Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/1212192
14 BECKER'S DENTAL + DSO REVIEW - VOL. 1 FEB 2020 Texas dental assistant claims device explosion caused third- degree burns By Mackenzie Garrity A dental assistant at Kingwood, Texas-based Northeast Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery filed a complaint Oct. 24, 2019, alleging negligence and product liability against three dentists and surgical device manufacturer Sur- giquip Solutions, according to the SE Texas Record. Sara Underferth claims that an autoclave exploded and caused her second- and third-degree burns as well as hearing loss. In the complaint, Ms. Underferth said the dentists noticed the device was malfunctioning and took it out of service. Howev- er, when Ms. Underferth was in the storage room where the device was placed, she claims it exploded. The three dentists listed in the lawsuit are Robert Stanton, DDS, Victor Manon, DDS, and Ermelinda Da Ponte, DDS. Ms. Underferth is seeking between $1 million and $10 million in monetary relief. n Disappearing Denver dentist gets license suspended By Gabrielle Masson C olorado's dental board has suspended the license of a Denver dentist who abruptly closed his dental practice in October, 2019, Denver 7 reported. Douglas Sewell, DDS, abruptly closed Denver-based Cherry Creek Family Dental in the fall of 2019. After multiple patients filed complaints, the state dental board found Dr. Sewell "abandoned patients in the midst of ongoing treatment" and "failed to make patient records available," according to Denver 7. In an email to Denver 7, a man claiming to be Dr. Sewell said he had to "go into hiding" to protect himself from family members he believes are responsible for the death of his oldest brother. The dentist's brother died in 2014 amid a successful $32 million dollar whistleblower lawsuit against an insurance company, according to Denver 7. The man has not responded to Denver 7's requests for more information. n Oregon dental clinic warns patients that equipment was not properly sterilized By Mackenzie Garrity S utherlin, Ore.-based Umpqua Community Health did not properly sterilize equipment when treating six patients in November 2019, according to local ABC affiliate KEZI. The company that manages the clinic, Aviva Health, mailed letters to the six patients to inform them that some instru- ments used during their visits were not properly cleaned. Aviva Health recommended the patients get blood tests to ensure they did not contract any infections. One patient, Jason Prebe, claims to have gotten sick be- cause of the improperly sterilized tools. He told KEZI that he was sick with pneumonia for a few weeks. However, it's un- clear if Mr. Prebe has undergone any blood tests. Aviva Health said it "deeply regrets" the incident and is re- viewing processes to ensure a similar incident doesn't hap- pen again. n Patients sue Tennessee dentist accused of improperly sterilizing tools By Gabrielle Masson T hree patients filed a lawsuit Dec. 19, 2019, against Knox- ville, Tenn.-based Clarence "Buzz" Nabers, DDS, after he potentially exposed them to infectious diseases, Knox News reported. The lawsuit is seeking class-action status and would include about 8,000 patients treated by Dr. Nabers from Sept. 15, 2016 to Sept. 15, 2019. "The members of the proposed class each suffered extreme and serious emotional distress and trauma, and will incur medical testing and other expenses as the result of the negligent con- duct of Buzz Nabers Dental Studio," the complaint said. The Tennessee Department of Health ordered Dr. Nabers Sept. 17, 2019, to mail letters recommending patients be tested for HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C due to improper sterilization techniques in 2018, that led to possible cross contamination. Patients began receiving letters 85 days later on Dec. 11, 2019. A state investigation found Dr. Nabers improperly sterilized dental equipment, forged certification documents and had un- qualified employees perform dental work. The state fined him $11,000 and placed his license on probation for two years. The proposed class-action lawsuit seeks $50 million from Dr. Nabers and his estate. n QUALITY & INFECTION CONTROL