Dentist kicked off register for exposing patients to infection risk

The General Dental Council (GDC) has removed a dentist from the register of dental professionals for multiple failings involving wide-ranging cross-infection control, standard of care to patients and record keeping.

A Professional Conduct Committee (PCC) found 21 charges found proven against Mark Roberts at a hearing on Friday 20 October.

The charges included reusing equipment that should have been disposed after use, including: single use local anaesthetic cartridges, single use endodontic files and a syringe.

Other cross-infection control failings included not routinely change his gloves and mask between patients and failing to ensure dental instruments and equipment were adequately cleaned. It was also found proven that Mr Roberts failed to ensure that emergency drugs at his practice were in date and that clinical waste was appropriately disposed. The PCC also found it proven that 12 patients were affected by Mr Roberts’ inadequate standard of care and record keeping.