Home / Health / Philly Dentist's License Suspended Over Unsanitary Practices
Philly Dentist's License Suspended Over Unsanitary Practices
22 May
Summary
- Patients of Smiles at Rittenhouse Square urged to test for HIV, hepatitis.
- Dentist Kirti Chopra's license suspended May 15, 2026, for public danger.
- Clinic reused vials and IV bags, improperly sterilized instruments.
Philadelphia health officials are urging patients of Smiles at Rittenhouse Square to get tested for HIV and hepatitis following the discovery of unsanitary practices. The dental clinic, also known as Smiles on the Square, is now closed after the dentist's temporary license suspension on May 15, 2026. This suspension was enacted because the dentist's continued practice posed a clear danger to public health and safety.
Allegations include the reuse of injectable medication vials and single-use IV saline bags between patients. Investigators also found improperly sterilized dental instruments and equipment that had come into contact with blood and saliva. These conditions put patients at risk for transmitting hepatitis C, hepatitis B, and HIV, as well as other infections.
While the risk is considered low, hundreds of patients may have been potentially exposed between April 2025 and May 2026. The health department has established a hotline for concerned patients. The dentist's legal representative stated that Dr. Chopra is cooperating with officials on patient notification and testing recommendations.
