical Public Health Unit has issued a warning to get tested to approximately 550 patients of Essential Dental for Life in the Cairns suburb of Smithfield.
Dr Richard Gair, Director of the Topical Public Health Unit, says the risk of infection was very low and efforts were being made to contact all patients affected.
The clinic has ceased to operate and is assisting with the investigation.