The Northwestern Health Unit suggests patients of a Red Lake dental office check for hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV.

It comes as a result of inspections of the clinic that led to concerns about its infection prevention and control practices.

The Health Unit says patients may have been exposed to improperly sterilized dental equipment.

“Even though the risk of infection transmission is low, anyone who received dental care at Red Lake Dental Clinic between September 1, 2022 and May 16, 2025, should discuss testing with their health care provider,” states Dr. Kit Young Hoon, the Health Unit’s Medical Officer of Health.

Young Hoon says those patients who do not have a family physician can contact the Health Unit regarding testing.

She advises against going to the hospital emergency department.

The concern about the dental clinic was first brought to the Health Unit in April by the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario.

The Health Unit says multiple in-person visits to the clinic were made, and a detailed research review by Public Health Ontario was done to assess the risk to patients.

The Health Unit issued an order for the clinic to stop cleaning and sterilizing dental tools and instruments until the processes met the standards required of dental offices.

According to the Health Unit, the clinic has not served residents since May 16th.

The Health Unit is not aware of any cases of infection associated with the clinic.

The College posts on its website that a dentist at the clinic voluntarily withdrew from practice in June, later agreeing to retain a clinical supervisor to supervise their clinic.